by Christy Howard Parsons

The purpose of the High Point Report was not to recognize world champions, horses of the year, readers’ popular choices or any other person’s selection of the “best” the breed has to offer. Rather, we wanted to develop a program that recognized those horses that are out there showing - every weekend - day in and day out. Some of them are world champions, horses of the year and more. Some of them are not. But they are all champions - whose consistent ability to perform makes us pack the stands for a Saturday night horse show because sometimes the most memorable performances come when you least expect them.

How did they become champions? How many shows must you show at? How many shows must you win to be a High Point Report Top Ten Champion? It depends on the number of horses competing in your category, but the most interesting part of the High Point Report is often found between the lines. Walking Horse Championship

The Snowatch is a perennial favorite at one-night horse shows. Dick Peebles prepared the white stallion for competition in 2003 for the Anthony Joseph family. With a fourth place tie in the Walking Horse Grand Championship at the Celebration and a third place finish in the B qualifier, he delighted his fans and family. The Snowatch and Peebles made victory passes in 2003 at the Gulf Coast Charity, the South Carolina State Championship, the Alabama Jubilee and the Texas Bluebonnet Classic. Reserve finishes at Columbia Spring Jubilee, Woodbury and the International added to his point total. Strong showings at Pulaski and the Trainers’ Show gave him 201 points from 11 shows, which put him in the highest spot in our High Point Report. Congratulations to Dick Peebles and the Anthony Joseph family. And, good luck to Ashley Joseph on her rides aboard the proven champion. Together they captured the Amateur Specialty Stallion title at Perry in the fall.

Reserve World Grand Champion The Black Night Shade and Jimmy McConnell earned 193 points to be named Reserve High Point Report Champion. Wins throughout the season at Gallatin, Germantown, Bethesda, the Magnolia Classic, Belfast and the International led up to a stellar performance at the 2003 Celebration. After winning the Section B Walking Stallions World Championship, this talented team was primed for a World Grand Championship bid. One excellent ride later, they were named Reserve World Grand Champions. But don’t count them out in 2004 - they headed to Louisiana in the fall at the Dixie Jubilee and won both the Aged Stallions class and the Walking Horse Championship. Look for another banner run for the roses in 2004!

Another high point champion bound for success in 2004 is MG Above The Rest. Well-known on the Carolina circuit with wins at the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary, Dallas, North Carolina’s Walking For The Children, Land O’ The Sky and the North Carolina State Championships, trainer Shawn Abee and owners Tom and Sissy Weese brought him to Tennessee to finish reserve at Belfast. A disappointing first round at the Celebration netted an eighth place ribbon, but the team rebounded on Saturday night to finish in fifth in the World Grand Championship. Starting out the fall season with a win at the East Tennessee Fall Classic added points to 2003’s high point total and promised that we’ll see more great things in the Carolinas and in Tennessee in 2004 from this team.

Two world grand champions made the Top Ten Champions list. Private Charter, who showed throughout the season in championship competition, made the decision at the Celebration to show 15.2 and under and netted a ride under the spotlight and those grand championship roses as a result. Bud Moore and Suzanne Littell own this talented entry, who is campaigned by Knox Blackburn.

The Whole Nine Yards was, of course, the 2003 World Grand Champion. Perhaps superstition paid off at the Celebration as Bill Bobo was crowned World Grand Champion on the horse’s ninth show with the number nine on his back. But staying away from the show ring to preserve that superstition cost them positions in the High Point Report. The World Grand Champions finished in tenth place with 100 points from three shows, the Celebration, the Trainers’ Show and Columbia Spring Jubilee.

Other outstanding High Point Report champions in the Walking Horse Championship category are the Star Of Sundance, Jubilee’s Image, I’m All Fired Up, I’m A Five Star General and Pusher’s Force. Congratulations to all the winners.

