by Linda Scrivner

            LYNCHBURG, Tenn. – The 21^st annual Moore County Horse Show was held once again in the historic town of Lynchburg, Tenn. This town is nestled in a valley amidst rolling green hills and is known for its many attractions, including the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, the Lenox China Store, the Walking Horse Museum and its famous restaurants and unique stores on the square. Each year Lynchburg holds its horse show that attracts huge crowds. Show Chairman Billy Thomas said that this was their largest crowd ever and the second largest number of entries in their 21-year history.

            This show is known for its excellent food, including hot beans and potatoes, ice cream and excellent desserts that everyone enjoys before the horse show excitement begins. On July 21, this quiet little town bustled as a steady stream of cars, trucks and trailers paraded across the square heading for the Thomas Wiseman Park.

            There were 293 entries compared to 255 in 2006, 359 in 2005, 220 in 2004 and 216 in 2003. Tommy Loid of Bowling Green, Ky., efficiently and expertly handled the judge of the many quality entries. Many of these horses are already world champions and many may go on to become one as the quality of this show is always superb.

            This year the crowd was pleased with the pleasantly cool weather once the sun went down. Announcer Bobby Sands kept the show lively with his many antidotes about the happenings during the 21 years that the show has been held. The rains of the two preceding years did not come and the crowd was treated to a sensational show despite the fact that jackets and blankets appeared amongst the huge crowd as the evening wore on.

            The crowd anxiously waited while Loid selected the 2007 Lynchburg Grand Champion from the nine excellent contenders. I’m Packin A Pistol and Jeff Hatcher made the victory pass in the Young Motors WHTA Riders’ Cup Stake class. This chestnut stallion, owned by Charlene Gibson, stepped out in elegant style. This is the team’s eighth 2007 stake win. His winning streak began with the National Trainers’ Show in April and his most recent was at Woodbury Lions Club during the Fourth of July shows. Reserve was awarded to Eagleville Lions Club Stake Champion Casino At The Ritz with Knox Blackburn up for Bud Moore. Third place went to Joe Cotton and The Games We Play for the Luther Fuller family.

            Top horses from 23 barns carried home 2007 Lynchburg blues. At the top of the list was Dick Peebles Stables with three blues for the evening. Robby Black Stables, Allan Callaway Stables, Derickson Training Facility, Latham Stables, David Landrum Stables, Joe Martin Stables Nelms Training Facility and Kevin Marker of The Colt Center won dual blues. Brett Boyd Stables, Justin Harris of Joe Fleming Stables, Jason Day Stables, Mark Lambert, Finish Line Farm, Chad Williams Stables, Debbie Cable, Clark Farms, Charlie Green Stables, Tim Smith Stables, Bobby Clark, Jamie Bradshaw, Jim Baum and Jeff Hatcher Stables won the remaining blues.

            The first blue of the three blues won by Dick Peebles Stables came in the Trainers’ Wives and Children’s class when Megan Peebles and her Copy’s Touchtone walked to the blue following their Lexington Lions Club Ladies Auxiliary win.

            Those who came to see Dick Peebles and STS weren’t disappointed. This team performed a flawless show and spectators voiced their approval of this black stallion in the 11-entry Waterfall Farms WHTA Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Stallion class.

            Dick Peebles and Jazz’s Rhythm & Blues were victorious in the Warr Development WHTA Riders’ Cup 15.2 and Under class at Lynchburg. This was the head-shaking sorrel horse’s fifth blue of the season that included dual blues at the Gulf Coast Charity Show.

            The team of B.M.F. and Robby Black won Robby Black Stables’s first blue. They exited the ring to thunderous applause when they made the victory pass in the Show Pleasure Specialty division.

            Robby Black claimed another blue with Cash In On Major in the 16-entry Park Performance Specialty class. Owner Virginia Stewart of Evergreen Walking Horse Farm and B.M.F.’s owner Judy Shapiro were ecstatic with their Lynchburg wins when they congratulated each other.

            Allan Callaway Stables enjoyed dual blues with George-Ann Pratt riding hard to win the first blue aboard her two-time and current World Champion Abel. This duo claimed the Amateur Stallion Specialty title following their recent Columbia Spring Jubilee victory.

            Another class that held the crowd’s attention was the Hartland Farm WHTA Riders’ Cup Four-Year-Old. The crowd was one the edge of their seats in this class. Loid award the blue to the exciting team of Mayday Jazz with John Allan Callaway in the saddle.

