By Linda Scrivner

JACKSON, Miss. -The 2004 Mississippi State Charity Horse Show titled “A Walk in the Big House” held up to its long-standing tradition of excellence and hospitality, the rule of thumb at this show. The show held April 15-17 had 593 entries this year compared to 502 last year.

The Mississippi State Show has been in existence since 1930, but many exhibitors stated that this was the best show ever in quality and quantity. Contributions were once again given to the Fireman’s Burn Center at Cleveland, Miss. Show manager Dude Prestwood again expressed appreciation for the trainers that came and welcomed everyone.

Longtime exhibitor Wallace Brandon spoke about this year’s show, “There are more top horses and more horses than ever before.”

David Landrum described it as, “the darndest multi-night show I’ve been to in a long time.”

“It’s the biggest and best quality ever,” according to Jack Way.

Sonny Holt acknowledged, “Best show in 20 years.” Comments similar to these were heard everywhere about this amazing show.

The Mississippi State Horse Show Association showed their hospitality in their traditional ways with a barbecue Friday, fruit baskets to participating barns and bags filled with peanuts for those attending the show Saturday. In addition, an exhibitor's party was held Friday after the show with food and entertainment that lasted well into the morning.

Saturday, the Kenneth Warner family treated exhibitors to a luxurious seafood feast. Over 100 pounds of shrimp and 500 pounds of crayfish were cooked and served cajun style along with potatoes and corn on the cob.

The show was held at the Mississippi Coliseum and featured 71 classes for walking horses. Mike Sims of Knoxville, Tenn., Jamie Hankins of Paris, Ky., and Jamie Bradshaw of Union Grove, Ala., served as judges for the 2004 event.

The crowd was treated to an excellent night of championships Saturday evening culminating with the Grand Championship Stake. Throughout the performance the crowd voiced their approval for their favorites.

Last year’s Four-Year-Old World Grand Champion Main Power made his debut performance at Jackson, Miss. He was first to win the stallion class unanimously Thursday evening and then returned Saturday evening to carry out the tri-color with trainer Joe Cotten in the irons. This talented black stallion is owned by Holland, King and Kilgore of Decatur and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and is trained by David Landrum Stables of Franklin, Tenn. Push Too’s Cowboy and Knox Blackburn claimed the reserve position in both the Four-Year-Old Stallion class and the Championship Stake. They also executed two flawless Jackson performances for Mr. and Mrs. Gene Ramsey of New Madrid, Mo. Third place was awarded to I’m A Five Star General and Jimmy McConnell for Longview Farms of Union City, Tenn.

The David Landrum Stables team topped the blue ribbon count at this year’s show with a total of 16 blues. In 2002 and 2003 they won 15 Jackson blues. Five of these were stakes.

The Stanley Cup made his debut at Jackson and won dual blues this year. He won the 18-entry Three-Year-Old Stallion class unanimously Friday night and returned Saturday night to win the Three-Year-Old Championship with Joe Cotten directing for Dr. and Mrs. R. Rigual. They purchased this young stallion that is out of the same mare as their stallion, The Lottery. Reserve in both these classes was another outstanding young stallion, Zulu. Zulu was shown by Knox Blackburn for Bud Moore.

The Lottery also earned a third blue for the Riguals in the 14-entry Open Specialty class. Marvin North was in the irons.

The competition was extremely strong in the young horse divisions at Jackson. The judges selected 2003 world champion Texas Salsa and Nancy Groover with a unanimous decision in the 15-entry Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class, followed by the tri-color in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stake. Under Landrum’s guidance this team has won the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stake and the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stake at Jackson previously. They continued undefeated at Jackson with six blues in three years. The team of Sky Jam and Susanne Littell claimed the reserve position in the Championship Stake for Knox Blackburn Stables. They won the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion division earlier in the week.

Sandra Johnson won four Jackson blues and two championship stakes at Jackson under the Landrum Stables banner. The 2003 World Grand Champion Amateur 15.2 and Under team of Johnson and John F.K’s Delight won both the 15.2 and Under Amateur Stallion class Thursday and the 15.2 and Under Amateur Championship unanimously Saturday. In both of these classes the new, exciting team of Capone and Ginger Young were reserve for owner Billy Young. They are prepared by Callaway Stables.

Miracle At The Ritz and Sandra Johnson, also 2003 world champions, won the 15-entry Ladies Amateur Mares and Geldings unanimously Thursday evening. They returned Saturday to claim the tri-color in the Owner Amateur Specialty Championship. Both horses are owned by Bill and Sandra Johnson. Reserve in the stake went to Diamond Buster and Guylene Ozlanski of Tamarack Acres.

