FRIDAY NIGHT
CLEMSON, SC - The South Carolina Walking Horse Ladies Auxiliary held their annual show this year from April 12-13. The two day show was held at the Ted Garrison Arena in Clemson, South Carolina. The Honorable Gary Oliver traveled from Kentucky to judge the fifty-five class show. The announcer was Gene Frye and his lovely wife, Jane Frye was at the organ. One of the hardest working officials of this year was Bill Rorick, the ring master. Sandra Hall was the official photographer. 177 entries graced the ring with five USDA VMOs on site.
The show began with the Weanling Under Halter class. Mary Ann Arflin was the handler and the blue ribbon collector with Delight’s Gold Coin. Alan Price with Spins Inspiration won the Open Walking class for owner, Walter Langdon. Ali Merritt and her horse, Fall Colors began their many appearances in the show with the win in the Lite Shod Amateur Specialty Owned and Trained class. Austin Bonner, riding for Wofford Bush won out of three entries in the Pony class with Ultra’s Gusto. Sam McLaughlin traveled from Shelbyville to show in his home state. The first of his wins came in the Two-Year-Old Amateur as sister, Stephanie Ralwlinson won with Platinum Star for Wildwood Farms. Melissa Burnett from Bobby Kellett’s Stables won the Juvenile 12-17 Specialty with Time’s Black Cloud.
Amanda Ward picked up the blue for owner, Lynn Culbreth in the Plantation Juvenile with Jay’s Velvet Shadow. Sherrie Shealy made parents proud and happy as she won the Juvenile 11 and Under with Jonathan from Rae Martin Stables. There were no entries in the next two classes. Gene Davis made the solo ride in the Novice Specialty with Cash’s Big Bad John. Robin Barnett rode for the blue in the Ladies Amateur Mares and Geldings on Pride’s High IQ. Messenger’s Last Chance and Susan Paul won the Plantation English. Stan Tidal won the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings with JFK’s Pushy First Lady for owners, Mr. and Mrs. Evans Plyler. Debbie Wells from Dry Dock Stables won the Lite Shod Four-Year-Old and Under with Explosive. She then came right back in the next class to win the Pickens County Members Only with Cobra Commander. I Beg Your Pardon and Celia McLauglin won another blue for brother, Sam in the Amateur Ladies Specialty. Johnny Paul and Neon Lady were winners in the Plantation English Specialty. Millie Player picked up one of her many blues in the Amateur class with Ultimate Warrior. Black Rain Drops and Guy Ben Findley won the blue out of seventeen entries in the Lite Shod English Specialty. Riding for Pendleton and Pendleton, Sam McLaughlin won the Three-Year-Old Stallion division with It Ain’t Easy. Keith Champion put on a great show to win the Amateur Men’s Specialty class with The Real Deal. This made two blues for Bonner Stables. Lori Coleman started her winning streak with Dillon With Tradition in the Lite Shod English class. Alan Price won another blue with Dangerous Outlook in the Four-Year-Old Open class for Diane Dempsey. The Friday night show ended with the Show Pleasure class. John Toney riding for Les and Sharon Hawkins took the blue with Dusty Sky.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Class 33, the Yearlings Under Halter began the Saturday night show. there were seven entries. Mary Ann Aflin won with Queen Of A Silver Dollar. Eight entries made the call for the Model Plantation class. Eb’s Summer Surprise with Amanda Young as owner/handler, picked up the blue. Sam McLaughlin made a winning ride on Platinum Star to collect the blue for Wildwood Farms. Wayne Jones won the blue with I'm Enough in the Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Ali Merritt added to her collection of blue ribbons in the Western Specialty with Fall Colors. The Lite Shod Western Specialty was won by Lori Coleman and her horse Dillon With Tradition. Owner/rider Laurie Coats made the blue ribbon ride with Pusher's Earthshaker in the SC Ladies Auxiliary Members Only class. Stan Tindal rode rode to the blue for owner, Neil Byrd on Diamond Of The Street in the Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. Milly Player won her second blue of the show in the Amateur Owned and Trained with Ultimate Warrior. Stephanie Rawlinson won the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallions for Wildwood Farms and trainer, Sam McLaughlin with What A Future. Lori Coleman and her horse Dillon With Tradition showed they could win whether they have to canter or not as they won the lite Shod Western class. Debbie Wells and Cobra Commander won their second blue of the show in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallions class. Brittany Barrett out of Bill Rorick Stables won the Show Pleasure Championship with Eb's Corporal Barrett. Christy Mauney and her family's horse, Get'n Grander came down from Gastonia, NC to win the Lite Shod Specialty Championship and the Lite Shod Championship. MacKenzie Hatfield really got the crowd support with her winning ride in the Juvenile Championship on Dude's Big Man for the Mark Hatfield family. Another blue went to Wildwood Farms for Celia McLaughlin's ride on I Beg Your Pardon in the Amateur Specialty Championship. After being a consistent ribbon winner all night, Amanda Dickerson and Sunset Farms entry Fireworks At Dusk won the Plantation Pleasure Championship. The Big Oak Farms entry, Bright Coin, and Blake Hulgey won the Amateur Championship. Chuck Cason put on quite a show to win the Walking Horse Championship for owner, Bonnie Davis with Pusher's Backstreet Boy.
For the complete show story, see the printed edition of Walking Horse Report dated April 22, 2002.