            The team of Delight’s Risky Business and Connie May won Derickson Training Facility’s first blue when they walked to victory in the 10-entry Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Specialty class. This was their season debut. Their second blue of the evening came with Gold Label Lady and Brenda Carlon in the Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings division.

            Bo Beam claimed the first blue for Latham Stables with Command With Pride. This team paraded down victory lane following the 17-entry Country Pleasure class. The team of Senator’s Grand Finale and Diana Hasty won the second Latham blue. They made a crowd-pleasing victory pass in the tough Lite-Shod Specialty class.      

            Callie Stuckey and General Judy won the first of David Landrum Stable’s two blues in the 14-entry Amateur Show Pleasure class to add the Lynchburg blue to General Judy’s blue with Joe Cotton from the Cullman American Red Cross Show.

            In the WHOA Youth Challenge Canter class, Maisie McSwain and Gen’s Burning Rage claimed the blue after they performed flawlessly in their debut performance in a new division for this veteran world grand champion mare.

            In the Youth 11 and Under class, A Fire In Dixie and Robert Cortner won with an exciting performance. Joe Martin Stables prepared this team for the show ring. Their previous 2007 wins were at the Manchester Lions Club and the Gallatin Lions Club Shows. Show Of Jazz, a full brother to Indy 500, and Joe Martin proudly earned the James Corlew Chevrolet WHTA Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Stallion blue in their debut performance.

            Robert Nelms led Generator’s Strong Dollar to win the competitive Weanling class. This youngster is undefeated with a previous win at Bethesda. Nelms made another victory pass with Stonecutter’s Royal Gem in the Yearling Filly class to claim the second Nelms Training Facility blue of the evening. This team certainly had everyone’s eyes on them while they made the victory pass.

            B.J. Richards directed A Flashy Gangster to his seventh 2007 blue in the 16-entry Trail Pleasure Specialty class to win the first of the Colt Center’s two Lynchburg blues. Bobby Richards, leading Gangster’s Boy Dillinger, won the Colt Center’s  second blue. They claimed the 10-entry Yearling Stallion blue, winning their fifth blue of the season.

            The second blue of the evening was awarded to Makena Dempsey aboard current World Champion Shake’s Little Midnight. Proud grandpa Charles Gleghorn led the team to their third blue with previous wins at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Cornersville. They also won the same class last year at Lynchburg. Brett Boyd prepared this team for the show ring.

            Assault and Justin Harris claimed the James Corlew Chevrolet WHTA Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class in their debut performance in a very competitive class. Alex Bumpus expertly directed equine partner Gen’s Sharp Dressed Man to the top of the Equitation Specialty class. They began their show season with the National Trainers’ Show Adult Equitation blue.

            Love That Showboat and Dale Martin won the Amateur Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class. Mark Lambert trains this talented youngster. The talk of the show was the exciting team of The Indy 500 and Sue Ann Dowell when they won the Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion Specialty class. Finish Line Farm prepared this new team and this was their third consecutive victory.

            Spud Warr was in the irons on current World Grand Champion Roll The Gold to win the Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion class and the fourth blue of their undefeated season. Chad Williams Stables trains this team. Debbie Cable made an impressive show with Silver Ghost in the Park Pleasure Specialty to get the approval of Loid.

            Barclay Woodward was in the irons on 18-year-old World Grand Champion Silver Design to win the Youth Walking Pony Specialty class. This was the team’s fifth blue of the season with his most recent win at the Money Tree Classic. Clark Farms trained the talented stallion.

            The American Choice and Dr. Linda Garrard made another exciting blue-ribbon performance in the 13-entry Amateur 15.2 and Under Specialty class following their Bedford 4-H win. Sheza Hottie and Tim Smith won the Waterfall Farms WHTA Riders’ Cup Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class. This talented mare won the same class at Bethesda last week.

            The Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion class called Naples Ritz and William B. Johnson to the winner’s circle under the direction of Bobby Clark. This team is undefeated with a previous win at Bethesda recently. Whitney Morris and Lock And Load won the 12-entry Youth 12-17 Specialty class winning their third 2007 blue. Jamie Bradshaw prepared this team for the show ring.

            High Jacked and Dr. Jim Baum won the Amateur Mare and Gelding Specialty class following their Shelbyville Central High Band Show.

            Complete results follow and may be viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.