HySteppin Farm is the proud owner of the 2003 World Champion Amateur Stallion Generator’s Champion. Caresse Mills and Generator’s Champion were crowned victorious Thursday night in the Open Amateur class. Mills returned a few classes later to claim the blue in the 23-entry Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion class aboard Willie Mays.

Making their debut performance under the Landrum Stables banner was the new team of Pushin’ That Jazz and Laura Brandon. They proudly walked away with the 10-entry Owner/Amateur 50 and Over Specialty title.

Lindsey Landrum continues to win blues at Jackson. She made her first blue ribbon ride in 2001 at Jackson aboard The Olympic Touch. They also won the Youth Equitation in 2002 and 2003. They made this their fourth consecutive year when they won the class again.

Another young rider made her debut under the guidance of Landrum Stables this year. Alexandria Holland made her first show ring appearance a blue ribbon one when she won the Youth Novice class unanimously aboard I’m Bond, James Bond.

Allan Callaway Stables came to Jackson with their trucks loaded. They were certainly rewarded for their efforts, returning home with six blues, including the Two-Year-Old Championship Stake. A Flash Of Lightning and John Allan Callaway made an outstanding performance in this class with the newly purchased stallion owned by C&E Miller Farms. Reserve went to the head-shaking Shock Jock and Mickey McCormick for Michael and Becky Coleman.

Horses owned by Don and George Ann Pratt won three blues under Callaway's banner. My First Dollar and Allan Callaway enjoyed victory in the Junior Mares and Geldings class Thursday. George Ann Pratt directed First Watch to victory lane in the 14-entry Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding Thursday. Bill Callaway took over the reins Friday and claimed victory in the 19-entry Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class aboard First Watch.

Sky Jam and Susanne Littell won the 10-entry Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion Specialty in an outstanding show Friday. Karen Callaway and Ample Cash opened their season with another blue just as they ended the season last year with a victory at the Southern Championship in Perry, Ga. They claimed the Trainer’s Auxiliary on both occasions with two flawless rides.

Black Hawk Stables, Jeff Givens Stables and Rising Star Stables were neck and neck with five blues apiece. Black Hawk Stables and Jeff Givens Stables each claimed a stake.

Jaclyn and Tinsley Tillman enjoyed four blues on their horses, including the Amateur Championship. Jaclyn enjoyed victory on Pusher’s Black Hawk in that class. Generator’s Champion and Caresse Mills claimed reserve. Brock Tillman directed their former world champion The Key To My Heart to the blue in the 15.2 and Under Mares and Geldings class. Friday, I’m Splotched and Jaclyn Tillman won the 15-entry Mississippi Walking Horse Association Amateur Specialty unanimously followed a few classes later with another blue won by He’s Wired and Tillman in the 12-entry 15.2 and Under Amateur Mares and Geldings Specialty division.

Thursday, the 2003 world champion team of Ali Ali and Jeren Guthrie claimed the Youth Medallion class blue under the Black Hawk Farms banner.

Rainsong won two of the five blues for Givens Stables. First Jeff Givens and Rainsong won the Lite-Shod Open class followed by the Lite-Shod Specialty Championship unanimously on Saturday. Givens also captured the blue in the Model Plantation Pleasure unanimously with AK 47.

Givens was extremely pleased with his Park Pleasure Specialty winner, Gen’s Sundancer. Givens also topped the Four-Year-Old and Under Lite-Shod Specialty at Jackson this year aboard Pusher’s Jubilee Lady.

Rising Star Ranch, LLC enjoyed two of the five blues won by trainer Joel Weaver at Jackson with Simple Dangerous. Thursday, Debbie Eichler directed Simply Dangerous to the 18-entry Novice Lady Riders Amateur Specialty (Riders who have not won a blue ribbon in the past three years at Jackson) victory in an extremely competitive class. Eichler and Joel Weaver also enjoyed success on Simply Dangerous when they topped the 19-entry Pro-Amateur Specialty class on Saturday evening.

Weaver also enjoyed a victory in the 12-entry Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class Thursday evening aboard Slippin Round In Texas. Weaver directed Rebel’s Glitter Of Gold to the victory lane in the 12-entry Show Pleasure Specialty. Weaver concluded Friday night’s performance with a unanimous win aboard Rain At Midnight in the 15.2 and Under Stallion division.

Mickey McCormick Stables proudly earned four blues including the tri-color in the Juvenile Championship. Joel Johnson was in the irons for three of these victories. Miss Lipstick and Johnson enjoyed two unanimous rides, first in the Youth 12-17 Specialty, followed by the championship on Saturday. Johnson and Olympic Encore continued to add to their lengthy resume when they captured another Walking Pony title.

