by Linda Scrivner

COLUMBIA, Tenn. – The walking horse celebrated a great show of large classes, heavy competition and great fun at the Columbia Spring Jubilee, held May 29 and 30, 2009. The Spring Jubilee dropped back from a three-day show to a two-day show with many people anxious to make their season debut.
 
Anticipation centered around the stake class Saturday night and the crowd certainly wasn’t disappointed as six top horses answered the gate call. Coming off a win at Grinder’s Switch this year, Knox Blackburn and He’s A Weekend Warrior made it two for two this year for owners Dr. Jim and Kay Green with their unanimous victory. Kay Green was unable to attend due to a recent surgery but was excitedly waiting at home for the outcome. The battle for the roses was hard fought as PGA and John Allan Callaway made their 2009 season debut for Lanier and Bratcher with an excellent performance for the reserve ribbon. Charlie Green and King Of The Jungle were third for the Nestor Stewart family.

Other exciting events included the appearance of an undefeated horse. Folsom Prison Blues debuted with Rodney Dick for owner Judy McDonald following his purchase at the Spring Fun Show the previous week.
 
Another event that will be remembered for a while was World Grand Champion John FK’s Pusher carrying Robin MacDonald to a blue on Saturday after she earned a blue the previous evening on his three-year-old daughter, She’s John FK’s Pusher. Twenty-year-old Silver Design carried Alex Way to victory and his daughter, Marquita By Design, also enjoyed a blue ribbon pass the previous night.

In addition to many making their season debut at this show, there were two riders who reappeared in the show ring after an absence. Teresa Bryant entered the ring to win aboard He’s Splashed after being gone from the show ring for 14 years. Also George-Ann Pratt returned victoriously on My First Dollar after an absence of nine months from the show ring due to illness and a horse accident. The crowd shared in their jubilation at being in the ring again and enjoying blue ribbon rides.
 
The blue ribbons were shared by 27 different barns. Bruce Hankins Stables had a great weekend with four blues. Hankins enjoyed his four rides in the pleasure divisions with Marquita By Design, Yao Ming, Knight’s Gambler and Big N Rich N.

Three blue ribbon performances were made by Knox Blackburn Stables, David Landrum Stables and Dr. Roger Richards. Blackburn enjoyed victories aboard He’s A Weekend Warrior, My Margaritaville and Private Charter. Landrum’s winners were I’m Splashed and Teresa Bryant, Generated By Jose and Trey Blackburn, who moved into a new division, and Landrum aboard Jazz’s Master. Dr. Roger Richards is known for his great halter colts and his wins were with Miss Cheyenne and Keith Reed, Sweet And Dark and Chris Richards and My Cowgirl Dale Evans and Allison Cornelius.

Several other barns collected dual blues including Finish Line Farms, Charlie Green Stables, Sonny Holt Stables, Dick Peebles Stables, Todd Smith Stables, Philip Trimble Stables and Jack Way Stables. The remaining blues were won by Scotty Brooks Stables, Mickey McCormick Stables, Nelms Training Facility, Dickie Scrivner of Tan View Farm, Rollie Beard Stables, Chad Williams Stables, Link Webb Stables, Steve Aymett Stables, Justin Jenné Stables, Allan Callaway Stables, Bennett Stables, Bobby Richards, Joe Martin Stables, Rising Star Ranch, Wayne Dean Stables and Carlyle Johnson of Spoiled Rotten colts.

Complete results can be found by clicking here.