Posted November 15, 2000

by Andrea Patterson

SEDALIA, Mo. - The HAWHA 13th Annual Fall Show was held Oct. 26-28 at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Tough competition, great friends, blue ribbons aplenty and new and past memories were shared by all at the last Heart Of America show of the season. Veterinary medical officers Dr. Ruth Baker and Dr. Mike Guedron were present at the show affiliated with the Heart of America Walking Horse Association.

Travis Cotton judged the 64 classes, with everyone’s favorite announcer, Bob Reavis, calling out the gaits and the winners. Photographer Gary Good was kept very busy throughout the show, providing exhibitors instant proofs with the help of Ed DePaulo. Dick Liesenberg played the music to “walk on" by, and Bert Cheek was the ringmaster.

Missouri is the “Show Me” state and show they did. The Championship Stake class consisted of two hard-riding entries. After a crowd-cheering second running walk, Margaret Hickman enjoyed the victory pass aboard Spirit & Silver. Howard Roberts rode a strong reserve ride on Pusher’s Worthy Guy.

Many people contributed their time to make the show a great success with an exhibitors party on Friday night and a celebratory “return-to-the-ring” party Saturday evening with a selection of hors d’oeuvres and wines presented by Sarah Mitch and Taylor Stables.

A highly anticipated class is the Costume class, which had four very distinct and entertaining entries: The Headless Horseman, Dr. Strangelove, the Wedding Belle, and the Fur Trapper. Ichabod Crane may have lost his head, but he found the blue (actually known as Pride’s Lucky Break and Bill Lotridge).

The Lead Line is not only a big draw for entries, but a crowd pleaser as well. The lovely Miss Leslie Ann Mott smiled quite obligingly for the winning show aboard John Deere, with Everett Clamp at the lead. Parents and grandparents were abundant to congratulate the juvenile exhibitors as they gained experience for the years to come.

Trainer Don Bills of Fairlane Stables returned home with a tally of seven blues. The HAWHA show circuit is pleased to welcome Carroll and Virginia Counts, who plan on making the move to Springfield, Mo, from Pennsylvania a permanent one. Carroll Counts directed Choice Cut to win the Plantation Two Gait and the Men’s Plantation Two Gait. Rainbow’s Top Man strode to the winner’s circle first with Don Bills in the Lite Shod Two Gait and then returned Friday evening to win the Amateur Lite Shod Two Gait with George Lewis. Don Bills also won the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class with The Inquisitor for Heartland Acres. Darlene Swaringim and Pride’s Shadowfax carried out the blue ribbon in one of the most competitive classes going, the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty. JoAnn LeNeve and Distinguished Pride once again topped the 50 and Over Amateur Specialty.

Ken Taylor Stables, Tom Burton Stables and Lee Loveday Stables each won five blue ribbons. Josh Taylor won the first class of the show, riding Spun’s Precious Jewel in the Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Carroll and Virginia Counts acquired this showy filly from Don Stanley at this show. Sundust’s Jubilee was the victor in the HAWHA Futurity Two-Year-Old Performance, ridden by Josh Taylor. Richard and Sarah Mitch were pleased with Ken Taylor’s win with First Night Out R.W. In the winning tradition of Dream’s Sundust, Sheryl Taylor and Blue Ribbon Dream posed for the winning shot in the Ladies Amateur Specialty. Stride’s Top Gun is a tough competitor, as proven by winning the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty with Betty Hardin riding.

Jill Wait won the first blue from the Tom Burton Stables in the Open Amateur with Main Performance. Jill and Stormy’s Applejack proved victorious once again in the Amateur Specialty Stake. Mitzi Nichols made the blue ribbon ride in the Amateur Stake with the striking Criminal Action R.W. Kelsey Bowen made the good ride in first the Juvenile 11 and Under and returned Saturday evening to win the Juvenile Specialty Stake.

