By Jennifer Pack
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The beautiful Tennessee Miller Coliseum was the host for the Walking For The Children Horse Show October 18, 2003. Proceeds from the show benefited The Children’s Christmas Fund and the Children’s Indigent Fund. Bob Parks Realty of Murfreesboro sponsored a silent auction with all sorts of goodies to suit everyone’s tastes. In center ring, Link Webb of Lewisburg, Tenn., performed the judging duties for the 27-class event. Show coordinator Tommy Hall was certainly pleased with the record setting number of entries that ventured through the gates for the charity affair. The Walking For The Children Horse Show turned out 353 talented entries for judging and viewing pleasure.
The Walking Horse Stake was still winding down near the midnight hour. After all seven teams worked through, Webb called for one last running walk, much to the approval of the crowd. Mr. Pushbutton and Ronnie Spears were named champions for Glen and Virgie Crutchfield. Pushover & Lookout and Buddy Dick were reserve for Don and Lucky Collins. Push Me Bold and Joe Fleming rounded out the top three for Donald and Gladys Stephens.
Kicking the show off in a major way was the 22-entry Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings class. Bill Callaway enjoyed the winning ride aboard First Watch for excited owners Don and George Ann Pratt. Silver Dollar Angel and Tim Gray cashed in on the reserve for Shannon Snodgrass.
Twenty six novice teams made the call in the Novice Amateur Rider Specialty class. New York New York and Erica Mann were “spreading the blues” for Mann Chrysler. Pusher’s Citations Lady and Frank Colombo nabbed reserve. Frank and Vicky Colombo own the entry. Sara Gray made the trip from Flemingsburg, Ky., to show Spirit & Silver in the novice class for a special ride on her birthday!
Sassy Warlord and Judy Moore topped the 13-entry Country Pleasure class. Moore owns the winner. Kixx and Sara Womack were reserve for T.J. Wilson. The youth 11 and under class was the next to grace the ring. Former 11 and under world grand champion Jerry Maguire was directed by little Baylee Cook to the blue. She and older sister Chelsea own the champion.
The two-year-old amateur teams were next to enter the ring. Twenty entries gathered for the occasion. Willie B Strokin’ and Brenda Bramlett made the winning ride for the Bramlett and Dixon ownership. Santana’s Touch and Matt McNabb claimed reserve for Martin and Cheryl McNabb.
Undeniably Dumas and Winky Groover were crowned Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Champions. Hollywood Acres is the proud owner. Watch The Sunshine and Joel Weaver shined their way through the 19 entries for the red streamer. Dorothy Davenport owns the reserve winner.
O.M.G. and Charlie Green wowed the crowd for the 15.2 and under walking blue ribbon. Excited owners Ford and Jane Gates were on hand to celebrate the victory. I’m Splashed and Joe Cotton were reserve for Hillview Limited and Lindsey Landrum.
High Voltage struck once again as Dru McCormick directed Pusher’s High Voltage to the Trainer’s Auxiliary Members Only Specialty blue. This electrifying pair collected the world championship honors for the same division at the Celebration. Spring’s Starmaker and Joyce Marie Green claimed reserve. Samantha and Corey Green own the entry.
Pushin’ Backatcha added another blue ribbon to his lengthy resume. Ronnie Campbell directed his mount to the Show Pleasure Specialty blue for Frances Bivins. Extenuating Circumstances and Wendell Kirkpatrick were reserve for Rick Griffith out of the 15 competitors in the class.
With 16 entries in the Ladies Amateur Mares and Geldings Specialty class, competition was quite tough! Miracle At The Ritz and Sandra Johnson claimed the blue for Bill and Sandra Johnson. Candra Shular enjoyed a reserve on her newly purchased Prime Suspect.
The Cliff Gillespie Two-Year-Old Stallions and Geldings class harvested 23 young colts. Linda and Ed Brown were ecstatic as their stallion Brooks Robinson made the victory pass with Ronal Young in the irons. Knox Blackburn directed America In Command for the reserve for Ronnie and Elaine Smith.