Walking Mares or Geldings

John Allan Callaway and Tennessee Gen topped the High Point Report in this category with 137 points. Owned most of the year by Bud Moore and Suzanne Littell, Brenda Bramlett bought Tennessee Gen late in the year for future amateur competition. Under John Allan’s direction, they amassed 137 points with eight classes at eight shows. Top performances at the Trainers’ Show, Gulf Coast, Columbia Spring Jubilee, Tony Rice, the International and the Alabama Jubilee in addition to a reserve world championship in the Aged Geldings class earned this team enough points to become the High Point Report Champion.

Barracuda showed often under owner Mary Medina in amateur competition in addition to open competition with trainer Jimmy McConnell. In open competition in this category, McConnell and Barracuda were undefeated with 110 points from wins at Mississippi Charity, the Fun Show, Germantown and the Dixie Jubilee. They were named the Mares and Geldings World Grand Champions as well as the Geldings World Champions.

When Swoosh was not competing in amateur competition with Steve or Megan Mozeley, Link Webb was steering him towards open competition. In this category, Webb and Swoosh earned 98 points from six classes at six shows. Other top ten champions in this category include Pushin’ That Jazz, Rising Rhythm, Lock And Load, Diamonds & Cash, Armed Lady, Flashy’s Loose Cannon, and Gen’s Thundermaker.

Open Specialty

Fewer shows offered open specialty classes in 2003 so Freedom Fighter showed in both open, under Charlie Green’s direction, and in amateur competition, with owner Sunny Shoffner, not to mention competing at some shows in walking horse stake competition with top results. Open specialty points were earned by winning at Columbia Spring Jubilee and the International and earning reserve honors at Southern Championships.

David Polk showed The Feel, an entry owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hill, in open specialty competition across the Carolinas. They earned points with top performances at South Carolina Walking and Racking, NCWHA Spring, North Carolina Foothills Jubilee, Lenoir Optimist, and the Southeastern Championship Walking and Racking Show.

Charlie Green also showed Music In The Sky in open specialty competition. Music In The Sky is owned by Barry Breedlove. In addition to wins in amateur competition across the Southeast, Green showed him to top performances at Hershel Talley Memorial, Alabama Summer Classic, WHAA Charity, Walking For The Children and Oak Grove to earn 45 points.

Other top ten championships include Pusher’s Midnight Delight, I’m Twice The Delight, Pushin Up The Mountain, He’s Wired, He’s Pay Back, My Cash’s Clay and Coin’s Signature Edition.

15.2 & Under Walking Horses

Sometimes it’s not how often you show, but where you show. Sammy Day directed Gen’s Johnny Walker Red to the High Point Report 15.2 & Under Championship spot with 154 points from seven shows for the Gary LeGate family. Jimmy McConnell and Pushover’s Infiniti finished in reserve in the High Point Report after showing at nine shows.

Day and Johnny Walker Red amassed wins at Mississippi State Charity, the Gulf Coast Charity, the Spring Fun Show, Marshall County, International and Southern Championships. Add two second place finishes at the Celebration and you get 154 points.

McConnell directed Infiniti for Bob and Mary Medina to wins at Mid America Spring, West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, Savannah Lions Club, White Oak Classic, Magnolia Classic and Mid-South. Medina and Infiniti also graced the Celebration ring on two different occasions for a fifth place tie in the stallion division and a fourth place in the 15.2 and Under World Grand Championship. The successful pair ended the season with two reserve ties, one at the International and the other at the Alabama Jubilee, for a total of 125 points.

UC I’m Ultra Gold was shown by Bill Cantrell in a partnership between Cantrell and Dr. W.S. Warr seven times at seven shows to earn 109 points and the third place finish in the High Point Report.

Cut A Rug, I’m Splashed, Pusher’s American Patriot, Skywatcher, OMG, Whisper of JFK and the Steel Connection complete the list of Top Ten High Point Report Champions in this category.

