By Kay Swisher
HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Shenandoah Valley Horseman’s Association held their annual banquet at Pano’s Restaurant in Harrisonburg recently. Members of the association were recognized for their high point horses during the 2003 show season. They also had an opportunity to catch up on the horse news over a delicious buffet dinner and afterwards dancing to beach music.
The high point horse of the 2003 show season was P’s Blackhawk owned by Peggy Harrison. The reserve went to Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar owned by Mary and Brooke Swecker. The prestigious Juvenile Rider of the Year award was given to Chad Funkhouser, son of Dan and Pam Funkhouser.
Bill Reel Stables walked off with the most high point ribbons. They collected seven high point blues and seven reserve high point red ribbons. Benny Johnson Stables claimed five of the high point awards for the 2003 season.
Odie Adcock’s show string all walked off with high point awards. Pusher’s Mahogany Bay was the Amateur Specialty winner and Doc’s Gypsy Rose, with Elizabeth Wine in the irons for Adcock, took the prestigious Ladies Specialty High Point Award. Adcock’s all time winner Shaker’s Spotted Threat took two divisions, the Park Pleasure and Open Spotted Saddle divisions.
Dr. and Mrs. Ernie Schlabach’s horses took all the high point awards in the Lite-Shod division. Ultra’s Shadowette won the Lite-Shod Plantation Specialty and the Lite-Shod Western and reserve in the Lite-Shod Three-Gait division. Blue’s Walking Angel won the Lite-Shod Three-Gait and the Men’s Pleasure divisions.
John and Donna Skelly won three high point ribbons with their horses Smokey’s Delightful Doll in Halter; He’s All Colors in Amateur; and Gambler’s Gold in the Three-Year-Old division. Their Gambler’s Pushover won two reserves in the Open Three-Year-Old and Amateur Three-Year-Old divisions.
Matt Kastner from Bobby Moss Stables received the high point Three-Year-Old Amateur award for his 2003 rides aboard Ta Ta Twister.
Marti Reel’s two entries both won high point awards. The black stallion Armed Man and the dainty Royal’s Master Merlot were on top of the All Day Pleasure division. Black Max won the 15.2 and Under Walking award. Bob and Edna Black took the high point and reserve in the Open Walking. The bay What’s Better Than Cash won the high point award with The Silversmith close behind in reserve.
The two largest divisions were the Juvenile Walking and Juvenile Pleasure divisions. Trial Run owned by John Meade and Royal Consul ridden by Heather Moss for Gary Williams took the high point and reserve wins in the walking division. Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar was the High Point Pleasure Horse with Brooke Swecker. P’s Blackhawk was ridden by Casey Harrison to the reserve for Peggy Harrison.
Mary Swecker had the two high point and reserve high point horses in the All Day Pleasure division. Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar was the champion and The Final Judgement took home the reserve. Dawn Pratt’s horse Spirit’s Dark Dynamo won the Ladies Pleasure award and the Go As You Please award with Katie Spitzer in the irons. David Pratt’s entry Glitz and Glamour was ridden to the Country Pleasure award by Chris Fusco.
The Shenandoah Valley Horseman’s Association membership is growing larger and stronger every year. The association is planning a two day spring show to be held May 21-22 at the Broadway showgrounds in Broadway, Va.