This week, we continue to review the different categories to see who has jumped off to an early lead in the High Point Report. The Trainers' Show, the first double point show of the year, is dominating the points in most categories, but action from Upper Cumberland, Alabama Ladies Auxiliary and others is starting to push some other entries to the top of the standings.

There was some movement in the Walking Horse Championship category this week. Cash’s Amber Wave and Dick Peebles joined the now four-way tie at the top with a total of 20 points. Peebles took the Ed Smith owned entry to the Alabama Ladies Auxiliary and won the stake to add 10 more points to the 10 he already earned at Louisiana Jubilee.

Now topping the High Point Report Walking Horse Championship with 20 points are The Black Night Shade and Jimmy McConnell, Final’s Eb Tide and Joe Cotten, Motown Delight and Russ Thompson, and Cash’s Amber Wave and Dick Peebles. With Jackson, Miss., and Gulf Coast Charity around the corner, look for someone to make a move.

15.2 & Under Walking Horses

Pride’s Pickle and Dick Peebles have jumped to an early lead in the High Point Report by making the Trainers' Show their second show of the season. After winning their class at the Louisiana Jubilee, Peebles brought Pride’s Pickle back home to Middle Tennessee and earned a third place finish at the Trainers' Show for owner Abby Graves giving them 16 points to add to their 10 points earned in Louisiana.

Second place honors are a tie to the two 15.2 & Under winners at the Trainers' Show. Gen’s Johnny Walker Red and Sammy Day won the 15.2 & Under Open class, and Tennessee Gen and John Allan Callaway won the mare and gelding class to also earn 20 points.

Amateur 15.2 & Under Walking Horses

The two Trainers' Show champions are leading the High Point Report as well. Keith McSwain directed The American General to the mares and geldings victory pass. Lucky Collins and Pushover and Lookout topped the stallion competition. I sure hope they both go on to Florida!

Walking Weanling and Yearling

Trainers' Show winners also top these two categories with Weanling Champion I’ve Got Grand starting out the year as the best of the weanling class with Bobby Richards leading for the Roger Money family.

Rock of Ages and Nathan Mills topped the yearling colt competition to start the year off right for Hoyte Eakes. In Vogue and Allen Curtis earned the filly recognition for owner Roger Richards.

Also tied with 20 points to head the yearling competition is Stormy Sea, an exciting youngster owned by Jimmy and Debbie Graham who has been led to two winner’s circles at single points shows, Alpha Gamma Rho in Starkville, Miss., and Holly Springs Classic in Holly Springs, Miss.

Auxiliary

Joyce Marie Green continues to make waves in the Auxiliary division where she and Spring’s Starmaker claimed another victory. They topped the tough team of Night Twister and Dru McCormick who earned second place honors in the Trainers' Show and in the High Point Report.

Youth 11 & Under

There’s no slow starting the season for Hollis Anthony and his tried and true mount Hard Promises. Together they have earned 26 points already with three good performances at three different shows. They won Jonesville, La., and made third place finishes at Marshall Charity and Louisiana Jubilee to make a strong statement about their plans for the season.

Maisie McSwain certainly isn’t playing around either. She’s only shown once so far this season, but she made it a good one. She topped a great young class at the Trainers' Show with Armed To Show claiming 20 points and a second place standing currently in the High Point Report.

Youth 12-17

Mac Benham and his Final’s Escapade made two top ribbon rides at the Trainers' Show to start the year with 38 points. Benham won the 15-17 specialty title and earned a reserve tie in the Youth Specialty Championship.

Barclay Woodward and Major Cigar won the younger age group specialty class (12-14) and earned third in the Youth Specialty Championship for a total of 36 points and a close second in the early standings of the High Point Report.

Walking Ponies

Wesley Hendrix and his Half Dollar not only earned a yellow ribbon at the Trainers' Show, but has already hit the show ring again, earning a reserve tie at the Upper Cumberland show this last weekend. This puts Half Dollar in the early lead in the Walking Pony category with 25 points.

The Nasdaq and Maria Derickson are not far behind with 21 points, also earned with a top ride at the Trainers' Show and returning to the show ring this weekend in Alabama to earn a red ribbon.

Trainers' Show champions Joel Johnson and Olympic Encore have yet to hit the show ring again, but watch out - the Walking Pony competition promises to be exciting!

Equitation

Rachel Jernigan and Jessica Davis each earned 20 points at the Trainers' Show to start the year at the top of the High Point Report. Rachel Jernigan is a top 17 and under equestrian while Jessica Davis competes in adult equitation.

Amateur Owned and Trained

This is a new category for the High Point Report in 2004. We had a large number of requests for recognition in this category and we are delighted to recognize these hard-working amateur trainers.

Marilyn Scott and her Ebony’s Coin Dream have already won two classes to start this category at the top. She won at Starkville’s Alpha Gamma Rho Spring Sensation and at Holly Springs Walking Horse Classic, also in Mississippi for a total of 20 chart-topping points.

Billy Jack Tallon and Coin’s Silver Knight compete in the Southwest circuit where they have earned nine points with a reserve tie at Marshall, Texas and 10 points with a win at Jonesville, Louisiana. There’s tough competition between Tallon and Tim Plafcan, who won at Marshall aboard his Watch Me Cash and then placed third at Louisiana Jubilee.

There are already 14 horses who have earned points in this category and it promises to be an exciting points race. We also have added an Amateur Owned and Trained Pleasure category which will be reviewed in next week’s Report.

We’ll review even more categories in next week’s Report. Plus competition from South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary, Fairview Lions Club and the Desert Classic will be in the points. Don’t miss any of the action - check out www.walkinghorsereport.com!