by K.C. Hensley

MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. - The Warren County Agriculture and Livestock Fair held their annual walking horse show on Saturday, September 13, 2003. The judge for the evening was Troy York. There were 150 entries for 23 classes.

A large stake class filled the ring with six entries. The competition was not to much for the well-known He’s A Rebel and rider Dick Myers. Rebel is owned by Myers’ wife Joyce of Shelbyville, Tenn. Reserve in the stake was Hard Coladeral and Chris Zahnd. Zahnd’s entry is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Roy of Hartselle, Ala. It was a competitive evening in deed!

The first five classes of the show were for Warren County residents only. The Youth Pleasure class was a no canter class for riders 12 years of age. The blue was retrieved by Teka Blue and Koyla Staffbol. Reserve in the class went to Claude and Zach West. In the Warren County Country Pleasure class entries could compete against fellow county members, but they could also test their skills in the Open Country Pleasure class that followed later in the evening. Winning the county only country pleasure class was Teka Blue and Misty Jett. Reserve in the class was awarded to Sundancer’s Wild Fire and Misty Puller.

Starting up the non-county only classes was the Walking Yearlings class. Colts and fillies were both permitted in this class. Striding away with victorious honors in a large class of eight was Roan Mistress and J.W. Massa of Sparta, Tenn. Reserve in the class was Klean Slate and Randall Phillips for Bobbie Phillips of Cookeville, Tenn.

The Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class is always a crowd pleaser. Walking away with the blue was Star’s Miss Cash N Carry and Bobby Fann for Brad Stewart of McMinnville, Tenn. Reserve in the class was Scorina Scorina and Dick Myers for the Prater and Boulin families both of McMinnville, Tenn.

Entries were a little down in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class with only three, but it was still a competitive class. Blue ribbon honors went to Size Me Up and Tex Dillingham for Shawna Floyd of McMinnville, Tenn. Reserve in the class was Pusher’s Special Effect and Sharon Yarbrough of Lenoir City, Tenn.

One of the largest classes of the evening was the Country Pleasure class with 13 entries! Steering her mount,Fearless, to the blue was Joanne Davis of Lebanon, Tenn. Reserve in this large class went to Hard Feelings and Nicole Phillips of Cookeville, Tenn.

Another great class was the Two-Year-Old Stallion class. The reigning champions in this class is Raining At High Noon and Harry Sullins of Baxter, Tenn. Reserve was awarded to Poison On The Mountain and Chris Zahnd for Travis Thrower of Hartsell, Ala.

Another large class of the night was the Amateur Specialty class. The competition was surpassed by Choice Of Silver and Lynn Womack for Womack and Williams of Murfreesboro and Etowah, Tenn. Reserve in the class was A Major Masterpiece and Chris Warley for Blackgold Farm of Normandy, Tenn.

The Amateur Park Pleasure class was won by The Lone Gunman and Brad Bottoms for Pam Williams of Farmington, Mo. Reserve in the class was Pride’s Tennessee Prime and Jennifer Bingham for the Coy Young family.

In the Open Show Pleasure class, 10 entries answered the gate call. Moving to the top of the class was Gen’s Crimson Rebel and John Robbins of Livingston, Tenn. Reserve in the class was Nuclear Armed and Kyle Insell for Renee Montgomery of Batesville, Ark.

Entries were down slightly in the Open Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. This is most likely due to the fact that there was a Three-Year-Old Amateur class earlier in the show. Sliding into the winner’s circle this time was Amberina and Marshall Tinch for Barbara Tetreault of Cookeville, Tenn. Reserve went to the classic Bill Bilbrey with his mount Pushin’ With Attitude.

The Youth Riders 17 & Under class was held half way through the show. Eleven entries answered the gate call. Rhythm And Jazz and Jordan Bailey answered the call to the winner’s circle. Reserve in the class was Promise’s Go Boy and Joseph Guthre for the Thurman Guthre family of Shelbyville, Tenn.

In the Park Pleasure Two and Three-Year-Old class Pusher’s Secret Tiger and Jeff Givens won the blue for Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bass of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Reserve in the class was All Colors Rhapsody and Kirk Seaton for Samantha Duncan of Tullahoma, Tenn.

In the Three-Year-Old Stallions class Jewel Thief’s Gold and Tonya Cummings emerged from line up to take the blue ribbon honors for Charles Bailey of Sparta, Tenn. Reserve in the class was given to Coin’s Southern Breeze and Randy Young for Hillis Stables of Rock Island, Tenn.

The Two-Year-Old Amateur proved as always to be exciting. Taking the blue in the class was The Fantastic Ritz and Rhonda Stewart for Brad Stewart of McMinnville, Tenn. Reserve in the class was Twistin’ For Blues and Megan Mullis for the David Mullis family of Good Hope, Ga.

In the Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty class the well-known team of Drop The Hammer and Connie Waldo walked away with the blue ribbon victory. Reserve in the class went to Sailin’ Man and Donald Knight of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

In the Amateur Specialty class, George Herd and Jordan Bailey won the blue. Reserve in the class was A Threatening Mark and Brenda Turnage of Cookeville, Tenn.

Finally, the Walking Horse Stake was upon us. Entering the ring were six excellent entries, but it was up to Mr. York to decide which one of these talented entries would win the final prize for the evening. Emerging from the line up to except the final call was the beautiful bay stallion He’s A Rebel with Dick Myers up. Reserve in the class was Hard Coladeral and Chris Zahnd. This concludes the highlights of the Warren County Fair Show. Complete results follow and can be viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.