Open Four-Year-Old

Link Webb wasn’t letting grass grow under Julio Julio in 2003. The standout youngster owned by Donnie and Charlotte Taylor went to 14 different shows to compete in four-year-old competition resulting in seven wins and three reserves. Fifth and sixth place finishes at the Celebration added to points earned at Children’s Classic, Walking To Make A Difference, Columbia Spring Jubilee, McMinnville, Magnolia Classic, Lewisburg, the Kentucky Celebration, the International, Dixie Jubilee, Alabama Jubilee, Southern Championships and Murfreesboro WHOA/Kiwanis to earn a total of 227 points to top the High Point Report.

Cliff and Linda Garrard placed Gold Picture into the capable hands of Bill Bobo and earned reserve in the High Point Report along with their Reserve World Grand Championship and Reserve World Championship. Top performances at the Trainers’ Show, Walking To Make A Difference, Woodbury, Lynchburg, Wartrace, the International and the Celebration earned them 151 points to earn the reserve honors.

Main Power was shown more sparingly and ended the season undefeated in four-year-old competition. Starting at the Mississippi State Charity with two wins and going on to wins at Gallatin, the Fun Show, Woodbury and both a World Grand Championship and a World Championship earned him 150 points with Joe Cotten in the saddle. Dr. Jim and Kay Green sold Main Power to Neal Holland, Gus King and Bob Kilgore prior to the Celebration. Both sets of owners kept the talented youngster under David Landrum’s direction.

Major Gee Whiz, He’s Outlaw Josey Wales, Sanman, Pusher’s Last Citation, The Golden Sovereign, Olympic Pusher and Millenium Masquerade were the other members of the High Point Report Top Ten Champions who turned heads all season long in one of the crowd’s favorite divisions.

Open Three-Year-Old

Once again proving you don’t have to be in Middle Tennessee to be a High Point Report Champion, Victory Colors and Jim and Brad Huffman certainly showed their’s to top the High Point Report. At 13 shows across Missouri, Jim or Brad Huffman showed Victory Colors in Open Three-Year-Old competition winning or earning reserve honors every time, not to mention the top ties in amateur competition with Donna Huffman in the irons. An impressive 185 points topped the High Point Report in a division where 425 horses competed.

Skywatch’s Dark N Stormy earned the reserve High Point Report championship in both open and amateur competition. Sam Martin directed her in open competition for owner Gorden Timmons. In addition to winning Section B of the Three-Year-Old Mares World Championship, Dark N Stormy and Martin won or were second at the Trainers’ Show, Gulf Coast, the Fun Show, South Carolina Championships, the International, Camp Kemo Charity and the Southern Championships.

2003 Reserve World Grand Champion Three-Year-Old Dragonfly earned third place in the High Point Report for owners Bob and Mary Medina. Jimmy McConnell directed Dragonfly to his outstanding season beginning with a third place finish at the Trainers’ Show, followed by wins at Gulf Coast, Grinder’s Switch and Belfast. Two reserves at the Celebration and two reserves at Dixie Jubilee completed the point total.

World Champion Ted Williams, Push Too’s Cowboy, Altima, Thief’s Delightful Man, The Texas Lotto, Undeniably Dumas and Ritz’s Diamond Joe complete the Top Ten Champions.

Open Two-Year-Old

The number of open two-year-olds competing continues to grow. Up to four splits at the Celebration, there are an unprecedented number of standout stars on the horizon. Only ten, however, can be named the High Point Report’s Top Ten Champions. The list starts with Back To the Ritz, an entry owned by James and Peggy Vernon and placed into training with Link Webb. Beginning with a win at Faith Haven, this talented two-year-old turned in top performances at Columbia Spring Jubilee, Alabama Summer Classic, Tony Rice, Magnolia Classic, the Futurity, the Celebration, Alabama Jubilee and the Dixie Jubilee to earn 153 points and top the High Point Report. There were 456 two-year-olds with points in this category.

