By Jennifer Maack-Condren

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The 30th annual Ozark Festival Charity Horse Show was held in Fayetteville, Ark., May 1-3, 2003. Pauline Whitaker Arena, on the campus of the Univeristy of Arkansas, was the host for this show benefiting the university's equine program. The Northwest Arkansas Gaited Horse Club’s members donated many hours to organize and participate in this show. Walking horses, racking horses, spotted saddle horses and Missouri foxtrotters made up the 380 entries presented over the four performances. The honorable Sam McLaughlin of Shelbyville, Tenn., judged the walking horses. Show manager Hilma Curlee and show secretary Phyllis Crawford kept things running smoothly both inside and outside of the ring. Gary Good captured lots of memories with his camera.

Thursday

Tom Burton opened the show with a win on Olympic Super Dream for Jon Trimble in the Two-Year-Old class. Four-Year-Old & Under Open Specialty class winner was Jim Huffman and Hydro Generator. Fred Gibbany and The Ultimate Power brought home the blue for his wife, Dee, in the Lite-Shod Western Two-Gait class.

Following these classes the ladies took their turn in the ring. Dixie Jubilee and Glenda Nichols won the Ladies Amateur Specialty class and Stormy’s Applejack and Jill J. Wait won the Ladies Amateur class.

Three-Year-Old Amateur class winner Donna Huffman made a good ride on Victory Colors for Jim Huffman. The flashy gray American Revolution won the Three-Year-Old and Under Park Pleasure class under the direction and ownership of Stephen Ayers. Brian Nichols and Eclectic were awarded top honors in the Men’s Amateur class followed by a win from Phillip Curlee and Silver Magnolia in the Lite-Shod Two-Gait Open.

Command With Pride and owner Anderson Nettleship were victorious in the Park Pleasure Two-Gait class. Three stallions entered the gait in the Aged Stallion class, but it was Magic of the Night and Josh Coble who earned the top mark on the judge's card for Marian Wright followed by Kevin Webb and Big Daddy Push.

Friday

Jim Huffman and the big, bold stallion Victory Colors kicked off the Friday evening performances with a win in the Three-Year-Old Open class. Sarah Manes proved she was the cream of the crop in the Two-Year-Old Amateur class with Tunica for Manes Stables. I’m Belle Starr and Stacy Avery won the Lite-Shod Amateur Two-Gait class for Avery and Treat. WW Dot Com and Allan Nelson claimed the Men’s Amateur Specialty title.

Open Show Pleasure Specialty winner was Mark The Time with Darlene Swaringim making the good ride. Caretaker’s Image won his first blue of the show with Glenda Nichols in the irons in the Amateur Park Pleasure Two-Gait class. Keeping up the family tradition, Brad Nichols and Coin’s Smooth Operator won the Juvenile Specialty 17 & Under class followed by a win from Eclectic and Brian Nichols in the Open Amateur class.

Tamee LeNeve was certainly all smiles after her winning ride on Talk Is Cheap in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty class. Diamonds & Cash and Jerry Manes claimed the win in the Aged Mares and Geldings class to complete the Friday evening performances.

Saturday

Carrying on the family tradition from Friday evening, JoAnn LeNeve and Distinguished Pride were named Amateur Specialty Stake Champions in a good class of 12 entries. I’m Belle Starr once again made an appearance in the winner’s circle with Stacy Avery in the Lite-Shod Plantation Stake. Tom Burton and Olympic Super Dream also returned to make a victory pass, this time in the Two-Year-Old Stake for owner Jon Trimble.

Don Bills and Motown Ice was the judge's choice for the blue ribbon ride in the Three-Year-Old Stake. Ed and Darlene Swaringim are the proud owners of this filly. Mrs. Glen Campbell was proud of her family after they were awarded the next three championships, starting with Coin’s Smooth Operator and Brad Nichols in the Juvenile Specialty Stake. Brian Nichols, not to be outdone by his younger brother, won the Amateur Stake with Eclectic. Glenda Nichols and Caretaker’s Image won the Park Pleasure Two-Gait Stake for Campbell Ford-Mercury.

Four fine entries made the gait call for the Grand Championship Stake, but the judge's choice to be placed on the challenge trophy was Magic of the Night and Josh Coble for Marian Wright. The crowd’s approval was obvious during a great victory pass by this fine pair. Kevin Webb and Big Daddy Push earned reserve honors for Huson & Webb.

The rolling hills and beauty of this area, as well as the hospitality of the people of the Northwest Arkansas Gaited Horse Club make this a show worth coming back to year after year.

This completes the highlights from the Ozark Festival.