Keith Johnson walked away with the blue in the Men’s Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty with a unanimous tie aboard Insomnia.

Jimmy McConnell of Formac Stables, Clark Stables and Jack Way of Five Way Farms returned home with a trio of blues each.

Lee Wall won two championships in her three victory rides from Clark Stables. Wall was thrilled Saturday evening when she made two unanimous victory passes. She first won the Two-Year-Old Amateur Championship aboard Shakin For Cash as well as the preliminary 11-entry Amateur Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Cash on Thursday evening. A few classes later she topped the Amateur Three-Year-Old Championship aboard Master Of Jazz.

Jimmy McConnell's three victory rides were aboard horses owned by Bob and Mary Medina. Dragonfly was unanimous in both the Junior Stallion class and the Junior Championship on Saturday night. Current world grand champion Barracuda and McConnell made the blue ribbon ride Thursday in the Mare and Gelding division.

Lee Wall also won two of the three blues won by Five Way Farms. Wall won her third championship Saturday night in the 13-entry Show Pleasure Championship aboard I’m Armed And Lethal following their unanimous preliminary win in the 10-entry Ladies Amateur Show Pleasure class. Carolyn Rutner proudly exited the 16-entry Novice Amateur Specialty (Horses that have not won a blue ribbon in the past three years at Jackson) class with a victory pass aboard her Major League to earn the third Five Way Farms blue.

Knox Blackburn Stables, Josh Coble, Ann and Harlan Hatcher, and Chad Way Stables left the Magnolia State with dual blues.

Bobby Luna made his debut performance a unanimous ride in the 12-entry Men’s Novice Amateur Specialty aboard newly purchased Rising Rhythm under the Blackburn Stables banner. Knox Blackburn won the 12-entry Two-Year-Old Stallion title with the excellent On The Line.

Josh Coble trained entries won the Western Lite-Shod Specialty with Joseph Abernathy aboard CK’s Mystery and the Western Park Specialty with Richard Davis directing Strawman down victory lane.

Ann Hatcher directed Cindy Power to a unanimous victory Thursday evening in the Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty class. On Saturday, Harlan Hatch won the Weanling and Yearling Stallion class with The Image Of Colors.

David Warner won two blues under Chad Way Stables banner. On Thursday, Ritz’s Cash Lady won the Heart Of Dixie Amateur Specialty, and on Friday evening Warner directed JFK's Evening Legend to the top of the Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion class.

Many top barns won blues at Jackson. Thursday evening, Ebony’s Coin Dream and Marilyn Scott claimed another Owner-Amateur Trained title to add to their lengthy resume. Darden Gladney traveled from Homer, La., to win the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class unanimously with It’s Up In Arms while Karla Massey also claimed an unanimous victory aboard Royal Sparking Gen in the Country Pleasure class.

The first class Friday evening was the very competitive Youth 11 and Under class. The Inside Track and Kristopher Ausburn won this class for proud grandparents Red and Dot Strickland and trainer James Abernathy. Lisa Weaver and Blond Ambition traveled from Doylins, La., to win the Trail Pleasure Specialty blue. Lisa and her husband Fred train this beautiful mount.

Hytone’s Buster Brown and Tyler Herndon claimed the blue in the Men’s Amateur Mare and Gelding Specialty class. Shea Wood performs the training duties for this team. Kathryn Ramsbottom made a great exhibition ride aboard Extra Ordinary to win unanimously in the Youth Show Pleasure division under the guidance of Webb Stables.

In the very next class Landon Head and Rodney Dangerfield also had a class all to themselves. They wore the blue from the ring to win the Youth Park Pleasure title. Wink Groover claimed the blue in the Two and Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure with Tijuana Tex unanimously.

Guylene Ozlanski put on an outstanding performance aboard the striking Diamond Buster to top the Amateur Stallion Specialty class with unanimous ties. Trainer Stephen Aymett of Tamarack Acres handles the training duties. Following her Trainers’ Show victory, In Vogue and Roger Richards once again claimed the Weanling and Yearling Fillies class with a unanimous victory.

Ray Gilmer strolled into the Park Pleasure Specialty Championship to wear out the tri-color Saturday night aboard Gold Danger with a unanimous tie. Randy Nebel won the Trail Pleasure Three & Under title aboard She’s A Shady Lady unanimously.

This highlights the winners from the Mississippi State Charity Show. Complete results and judges’ cards follow and can be viewed on our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.