Pride’s Heartbeat also competed a number of times with Sam Martin in the irons for owners Harry and Barbara Sullins to earn reserve in the High Point Report. A win at the Trainers’ Show started the season off right and gave a 20 points head start in the High Point Report. Additional wins at Lexington, S.C., the Fun Show, South Carolina State Championship and Camp Kemo Charity in addition to top performances at the International, Southern Championships and the Celebration completed the 140-point total.

Bobby Kellett and later Mickey McCormick showed Mama’s Almighty Dollar 11 times in open competition. New owners Michael and Becky Coleman, who purchased the exciting youngster prior to the Celebration, must have been thrilled with a third and fourth place finish in the two-year-old Celebration competition, given the sheer number of entries. Expect more good things to come from the team of Becky Coleman, Mickey McCormick and Mama’s Almighty Dollar in three-year-old competition in 2004.

Finishing out the Top Ten Champions in this category are Owl’s Biloxi Blues, World Champion The Ivy League, Absolutely Flawless, Without Question, Santana’s Hurricane, World Champion The Expeditor and Neon Bright.

Walking Weanling

Encore’s Midnight Lady showed 12 times in competitions throughout 2003 resulting in 161 points. Top performances with trainer Billy Thomas or Shane or Nolan LaRue at the lead across the Southeast established this filly as the High Point Report Weanling Champion.

Bobby Richards directed the Weanling Colt World Champion So U Wish to the reserve spot in the High Point Report with eight performances at four shows. Ty and Sue Irby own the talented youngster, who was also third in the Weanling World Grand Championship.

Nathan Mills directed Rock of Ages to top performances in 14 classes for Hoyte Eakes. Five wins and a sixth place tie at the Celebration helped to earn Rock of Ages’ points.

Other talented weanlings in the top ten are World Wide Willie, Edge’s 3rd Times A Charm, Our American Idol, Blue’s Lady Pusher, A Poisonous Affair, Sunny’s Time Around and The Grand Jury.

Walking Yearling

A busy little yearling topped the High Point Report in this category. Yippie Yi O Ki Yay showed an amazing 32 times at 26 different shows under the direction of the Richards family to earn 415 points.

Encore’s Magic Lady, shown by Nathan Mills and owned by Hoyte Eakes, also did her share of showing and winning with 14 wins in 17 classes at 17 shows. World Champion Yearling Fillies or Geldings and Reserve World Grand Champion Yearling Encore’s Magic Lady is an outstanding Reserve High Point Report Champion.

Bobby Richards also directed the third place High Point Report Champion. Mask Kentucky Girl is owned by Chris and Tami Proctor and was shown 16 times at 12 shows to top ribbons.

Other top ten yearling champions are Cotton’s Power Pusher, High Altitude, You’re Busted, Keeping Promises, Black Diamond Ritz, Ambassador For RFK and The Texas Lexus.

Amateur

The leader in the High Point Report in the amateur category is the Missouri favorite Eclectic. Brian Nichols piloted this perennial favorite for Mrs. Glen Campbell. Despite not making the trip to Tennessee in August, this champion showed and earned top three ribbons in this division an amazing 18 times at ten different horse shows. Together they earned 12 blue ribbons in amateur competition and a stake win at the Salem Saddle Club (which does not give points in the amateur category).

Generator’s Champion is another proven winner in the amateur category. With Caresse Mills in the saddle, this David Landrum Stables trained entry, captured wins in open amateur competition at the Trainers’ Show, Mississippi State Charity, the Spring Fun Show, Woodbury and Belfast. The pair captured the World Championship in the Amateur Stallions class at the Celebration (where points were counted in the amateur stallion division) and was the Reserve World Grand Champion in the Amateur Championship earning 27 points for this finish. Overall the talented team, owned by Mills and Rusty Hyneman, earned 157 points in the amateur category plus another 30 points in the amateur stallion category.

