by Maggi Painter

 

            POMONA, Calif. – The 25th annual West Coast Walking Horse Trainers’ Show was held on Friday evening, April 27 and ran through Saturday, April 28 at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif. Rob Cornelius of Rogersville, Ala., did the honors of judging this year’s event.

            Concluding the two-day event was the Show Horse Grand Championship class. Russ Thompson directed I’m The Man In Charge to the blue for Carol Giesinger of Norco, Calif.

            Topping the ribbon tally was Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch and Jimmy Norris with 24 blues; five of those being grand championships. Current World Grand Champion Push N For Pleasure claimed eight of Pollack Silver Spur Ranch blues, with two of those being grand championships. Scott Benham’s Golden West Farms was second in the ribbon tally with 16 wins; five being grand championships. Russ Thompson Stables held the third spot with 15 wins; five of those coming from grand championships. Wendy Shaw and Bouquet Creek rounded out the ribbon tally with six ribbons won; three of those from grand championships.

            The first class of the show, Lite Shod Western Specialty, began at 6:30 on Friday evening. World Champion Genius Dixie Chick and Jamey Thompson claimed the blue for the Arthur Gordon family.

            Making their debut of the season was the team of My Advice and Manuel Rodriquez claiming top honors in the Park Pleasure Western Open class. Mike and Marilee Moran own this talented entry.

            Continuing their winning ways in 2007 was the team of Jenny Earhart and JFK Motown Heather winning the Country Pleasure Amateur English Specialty class for Phyllis Langley.

            Up next was the two-entry Lite Shod Specialty class. Move It Or Loose It and Wendy Shaw received the blue for Bill Marzinzik.

            Following their blue at the Desert Classic Horse Show, Magnifico and Russ Thompson proved to be ones to watch in the Three-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding competition as they added another blue for owners Roger and Rebecca Emrick.

            Three top entries made the gate call to vie for top honors in the Park Performance division. Sunset Boulevard and Scott Benham kept their flawless season rolling when they were called to the winner’s circle for Mike and Marilee Moran.

            Master’s Royal Blend and Michelle Medeiros made an excellent ride to claim the top honors in the Show Pleasure Specialty class. Michelle Medeiros owns this top entry.

            Scott Benham was back in the ring, this time aboard Lay Your Hands On Me. This pair made an outstanding performance to walk down victory lane in the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding competition for owner Joyce Hofstee.

            Todd Child directed She’s All That Jazz to the blue in the Amateur Specialty Mare and Gelding class. Beth Beasley owns this talented mare.

            Patti Pollack and Sky Full Of Gold claimed the blue in the Park Pleasure Four-Year-Old Specialty competition. Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch owns this flashy palomino stallion.

            Newly acquired competitor for Jim and Cindy Heiting strutted her stuff and captured the blue ribbon honors. This win came with Jim Heiting directing Unfaithful to the Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class.

            Coming off their victories in the desert, He’s On Georgia Time and Jamey Thompson walked out with the blue in the Park Pleasure Specialty class for owner Joe Guido.

            Jim Heiting made the quick change from English to western to claim the top honors in the Amateur Western Park Pleasure class aboard World Champion Dragonfire.

            Megan Gates made the long trip from San Jose to Southern California to claim a blue ribbon aboard Papa’s Queen Lady in the Country Pleasure Western competition.

            Noon’s Natural High and Shawn Benham made an excellent ride to claim top spot in the Amateur Stallion and Gelding Specialty competition for owners Paul and Donna Hughes.

            Keeping their undefeated season alive was the flawless team of Sam Whiskey and Kelly Gordon claiming the top spot in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding class. The Arthur Gordon family claim ownership of this magnificent stallion.

            Ashley Diamond Pollack took over the reins of Gen’s Attaboy to capture the blue in the Amateur Ladies Specialty class blue for Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch.

            Ice Cold Bud made his 2007 debut a winning one. Owner Mike Moran directed Ice Cold Bud to the top honors in the Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty class.

            Current World Champion team of Miss Spectacular and Bobby Parady made another spectacular performance for top honors in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class.

            Finishing out the Friday evening session was the Show Horse Specialty class. Walking out of the line-up victorious was the team of Jose Feliciano and Jimmy Norris for Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch.

            The Saturday afternoon session got underway at 1 p.m. with a nice breeze to help keep the temperatures bearable.

            Starting off the afternoon session was the popular Model competition. Pistol Pete Rose and Jimmy Norris claimed the walk to the winner’s circle for owner Hannah Miller of San Jose, Calif.

            Tried And True and owner Bill Marzinzik earned the Amateur Lite Shod Western Specialty title.            Next in the ring was the Spotted Lite Shod Western Specialty class. Alen’s Tuff Pusher and Tanya McCaskey claimed top honors.

            In the Park Pleasure Novice Amateur Specialty class, Roger Emrick and Hermano Gold found their way to the winner’s circle for Roger and Rebecca Emrick of Hillsborough, Calif.

            Following his debut performance at the Desert Classic, Tyler Diamond Pollack directed Sugar And Ice to the blue in the Spotted Heavy Shod Western Specialty class.

            The most winning horse of the show, with eight blues, was the Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch entry of Push N For Pleasure. This current world champion mare and her rider Ashley Diamond Pollack captured their first blue in the Youth English Trail Pleasure competition. Along with winning blue ribbons Pollack also celebrated her 14th birthday while at the horse show.

            Coming off her previous victory, Ashley Diamond Pollack found herself in the winner’s circle. This time she captured the blue aboard Roll With The Tide in the Show Pleasure Amateur Novice/Youth Specialty class.

