OWINGSVILLE, Kent. - The Owingsville, Kentucky horse show is billed as “The Greatest Walking Horse Show North of Shelbyville, Tennessee” and it certainly tries to live up to its name. It seems that all roads led to the 58th Annual Owingsville Lions Club 4-day Horse Show that was held on July 1-4, 2002. The crowds were huge with people standing three and four deep on the rail besides those seated.
The competition and the weather was hot. The show began with 35 leadline entries which lined up head to tail around the ring. No stake class could have had more cheering than this class did. Ken Moore judged the walking and racking horses at the multi-breed show. Each leadline entry was given a blue ribbon and a picture was taken as they exited the ring.
The Grand Championship Stake that concluded the show of 589 entries, which was a record number of entries, had seven outstanding entries. Each horse was called into the ring one at a time and the applause was thunderous from the huge crowd as their favorites entered the ring and throughout the class. Rodney Dick made the victory pass on New York, New York following a great show of talent. This talented stallion owned by Mann Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep made it seven blues for Finish Line Farms from Owingsville. Reserve went to World Champion Mark My Heart and Carroll Doyle for Jim and Barbara Finch with the third placing going to Warwick and Bob McQuerry for Joe and JoAnn Dietz. This team won the Stallion and Gelding earlier in the week.
This show always ends on the Fourth and after horses were put away, a dazzling display of fireworks is always the last thing of the day. Owingsville always has a barbecue following the show on the 3rd of July. In addition to the wonderful barbecue, exhibitors were treated with brown beans and boiled potatoes from huge black kettles. It was typical of the great things done by the Lions Club and show manager Earl Rogers, Jr. to make this such a fantastic show for all who attended.
The Open Yearling class was won by the palomino, Sunbeam’s Ivory Heat. Jamie Lee Derickson was at the lead for Van Bert Farms of Stanton, Ky. The reserve spot was awarded to Dark Spirit’s Shaman, led by Charles Howard for Billy and Sue Dean.
Clinton Day and his Eb’s Night Shadow Dancer was the recipient of the Open Weanling blue. Wave At Ivory and Jamie Lee Derickson carried out the red streamer for Van Bert Farms.
The Bath County Pleasure class had ten nice entries. Hometown rider, Melinda Anderson directed her spotted Pepper Girl to make the victory pass. Jake Rose of Olympia, Kentucky earned the reserve placing with his Buck Fury.
A few classes later, this team also won the Bath County Juvenile Pleasure title. Shadow Dancing and Jayme Patton, also of Owingsville, Kentucky were pleased to exit the ring with the reserve placing.
The Amateur Country Pleasure had 25 top entries answer the gate call. After viewing this talented class, Judge Moore selected the team of Cody Coyote and Charles Howard to wear the blue. Cody Coyote is trained by Billy Dean and owned by Wayne Hall of Fairview, Tennessee. Reserve went to the team of Glenda Kirkland of Berea, Kentucky and her Mark’s Mr. Shaker.
Patches True Grit topped a very large Spotted Saddle Horse Trail Pleasure with Erin Truesdell for hometown owners, Woody and Shirley Wells. Larry Stigers of Midway, Kentucky directed his Stuntman’s Gold Coin to win the reserve spot.
Cody Coyote won his second blue of the show in the Country Pleasure Juveniles class. Jayme Dean won her third consecutive blue in this class for owner Wayne Hall and dad/trainer Billy Dean. Alex Hamilton and Serenada were chosen to win reserve for Jim Longshore of Alexandria, Kentucky.
I’m Stagger Lee and Holly Waites topped the eleven-entry Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallions and Geldings class. Scott Beauty readies this team for the show ring for owners Ned and Holly Waites of Livingston, Tennessee. Reserve was awarded to Wasted Wages and Shane Cox for trainer Tom Cottle of Cook Stables. John and Shane Cox claim ownership of this nice horse.
Susan B. Anthony and Rodney Dick made their debut performance a blue ribbon one in the Two-Year-Old Filly class for the G.R. Trumble Family of Walton, Kentucky. They were especially proud of their home raised filly by Generator’s Silver Dollar and their show mare, Pusher’s Enchantress by Pusher. Reserve went to the team of Donnie May and Dazzled To Perfection for G. Baird Laser of Simpsonville, Kentucky.
The next class, the 15.2 and Under, was an extremely competitive one. Judge Moore selected Scott Beaty and World Champion On The Money to make the victory pass. Tom Cottle and Prince Of The Night carried the red ribbon out of the ring for John Somes of Hindman, Kentucky.
The always competitive 12-17 Juvenile class blue was earned by hard-riding Dalia Smith and Bottom Line, trained by Dale Burns for Pinecrest Farm of East Bernstadt, Kentucky. Bomar’s Ultimate Reality was directed by owner Evan Alexander to the reserve win.
In the very next class, dad Kenny Smith and his Final Design were victorious in the Amateur Owned & Trained class. Curtain Call’s Star, ridden by Daniel Carmichael for Bill Carmichael won the reserve spot.