Lee Loveday was the winner of the Plantation Pleasure Three-Gait Stake directing Coin’s Gold Threat. This deep-walking mare earned two other blues for her owners: Rosealie Jones won the Amateur Plantation Three Gait, and Marvelene Kusewitt won the Plantation Pleasure Two Gait Stake. Carolyn Lough rode the hard ride to win the Open Show Pleasure Specialty on Dark Mark. Dark Spirit’s Absolute and Lee Loveday also won the Open Specialty for owners Sherry and Shelby Hill.

Hickman Stables always appears to bring their own cheering section, as was evident in the stake class when Margaret Hickman and Spirit & Silver took the blue. Wade Hickman certainly got the judge’s attention with The Major Major, winning the Two-Year-Old Stallions and the Two-Year-Old Stake classes. Jon Tyler Rhodes and Mark’s Super Duper rode to the top of the Juvenile 12-17 Specialty class.

Jay and Che’ri Teaford struck gold with three blue ribbons with Ricochet Rita. The delicate filly took first in the Owner Amateur Trained Lite Shod Two Gait, HAWHA Futurity Two-Year-Old Plantation, and the Lite Shod Two Gait Stake with Che’ri Teaford. Jay won the Open Model with JJ’s American Buck.

Headshaker Stables made the long journey from Iowa to claim a trio of blues. Sue Halverson won the Western Plantation Three-Gait with Fashion’s Magic Princess and the Amateur Plantation Two Gait with Magic Fashion’s Shadow. Bruce Halverson had the consistent ride to win the Lite Shod Three-Gait with Market’s Hotrod B.

Mike Maack Stables received its first blue in the Aged Mares and Geldings with Pusher’s Incognito. The Aged Stallion class was supercharged with excellent horses fighting it out. After a second running walk, Mike Maack and Spirited Rendezvous were named the victors. Katie Shobe rode Severe Storm Warning to win the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty.

Curt Caldwell rode to the winner’s circle in the 15.2 and Under on Royal Showcase for Al and Patti Forgey. Jessica Caldwell and Royal Showcase also won the Trainer’s Family class. Spun’s First Inspiration was an impressive entry in the Three-Year-Old Stake.

The only thing more fun that Jerry Manes winning the HAWHA Futurity Three-Year-Old performance with Show Me The Money is sitting with Jewell Manes as she leads the cheering section for her family members. Sarah Manes and Styling & Profiling took the blue in the Weanling and the HAWHA Futurity Weanling classes.

Rocky Ridge Stables, owned by Harold Roberts of Van Buren, Mo., took two first place ties with Crown Of Splendor. Kim Rozman rode to the blue in the Juvenile Plantation Two-Gait and then Harold Roberts made the victory pass in the Western Two Gait. Kim Rozman earned another blue with a smooth-looking ride in the Four-Year-Old Specialty with The Generator’s Legend.

Howard Roberts Stables had two blues to its credit. Another nice class was the Men’s Amateur Specialty, with Joe Killian and Ebony’s Titan taking top honors. The Two-Year-Old Amateur was also a tough class, but Roger Campbell capably directed The Movie Star to first place.

Patterson Family Stables enjoyed two first place ties with The Master Copy, first with Paul Patterson in the Plantation Three-Gait and then with Andrea Patterson in the Ladies Plantation Two Gait.

Stacy Ann Stables conquered the Yearling and HAWHA Futurity Yearling classes with Solid Sensation, handled by Fred Teter. Wife Nancy did quite a dance into center ring to help collect the trophy.

Steve Skopec gave granddaughter Brooke the victory ride aboard Gypsy Lane Dusty Maid after winning the 50 and Over Plantation Two-Gait and the Owner Amateur Trained Plantation Two Gait.

Mrs. Glen Campbell is always there to encourage her family to the winner’s circle. Daughter Glenda Nichols and Dixie’s Jubilee were the Owner Amateur Trained Specialty winners and grandson Brian Nichols directed Eclectic to take first in Men’s Amateur.

Single blue ribbon winners included The Wildest Dream and Elvin Sapp; Stephen Ayers and Tribute To America; Maximum Performance and Wes Atkins; and Brad Huffman and Shaker’s McKay.