Abby Fox should be delighted with her third place finish in the High Point Report. Abby and her parents Quentin and Linda Fox placed Command’s Wild Card in the capable training hands of Scott Beaty to prepare the team for amateur competition in Kentucky and East Tennessee. Wins at Upper Cumberland, KWHA Ladies Auxiliary Spring, Derby Day, Smoky Mountain Classic, Gainesboro, Tenn., and East Tennessee Fall Classic added to top three finishes at Lewisburg, Kentucky Celebration and North Carolina State Championship brought their grand high point total to 142.

The remaining top ten high point champions also read like a who’s who in the amateur ranks. Dr. Perfect, Lady’s Ebony Ace, Spirited Rendezvous, Generator’s Old Gold, Mister Pushbutton, Paycheck By MG and Pride’s Flapjack all earned enough points to be in the top ten of the 173 horses who competed in this division in 2003.

Amateur Mares or Geldings

Not many world champions topped the High Point Report as well, but Sandra Johnson and Miracle At The Ritz did just that by delivering world champion worthy performances all season long. Beginning with a reserve finish in Manchester, the 2003 season featured wins at the Fun Show, Bethesda and Walking For The Children. The first Friday evening of the Celebration saw an excited Sandra Johnson in the winner’s circle met by trainer David Landrum and husband Bill Johnson. The final Saturday night featured a similar celebration following their reserve world grand championship title.

Next in the point tally was the new team of Erin Graf and Silverado Spirit. Former owner Beverly Sherman won the Amateur Ladies Specialty title at the Trainers’ Show, and Erin Graf was hooked. Under the direction of Knox Blackburn, the new team began the season together with winning results at Jackson, Miss., and Minor Hill, Tenn. A reserve performance at Bethesda prepared the team for Celebration competition. After a ninth place finish at the Celebration in the Lady Riders on Walking Mares, Graf returned Monday night to claim the world championship in the Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings class. Returning on the final Saturday night to claim fourth in the World Grand Championship, Graf added 21 more points to her total. A final win at the International in the Pro Am class with trainer Knox Blackburn capped off the season (although it did not earn points). Look for another run for the roses in 2004 from this talented team who is now primed and ready for all challengers.

Daniel Groover and Jubilee’s Star Wars were third in the High Point Report with 75 points. Starting the season with a reserve finish at the Fun Show, Star Wars and Groover also won a world championship in the Five Years and Over Mares and Geldings class and a reserve world championship in the Amateur Mares or Geldings class. An additional 30 points were earned in the amateur category in the Open Amateur World Grand Championship. Points were also earned in the amateur specialty category with top shows at Pulaski and Woodbury. They gave a mighty impressive performance everywhere they went in 2003.

Other top ten champions include Down Under, Backfield In Motion, Sweetie Sky, Flush With Spirit, Rankin County, Generator’s Cashin In and the many-time world champion Gen’s Fire & Ice.

Amateur Stallions

Not many shows offer amateur classes broken down by sex of the horse, but the amateur stallion competition is often key to seeing who will prevail in open amateur competition.

Two outstanding performances at the Celebration netted Dr. Jim Baum and ADA2D the High Point Report Championship in this category. Together they first earned the third place finish at the Celebration in the Elite Amateur Gentlemen Riders on Walking Stallions class. They returned two nights later to earn the Reserve Novice Amateur Gentlemen Riders on Novice Stallions World Championship title. The talented team also earned top ribbons at Upper Cumberland, Walking To Make A Difference and the Alabama Jubilee in the amateur specialty category.

New York New York was a Top Ten High Point Report Champion in both the amateur specialty category and the amateur stallions category. Stallion points were earned at the Spring Fun Show and by winning the Novice Lady Riders on Novice Stallions World Championship. Owner Terry Mann piloted this terrific stud under the direction of David Landrum Stables.

Chicago has since changed hands, but Roger and Patty Hainer owned this incredible horse during 2003, and Liz Underwood rode him under Sammy Day’s direction. Once again, this team earned several points in the amateur specialty category, but their stallion points were earned by a win at the Fun Show and a fourth place finish in the amateur stallions class at the Celebration.

