By Jennifer Maack-Condren

SALEM, Mo. - The annual Salem Saddle Club Gaited Horse Show was held July 19, 2003, in Salem, Mo. Twenty-seven classes played host to 90 entries of Tennessee Walking Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters. Everett Clamp of Lebanon, Mo., was responsible for the penciling of the cards for all classes. Club president Rick Inman served as ringmaster while show committee member Jim Reed fulfilled the announcing duties.

Ted and Glenda Nichols, with sons Brian and Brad, took home a total of five blues to Ozark, Mo. Brian Nichols and Eclectic received two of those blues with wins in the Open Walking Horse class and the Open Amateur class for Grandmother Mrs. Glen Campbell. Caretaker’s Image won three classes with three different riders. Bradley Nichols and Caretaker won the Juvenile Park Pleasure class, and Glenda Nichols and Caretaker won the Park Pleasure Two-Gait class. Then Brian followed up with a win in the Park Pleasure Three-Gait class with Caretaker. Campbell Ford-Mercury of Ozark lays claim to this solid competitor.

Don Bills Stables of Fair Grove, Mo., won four classes. Starting off their winning streak was Mark The Time and Darlene Swaringim. This duo has numerous wins under their belts this season, proving once again that they are ready for the hot competition. Carolyn Lough made the reserve ride on Dark Mark. Sam Henson is all business when he hits the show ring. He came away with a win in the Juvenile Specialty class with Extracy. This eye-catching pair is always a crowd favorite. Brad Nichols and Coin’s Smooth Operator were reserve.

Carroll and Virginia Counts both went home with blue ribbons of their own. Carroll’s win came in the Men’s Amateur Specialty class with Movin’ On Up. Virginia was excited for Carroll’s win, but only until winning a blue ribbon on her mare Spun’s Precious Jewel in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class. These two winners were also prepared by Don Bills. Touch’s Generator and Ed Depaulo rode to the red ribbon spot in the Men’s Specialty class and Dixie Jubilee and Glenda Nichols were reserve in the tough competition of the Ladies Specialty class.

Jim Huffman Stables of Ozark, Mo., took home two blues to Christian County. Brad Huffman directed Talk Of Texas to the blue in the Three and Under Park Pleasure class for Bill Maack Stables. Kristen Huffman and Hydro Generator had their time under the lights as well with a good ride in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty class. Ebony’s Jazz Piece and Ross Maack rode to the reserve spot in three different classes, Three and Under Park Pleasure, Juvenile Park Pleasure and Park Pleasure Two-Gait class.

Ken Taylor dominated the young horse classes with wins in both the Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old classes. Taylor and Sun Dust’s Fashion received the judge’s nod in the Two-Year-Old class for Mr. and Mrs. James Cain edging out Steve Davis and Dancing on the Bar. The crowd came to life for the Three-Year-Old class with two fine entries. Taylor and The Gatekeeper rode out with the blue for Katie High. Brad Huffman and Victory Colors put the heat on for the reserve ribbon.

Lee Loveday of Shadowwood Stables located in Fair Grove, Mo., also claimed a pair of blues with My Horse Showtime. Marvelene Kusewitt directed this colorful gelding to wins in the Open Lite-Shod Two-Gait and the Western Park Pleasure classes for Kusewitt and Jones. She’s High Tech and Cheyenne Jones were second in the lite-shod class, which was the largest class of the night.

Anita Hopper didn’t have far to travel to win her blue ribbon in the model class. Collectors’s Blue Lace and Hopper are from just down the road in St. James, Mo. Thorncrest’s The Deal and Caroline Siegel received second place honors in the model class. Anne Hardin and A Moonwalker won the Performance Pleasure Two-Gait class for Daugherty and Hardin of DeSoto, Mo.

This concludes the highlights from the Salem Saddle Club Show. Complete results follow and can also be found on our website: www.walkinghorsereport.com.