            Following up her two victories at the Desert Classic Horse Show, Van Barnes and Rubberband Man headed to the winner’s circle in the Park Performance Amateur Specialty class.

            Lauren Shaw took over the reins of her grandparents, Bill and Betsy Marzinzik’s, horse Move It Or Loose It to capture the top nod in the Youth Lite Shod Specialty competition.

            Next to enter the ring was the Trail Pleasure Novice Amateur Specialty competition with four entries. Rebecca Emrick is one blue closer to riding out of the novice division, claiming the win aboard The Texas Lexus. Roger and Rebecca Emrick own this beautiful entry.

            Tanya McCaskey return in English attire to claim another blue aboard Alen’s Tuff Pusher in the Spotted Lite Shod English Specialty class. McCaskey owns this beautiful entry.

            Not to let her daughter have all the fun, Patti Pollack took over the reins of Push N For Pleasure to take the blue in the Trail Pleasure Western Amateur Specialty class.

            There’s no rest for the hardworking. Push N For Pleasure returned to the ring again with Ashley Diamond Pollack to win the Trail Pleasure Western Youth Specialty class.

            The flashy grey mare JFK Motown Heather and Jenny Earhart won the Country Pleasure Amateur Specialty Grand Championship. Phyllis Langley of Sandpoint, Idaho owns this beautiful mare.

            Another Idahoian making the long trip to take the blue ribbon ride was the team of Promises In The Dark and Chris Hutchinson. This pair won the Lite Shod Amateur Specialty class.

            Back in victory lane were Patti Pollack and Push N For Pleasure in the Trail Pleasure Amateur English Specialty class.

            Cute little Ashley Gordon climbed aboard Countdown’s Cordell Walker to walk out with the blue in the Youth Park Pleasure class. The Gordon family’s Stonegait Farm own this entry.

            In the final class of the afternoon session, Ashley Diamond Pollack rode Down Under to the win in the Youth Specialty class.

            Following a brief break in competition, the evening schedule got underway at 5 p.m. The first class was the Amateur 15.2 and under class. The classic horse Final’s Eb Tide and Patti Pollack were called out of the line-up to claim the blue. Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch own this entry.

            Next on the agenda was the Country Pleasure Amateur Novice Specialty class. Papa’s Queen Lady and her owner Megan Gates made the outstanding show to ride out of the novice division.

            In the Park Pleasure Western Open Grand Championship, Manuel Rodriquez directed My Advice to the blue for Mike and Marilee Moran.

            Shanya Kingsbury directed Tried And True to the tricolor ribbon in the Lite Shod Western Specialty Grand Championship. Bill and Betsy Marzinzik own this talented entry.

            Four entries made the gate call in the Trail Pleasure Western Open Specialty class. Adding another blue to her lengthy resume was Push N For Pleasure and Patti Pollack. This team also returned two classes later to add the Trail Pleasure English Open Specialty title to their resume.

            Demara Nuzum made the great ride aboard The Noon Edition in the Amateur Novice Specialty class to claim the blue. Patti Pollack directed JFK’s Secret to the blue in the Amateur Three-Year-Old class.

            The next class to enter the ring was the Trail Pleasure Three-Year-Olds. Sky Jazz and McKenzi Wicketts made the blue ribbon ride. Wicketts owns this flashy trail pleasure gelding.

            Jeana Nelson directed Worthy Am I to the blue in the Lite Shod Three-Year-Old Open Specialty class for owner Megan Gates. Dragonfire and Jim Heiting kept their winning streak going by capturing the Park Pleasure Western Amateur Specialty Grand Championship.

            For the final time of the afternoon Alen’s Tuff Pusher and Tanya McCaskey earned another blue in the Spotted Lite Shod Specialty Championship. Tyler Diamond Pollack returned to claim the tricolor ribbon in the Spotted Heavy Shod Grand Championship class.

            Push N For Pleasure again returned to the ring to capture a tricolor ribbon in the Trail Pleasure Western Grand Championship with Patti Pollack directing. Pollack let her daughter, Ashley, take over the reins a few classes later to claim the Trail Pleasure English Grand Championship.

            In the Park Performance Grand Championship class five top entries entered the ring. Lucky Silver Dollar and Joyce Hofstee made the trip out of the line up to claim the blue. Hofstee returned a couple of classes later to direct A Drop Of Bad Medicine to the blue in the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty Grand Championship. Hofstee owns both these fine horses.

            Christy Lantis entered the gait aboard Hermano Gold to claim the tricolor ribbon in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty Grand Championship for Roger and Rebecca Emrick. Lauren Shaw directed Move It Or Loose It to the grand championship tie in the Lite Shod Amateur Specialty class. Later Wendy Shaw directed this talented horse to the championship ribbon in the Lite Shod Specialty class for Bill Marzinzik.

            Amy Roseman directed Simply Thrilling to the Amateur Specialty Grand Championship blue ribbon. The Curtice Roseman family owns this champion. Master’s Royal Blend claimed his second blue of the show. This time he and owner Michelle Medeiros rode out with the tricolor in the Show Pleasure Open Specialty Grand Championship.

            Patti Pollack made her final trip to the winner’s circle aboard Down Under in the Amateur Canter Grand Championship class. Jamey Thompson and He’s On Georgia Time kept their winning streak going by winning the Park Pleasure Specialty Grand Championship for owner Joe Guido of Meridian, Idaho.

            This completes the coverage of the West Coast Walking Horse Trainers’ Horse Show. Complete results can be viewed, searched and printed at our new Web site www.walkinghorsereport.com.