Other talented amateur stallions include Reserve High Point Report Amateur Specialty Champion Cut Above All, Pride’s Sundance Star, Walkin’ All Over, Reserve High Point Report Amateur Champion Generator’s Champion, The Ultra Doc, A Specialist, and World Grand Champion and World Champion The Phantom Menace.

Amateur Specialty

Eleven wins amid 14 outstanding shows in amateur specialty competition across the Southeast netted the High Point Report Amateur Specialty Championship for Bruce and Robin MacDonald and their John FK’s Pusher. Dick Peebles prepared the team of Robin MacDonald and “Homer.” A win at the 2003 Trainers’ Show was followed by a string of top performances at the Gulf Coast, Gallatin, Columbia, Woodbury, Belfast, South Carolina Championships, Dixie Jubilee and the Southern Championships, not to mention a third (in the amateur stallion category) and a fifth place finish at the Celebration! Including all categories, this talented mount showed in seven different states in 2003!

Deborah Perry and Cut Above All also traversed the Carolinas and Tennessee to show off their talents. Beginning with two wins at the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary, this talented team earned points with top performances at the East Tennessee Classic, Woodbury, Land O’ The Sky, South Carolina State Championships, North Carolina State Championships and the Celebration where they were crowned Reserve World Grand Champions.

Brenda Carlon and her Cut The Smoke earned points in amateur specialty competition at ten different shows under the direction of Herbert Derickson Stables. Beginning with a win at the Trainers’ Show in the Ladies Amateur Specialty Championship, Carlon and Cut The Smoke delighted audiences at Gulf Coast, the Spring Fun Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee, Murfreesboro Exchange, Cornersville, Belfast, the International, the Celebration, Walking For The Children and the Southern Championships with outstanding performances.

Following in the High Point Report in this category were On the Rise, Barracuda, New York New York, Rebel’s Knight, Papa’s Smoking Pusher, Elvis Pusher and Walkin’ All Over.

Amateur 15.2 & Under

Kim Trumble piloted Amateur 15.2 & Under High Point Champion Gen’s Color Me In to the top of the points with seven performances in this division including a world championship ride in the Amateur Geldings 15.2 & Under and a reserve world grand championship in the Amateur 15.2 & Under. Rodney Dick has prepared the Trumble family owned entry for years, with each year resulting in outstanding performances both in this division and in open 15.2 & under competition where they won at Gulf Coast and were second at the Fun Show. Trumble and Color Me In were rewarded for their efforts with blue ribbons at the Trainers’ Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee, Belfast and the International in addition to their world championship recognition.

Pam Ingraham and Pure Tribute topped the High Point Report with a reserve finish in the amateur 15.2 & under category. Joel Weaver prepared this team for competition at Jackson, Miss., Minor Hill, Tenn., Woodbury, Decatur, Ala., and the Celebration. With a fourth place finish in the qualifier at the Celebration and a fifth place finish in the championship, they earned 123 points to be named Reserve High Point Champions.

The versatile Pushover & Lookout earned 114 points in this category with Lucky Collins making top rides at the Trainers’ Show, Gulf Coast Charity, Woodbury, Pulaski, Wartrace and the Southern Championships. A ninth place finish in the Amateur Stallions 15.2 & Under completed the point total to earn the third place award. However, this talented entry’s story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that he was also shown by Kaitlyn Byrom in Walking Pony competition at the Bedford County 4-H Festival and by trainer Buddy Dick in the Walking Horse Championship at Great Strides and Walking For The Children. All of these “extra” performances also earned blue ribbons (and red at Walking For The Children). Owner Lucky Collins also showed in open amateur competition throughout the year. Certainly a champion worthy of recognition!

Other top ten champions in this division include Silver Dollar Make Me Hollar, World Grand Champion and World Champion John FK’s Delight, Capone, Olympic Power, Look Who’s In Command, Figgy Puddin and Olympic’s Energizer.