BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - A record breaking number of 120 entries kicked off the WHOA-TWHBEA Academy Program for 2008. In spite of cold windy weather, everyone was ready for a horse show. Youth and adult riders filled the 32 classes with several classes being split. WHOA Executive Director Tommy Hall was the announcer for the show and Connie Waldo had a difficult job of judging the 120 entries. This first combined WHOA-TWHBEA Academy show for this year was an overwhelming success. WHOA and TWHBEA would like to thank those who helped with this show including WHOA Academy Committee Chairperson Harolene Willis, WHOA Sales and Marketing Director Mark Taylor, TWHBEA Industry Development Manager Lori Puckett, TWHBEA Interim Executive Director Stan Butt, TWHBEA President David Pruett, Marcy Wilson, Larry, Linda and Dan Starnes and Sput Houchens, who did a great job of handling the gate duties for the day. Everyone was particularly pleased to see Beverly Lamp in the ring with her students after sustaining a serious neck injury the last week in November. Lamp will have to wear a halo for another six weeks.
The Academy Program is grateful to the wonderful sponsors that make these shows possible: Backward S Ranch-Floyd & Beverly Sherman of Dallas, Texas and Shelbyville, Tenn., Deborah L. Williams Architecture LP of Argyle, Texas and Shelbyville, Tenn., TWHBEA, WHOA, Midland Farms of Bell Buckle, Tenn., S & S Buggies of Shelbyville, Tenn., and Waterfall Farms of Shelbyville, Tenn.
The 2008 WHOA-TWHBEA Academy High Point Incentive Program for riding instructors is $2,000 to the first place instructor, $1,500 to the second place instructor and $1,000 to the third place instructor. These incentive awards are based on the total number of participants from each instructor.
Several new classes were added to the schedule for 2008 including a Youth Showmanship, Egg and Spoon and Water Glass class. The next Academy Show will be held at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Jan. 19 at 10 a.m.
Three additional classes will be added to the Jan. 19 show in Murfreesboro: Open Youth 11 and Under Equitation, Open Youth 12-17 Equitation, Canter and Open Adult Equitation, Canter.