The Shenandoah Valley Horsemen’s Association closed the 2004 Shenandoah Valley horse show season with a successful show on Oct. 16 on the Bridgewater Lawn Party Grounds, Bridgewater, Va. As usual the weather was not the most cooperative for a day to show horses, but that didn’t keep the horse people from coming to show their stock. The 54 classes of various breeds of horses brought 217 entries to the ring. Jack Pirkle of Gainesville, Ga.,was judge. G.M. Hutchinson of Mount Sidney, Va.,was announcer. The show started early at 11 a.m. and lasted until 9 p.m.

For the first time in quite a few seasons the crowd was disappointed not to see and cheer on a stake class. The professional trainers didn’t fail the crowd as they showed their horses in the Open Specialty. As the hardcore fans watched the class, they began to shed their blankets and wraps and warmed up in cheering for their favorite. The entry of Bernadette Whitlock, The Sky King, with Bobby Moss in the irons won the crown for the evening.

The Jeff Hatcher Stables ended their season with four victory passes for the day. The Charlene Gibson entry and steady winning Amateur Specialty horse I’m Packin A Pistol with Charlie Gibson took the blue again. The other Charlene Gibson entry Merging Into One earned Charlene another victory pass to close the show season. Trainer Jeff Hatcher had Marco Etchebarne catch riding on Sun Drop Straight Up to capture the Park Pleasure Western Two-Gait. Jennifer Hatcher caught a ride on Prowler’s Moon Beam to win the glory in the Ladies Specialty.

Out of the Benny Johnson Stables, the Bob Medina entries sent two more blues to the Medina trophy case. Jazzing Papa and Barbara Dean won the Park Pleasure Two-Gait and Spun Gold Threat and Rebecca Zirkle rode to the second blue ribbon. Odie Adcock and the beautiful bay Pusher’s Mahogany Bay won the Three-Gait Amateur class.

The Roy Wagner Stables also finished their season with three blues to take back to Hagerstown, Md. The Debra Claycomb entry of The Skywatch Affair and Roy Wagner Sr. claimed the Western plantation Lite-shod Two-Gait. Wagner Sr. came back in the ring to ride another victory pass in the 2 and 3 year old on Eagle Eyes Best Man. Roy Wagner Jr. had a victory ride on Pusher By Command in the Go As You Please-Easy Gait.

John Meade made his Shenandoah Valley début ride on his new horse Gold As JFK to end his season with another blue in the Juvenile 11 and Under. The Barry Meade family took home another blue with Heather Moss in the irons riding Armed Dollar in the Limited Performance class.

Caitlyn Burgess and A Star Of The Night made an outstanding show in the Juvenile 12 to 17 class and took home the blue ribbon championship. The big silver horse the Silversmith, dotingly known as Possum by owner Edna Black, walked the victory pass in the 15.2 and Under Specialty with Melissa Black.

Even though the actual show season is over in the Shenandoah Valley the rivalry is not over, as the horsemen look for the winter banquet to see who the overall winners of the 2004 show season will be. The members of the Shenandoah Valley group will meet on Nov. 14 at Pano’s in Harrisonburg to plan the 2005 horse show year, the banquet, and elect new officers. If you’re interested in joining the Shenandoah Valley Horsemen’s Association, contact [email protected] or Nancy Hutchinson at 274 Salem Church Rd,. Mount Sidney, Va. 24467.