By Lisa Cummings

MONROE, Ga. - Walton-Barrow Board of Realtors hosted the 39th annual Walton County Horse Show was held on Saturday, May 3, 2003. The show welcomed 159 entries. Jerry Woodlee of Shelbyville, Tenn., was on hand to judge the talent. Organist for the evening was Mr. Dale Stone of Buford, Ga. Sherry Oxford was the official photographer for the event and Mr. Charles Knowles of Ellerslie, Ga., did an outstanding job as show manager.

The Walking Horse Championship class welcomed four extremely talented entries to the ring. For the second time this year in Georgia, I'm Twice The Delight and Larry Edwards rode to the winners circle for Lloyd and Mary Touchton of Fairburn, Ga. Frank Thornton directed Ultra's Knockout to the reserve title for owners Major and Warr of Phenix City, Ala.

The events of the evening included classes for even the smallest enthusiast. The stick horse class called 12 entries to the gate. All participants showed great talent and poise and in return they all rode to the winners circle for a blue ribbon. The Lead-Line class had three entries with all receiving blue ribbons. They included Apple Jack and Clint Parham, Hercules and Taylor Wheless and Cinnamon and Will Cole.

In the Weanling and Yearling class, Neon's Flashy Cash and Mandie McFay of Blufton, Ga., stole the blue. McFay is the proud owner and exhibitor of this entry.

Lorenzo Smith directed Choice Cut to the winners circle in the Plantation Pleasure Open Specialty. Seahorse Stables of Gainesville, Ga., owns Choice Cut. Plantation Pleasure Youth Council Specialty 17 & Under Champions were Generator's C Note and Heather Weaver. Ronald Frost of Buford, Ga., owns Generator's C Note.

Eavesdrop and Karen Smith received the blue in the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Western Specialty. Karen Smith and Carol George of Ouitman, Ga., are the proud owners of this entry. Black Rain Drops and Ben Findley captured the blue in the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Specialty for Robert Findley of Buford, Ga.

Park Pleasure Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty Champions were Neon Lady and Susan Paul. Johnny and Susan Paul of Monroe, Ga., own the entry. Skywatch's Dream Catcher won two blue ribbons during the evening, the Spotted Saddle Horse Specialty with Becky Allen riding and the Park Pleasure Western Specialty with Linda Smith aboard. John Allen of Baldwin, Georgia owns Skywatch's Dream Catcher.

Linda Smith also directed Adonis's Lady Carbon, who is owned by Michael Hartley of Plum Branch, S.C., to the blue in the Park Pleasure Specialty class. Choice Cut and Vickie Smith grabbed the blue in the Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty. This talented entry is owned by Lorenzo and Vickie Smith of Gainesville, Ga.

WHTA Youth Council Specialty 12-17 champions Take Extra Cash To Rio and Victoria Mitchell took the blue ribbon home to Bishop, Ga. WHTA Youth Council 11 & Under was dominated by Gen's Grinch and Katelyn Fuller, receiving the blue ribbon for the Neil Fuller family of Cussetta, Ala.

Bill Cantrell directed Santana's Jubilee to the winner's circle in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class. Linda and Rob Roy of Woodstock, Ga., are the proud owners of this fine stallion. I'm The Lady In Command and Donna Hudgins claimed victory in the Two-Year-Old Amateur class. Jerry and Donna Hudgins of Clarksville, Ga., own the entry. Two-Year-Old Mare and Geldings Champions were An Avenging Angel and Bill Cantrell for Mr. and Mrs. Steve Bolton of Pilot Point ,Texas.

Riding for Sally Fleck of Smyrna, Ga., Allen Forman directed Pullover At Midnight to the winner's circle in the Three-Year-Old Stallion class. Carl Bledsoe made the victory pass aboard Ain't She A Trip in the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for Larry and Yvette Studdard of Roswell, Ga. Mike Stone of Unionville, Tenn., owner and exhibitor of Cashed In and Busted, proudly grabbed the blue in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class.

The Golden Sovereign, owned by the Dan McSwain family of Atlanta, Ga., was directed to the winner's circle in the Four-Year-Old Open class. The Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty victory belonged to Special Ultra Copy and Bobby Mixon. Bobby and Linda Mixon of McIntyre, Ga., own this entry.

Lone Star Judge and Sandra Austin claimed the blue in the Ladies Amateur Specialty. Steve and Sandra Austin of Covington, Ga., own Lone Star Judge. Capturing the blue in the GWHEA Ladies Auxiliary class was Gen's Master Blaster and Barbara Newton. Ronnie and Barbara Newton of McDonough, Ga., own the entry. In the Gentlemen Amateur Specialty, Stanley Thompson guided Ruthlessly In Command to victory. Stanley and Mimi Thompson of Cedartown, Ga., are this horse's proud owners.

The Dan McSwain family entry, A Bonus From Ritz and Maisie McSwain, took home the blue in the Walking Ponies, Riders 17 and Under class. 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty Champions were Generator On Broadway and Kenneth Milford, for Kenneth and Judy Milford of Cumming, Ga.

One Step Beyond took Guy Ben Findley to the winner's circle in the Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty class. Henry Findley of Buford, Ga., is the proud owner of this entry. Amateur Open Specialty champions were Gen's Secret Warrior and Christy Cain. Gen's Secret Warrior is owned by C&C Stables of Lawrenceville, Ga. Joyce Frank made the victory pass aboard Sarah's Honey in the Novice Amateur Specialty for Mr. and Mrs. Chas Garner of Logansville, Ga.

Kenneth Milford returned to the ring aboard Old Federal Pride to capture his second blue of the night in the Amateur Riders 50 And Over Specialty class. Kenneth and Judy Milford of Cumming, Ga., own old Federal Pride. Leslie Parham, owner and exhibitor, directed her entry Dan's Dark Threat to the blue in the Amateur Owned and Trained class.

Pushin Hard Cash and Larry Edwards claimed victory in the Stallion class for Mr. and Mrs. Willis Bowman of Greensville, Tenn. ET's Mackenzie and Carl Bledsoe made the victory pass for Glenn Rinehart of Union City, Ga., in the Mares and Geldings class.

This highlights the winners from the Walton County Horse Show.