By Christie Miller

MCCOMB, Miss. - The McComb Lions Club hosted its Heart O’ Dixie Championship Horse Show October 4, 2003. The outdoor arena sported a newly renovated, all weather limestone track with fresh sod carpeting the inside ring. Proceeds from this show are used to provide eye glasses to the needy of the community and hearing aides to the hearing impaired.

In addition to providing two scholarships to Southwest Community College, the Lions Club also provides many other services to the youth of the community such as leadership conferences. They also provide specialized eye testing and vision magnification equipment to the local schools.

This show was affiliated with the Mississippi Walking Horse Association, the Mid-South Horse Show Association and was a double point show for the Heart Of Dixie Association. Joe Campbell was the judge for the 33-class show, which featured 147 entries.

In the leadline class Mikey and Sara Bailey Jones claimed another blue ribbon with mom Jenny Jones at the lead for Frank and Sissy Bailey.

Gimme A Gen On The Rocks and Jim Hardy walked to the first award in the Colts Under Halter event.

Ebony’s Coin Dream and Marilyn Scott added another blue to their resume in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty.

In the pleasure divisions, Dumas McGuire and Laura Leigh Dorman were awarded two blues. The first blue came in the trail pleasure event, and the second one came in the Amateur Lite-Shod Plantation Pleasure class.

The Silver Fox and Jenny Jones “outfoxed” the competition for top honors in the country pleasure class.

Winner’s Pride And Joy and Laura Leigh Dorman came back in the Amateur Gaited Pleasure class for the victory.

Enola’s Captain Buck and Chris Mills strutted their stuff for the win in the Spotted Saddle Horse class.

Abernathy Stables of Olive Branch, Miss., was credited with eight blues. Pusher’s Society Man and Joseph Abernathy started the winning streak in the Amateur Open event. Beam’s Regal Coin carried a “beaming” Stephanie Tabb to the winner’s circle in the Youth Specialty event. The Pusher Label and James Abernathy were victorious in the Open Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class.

Undercover Pusher made three winning rides with three different riders. His first blue came in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty with Kathy Smith. In the Youth Park Pleasure 17 and Under class Dane Callihan directed Undercover Pusher to his second win. For his third blue ribbon of the evening, Undercover Pusher and James Abernathy claimed the Open Park Pleasure Specialty Championship.

Red Man Walking and Joseph Abernathy rode for blue ribbon honors in the Gaited Performance event. In the Walking Horse Stake Pushover’s Gold Standard and Wayne Gregg were awarded the floral horseshoe for Guy Burkhalter.

Pioneer Stables of Summit, Miss., took home six blue ribbons. Entries owned by Brett and Lisa Jones earned three of those blues. Dale Watts directed General’s Top Brass to top honors in the Two-Year-Old Stallion event. In the Open Specialty Irrational Exuberance and Brett Jones accepted the blue ribbon award. Jones returned in the Amateur 15.2 and Under Specialty aboard Summer Passion for the win.

Two of the Pioneer Stables six blues were received by entries owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thomas. In the Ladies Amateur Specialty division, Strong Armed and Margaret Thomas walked to the blue award. Pusher’s Blue Moon and Robert Thomas rode to the blue award in the Amateur Specialty division.

Commander-N-Chief, with Dale Watts in the irons, gave a commanding performance to earn the blue ribbon in the Three-Year-Old Open event for Pioneer Stables.

Summer Crest Farms of Olive Branch, Miss., held two blues to their credit. Jubilee’s Secret Threat and Lauren Walker were the winners in the Youth 11 and Under class. Sleeper’s Delta and Mike Spillers caught the judge’s eye in the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty. Donnie Jones trained and prepared these three entries for the ring.

Blackburn Training Facility of Shelbyville, Tenn., was credited with dual wins as well. The Warden Of Oz and David Warner were chosen for the blue award in the Two-Year-Old Amateur event. Warner returned aboard Ritz’s Cash Lady for the win in the Three-Year-Old Amateur division.

Holley and Son Stables of Byhalia, Miss., carried home a single blue. Ron Nichols directed Jail Break to the blue in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty.

This concludes the highlights from the Heart O’ Dixie Championship Show. Complete results follow and may also be found by visiting our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.