Every girl is crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man! Birthday boy Gavin Kasser was aboard Pride’s Sharp Dressed Man for the Youth 12-17 victory. Proud grandparents Charles and Carol Ann Gavin own the entry. Final’s Escapade and Mac Benham took the reserve honor for the Joe Christmas family.
Of the eight-entry Lite-Shod Plantation Specialty class, Rainsong and Jeff Givens topped the field for the blue ribbon. Mike and Pam Erickson are the proud owners. Frippery and Grant Holt claimed reserve for Tamarack Acres.
Another ultra competitive class of the night was the Three-Year-Old Stallions and Geldings class. Pushover’s Harley and Justin Jenne rose to the top of the 22 teams vying for the title. Leo, Brenda, Doc and Jane Skelton are the champion’s owners. Joel Weaver and My Ebony Sky were reserve for Ridgemont Farms.
The multi-titled champion Cut The Smoke added yet another blue ribbon to the tally as Brenda Carlon guided the beauty to the Amateur Specialty title. Harv and Brenda Carlon own the champion. Outer Limits and Jeff Rich collected the red ribbon for the Kenneth Rich family.
Final Keeper and Morgan LeGate were awarded the blue ribbon honor in the Walking Pony Specialty class for the Gary LeGate family. The Nasdaq and Maria Derickson were reserve for Mike and Connie May.
She’s Barb Wire And Roses and Beth Young encountered the sweet smell of victory in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class. The mare is owned by Ronal and Judy Young. Miss Lipstick and Joel Johnson left their mark on the 14-entry class as they claimed the red streamer for Suzy Johnson.
Silver’s Gray Doll and Kim Leonard won’t be competing in the Novice Horse Amateur Rider Specialty division after taking their victory pass. Scott and Kim Leonard own the champion. Cash Gordon and Shane Porterfield were reserve in the class for Shane and Veronica Porterfield out of the 19 entries.
Linda Brown celebrated yet another blue ribbon when Flashy Sky took her on a blue ribbon ride in the Four-Year-Old Amateur class. Linda and her husband, Ed Brown, own the victor. Hand Over The Cash and owner/exhibitor Sue Irby cashed in on reserve.
Duck’s Jewel and Willie “Flip” Cook took the top honors in the Park Pleasure Two and Three-Year-Old Specialty class for the Joe Fizer family. Thrill’s Gray Star and Kyle Insell collected the red ribbon for Rick Nelson.
Fourteen pairs of 15.2 and under amateur specialty competitors vied for the top award in the class. Kathy Graves was aboard Silver Dollar Make Me Hollar for the winning ride. The Jerry Graves family owns the champion. Pride Of Bums and Frank Colombo made an impressive ride to second for Frank and Vicky Colombo.
Extra, extra read all about it…Movie Extra and Jeff Givens made a shining performance worthy of the Park Pleasure Specialty blue. Ralph and Elaine Pinner are the proud owners of the entry. Chill and Doug Barnes iced the competition for the reserve for Danielle Reid.
Ronal Young returned to the winner’s circle once again, but this time Young was aboard Black Cash Delight, owned by Larry and Loretta Goforth, to top the Four-Year-Old Walking class. The Sportin’ Man and Justin Jenne acquired the red streamer for Ray Stone.
Gen’s Thundermaker and Knox Blackburn made their way to victory lane in the Aged Walking Mares and Geldings class. Thundermaker is owned by the Paul Bryan family. Freak Design and Mickey McCormick captured reserve for the Jim Olson family.
And Justice For All claimed the Open Specialty title with Buddy Dick directing. Jay and Barbara Keenehan proudly own the entry. Music In The Sky and Charlie Green, hot off an International win, received second for Barry Breedlove.
With powerful performances and record setting entries, the Walking For The Children Show was a success. The Walking Horse Owners’ Association has a good thing going with no doubt. Hosting 353 horses in one night is quite a feat. This highlights the Walking For The Children Horse Show. Complete results follow and may be printed, viewed, or searched at www.walkinghorsereport.com.