by Margo Urad

DALLAS, Texas - The State Fair of Texas Horse Show was held Sept. 13-17, 2007, at the State Fair show grounds in Dallas, Texas, featuring Tennessee Walking Horses, racking horses and American Saddlebreds. This show also features the American Saddlebred Texas Futurity and the Southwest Regional Walking Horse Futurity, which this year was held in conjunction with the four-day horse show. Show Manager Nancy Braesicke, Secretary Janie Hamilton, Announcer Melissa Cole and Wayne Abee served as the officials.

This show benefits the United Professional Horseman Association Chapter 6/7. Though the show is no longer held during the State Fair. The city of Dallas donates the coliseum along with $5,000 for the UPHA to keep the show at the State Fairgrounds. Being held two weeks after the Celebration, entries were light, however quality was most defiantly seen.

Stan’s Stables led the blue ribbon tally taking home a total of 28 blues, including two blues in the Southwest Regional Walking Horse Futurity. World Champion All Night claimed dual blues in the Youth and Open Lite-Shod classes as well as claiming the tricolor in the Lite-Shod Open with Stan Urad in the irons for owner Maddie Jones. Jones was undefeated in the equitation division with her equine partners Don’t Bust My Bubble and Threat’s Tall Tales in the Stock Seat Equitation 17 and Under. Threat’s Tall Tales and Jones also took home the blues in the Trail Pleasure Canter division. Miranda Denny enjoyed a successful week claiming the championship titles in the Youth Championship aboard The Midnight Falcon as well as the Trail Pleasure Specialty Championship aboard World Champion Bad News Fantastic Cash.

Shiela Denny rode to the winner’s circle aboard Cash’s little sister Bad News Brown Sugar in the SWHBA Futurity Two-Year-Old Amateur Trail Pleasure class as well as taking home top honors in the Four and Under Trail Pleasure class. Tenn-Tex Farms entry Command’s Fair Lady went in five classes winning five blues with Nicolas Kirton dueling his older brother in the Country Pleasure Youth and Championship classes. Kirton enjoyed the thrill of going to the winner’s circle in both classes along with Margo Urad, Billy Baker and Mary Kirton taking home the tricolor in the County Pleasure Championship. Michael Kirton claimed top honors aboard The American President in the Youth Park Pleasure for owner Jim Engel. Nick and Kim Bristow had a successful futurity with trainer Stan Urad leading The Gunboat to the winner’s circle in the SWHBA Futurity Weanling Stallion class and Alonna Cole in the SWHBA Futurity Weanling Youth Exhibitor class. Elysse Powell claimed top honors in the 11 and Under Equitation aboard her new horse Showboat’s Breeze.

Roger Ivins Stables with trainer Roger Ivins claimed 14 blues. A Major Rebel, owned by Dr. Martha Chapman, with Ivins in the irons, claimed the blue ribbon in the Three-Year-Old Open class along with winning top honors in the 12-17 Youth class with Danyelle Woolridge. Hero’s Hussy with Ivins claimed the blue ribbon in the Two-Year-Old Lite-Shod as well as winning the SWHBA Futurity Lite-Shod Two-Year-Old Under Saddle class. That’s Enough, owned by Debbie Nebel, with Roger Ivins and Jessica Davis in the irons, enjoyed a winning week sweeping the Park Performance division. She’s A Shady Lady and Jessica Davis claimed the blue ribbon in the Trail Pleasure English Specialty for owner Fannie Ivins. Davis also claimed the championship aboard A White Rose in the Show Pleasure Championship class. Widowmaker All Over and Ginny Chapman claimed top honors in the Model Horse class.

Starland Farms with trainer John Feltner Jr. brought four horses and claimed 10 blues. Judy Gould and Galveston Texas claim both the blue and tricolor in the Amateur Specialty for owners Tom and Judy Gould. World Grand Champion Marquita By Design was shown three times, claiming three blues. Kelly Sherman directed the gray mare to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Lite-Shod Specialty Championship as well as winning the Amateur Lite-Shod qualifier earlier in the week. Deborah Williams made her victory pass aboard Marquita By Design in the Amateur Western Lite-Shod Specialty for Kelly Sherman. Dr. John Gladney aboard World Champion Tijuana Tex with brother Darden Gladney aboard World Champion It’s Up In Arms dueled for top honors in the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty classes. Judge Wayne Abee had the tough job of only being able to award one first place, which went to Tijuana Tex and Dr. John Gladney for Gladney Farms. The duel continued in the championship with Tijuana Tex leaving the ring with the championship award. High Stakes Game left the Texas State Fair with three blues as well. Trainer John Feltner Jr. claimed top honors in the Open Two-Year-Old class. Darden Gladney claimed the blue ribbon in the SWHBA Futurity Two-Year-Old class as well as the Amateur Two-Year-Old class for owner Phyllis Langley.

McDodi Farms claimed seven blues. Kim Lewis and trainer Marco Suarez were busy in and out of the saddle. Kim Lewis started things off right claiming the SWHBA Futurity Two-Year-Old In Hand class with Heza Perfect Storm. Trainer Marco Suarez took home the blue ribbon aboard Wired To Be Awesome in the Open Stallion and Gelding class. Dr. Jim and Dodi Speece own both of these entries. Rosalee Manning enjoyed a successful show. Dazzling Bad News with trainer Marco Suarez claimed duel blues in the SWHBA Futurity Three-Year-Old Lite-Shod and the Three and Under Open Lite-Shod. Kim Lewis had the fun of directing Dazzling Bad News to the winner’s circle in the Four and Under Amateur Lite-Shod class. Kim Lewis and Gold N Masquerade claimed top honors in the Three-Year-Old Amateur for Dr. Jim and Dodi Speece. Kim Lewis directed Wired To Be Awesome to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Canter class.

Zeus Lightning, owned by Dr. Jim and Dodi Speece, walked his way to the top honors in the SWHBA Futurity Stallion and Gelding Yearling class with Marco Suarez at the lead.  

Double Nickel Farms, with trainer Darcy Gallagher, claimed four blues. Ultra Adonis walked his way into the winner’s circle with Darcy Gallagher claiming the SWHBA Three-Year-Old In Hand Futurity class for owner Gail Groeniger. Gallagher directed Adonis’s Addie Jane to top honors in the SWHBA Futurity Weanling Fillies as well as the championship award in the SWHBA Futurity Weanling Championship. Glen Fox walked his way to the winner’s circle with Cisco’s G.I. Jane in the SWHBA Futurity Broodmare and Foal class for owner Barbara Griffith.

Chris Aitchison had a successful week showing. He directed Silver Sheik to top honors in the SWHBA Futurity Three-Year-Old Amateur Trail Pleasure class and the Trail Pleasure Amateur class. Aitchison also claimed top honors aboard Bonnie Smith’s Sol’s Gold Threat in the SWHBA Futurity Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure class.

Jeral Petty, along with his family, has supported the Futurity for years. Last year they claimed three blues with their weanling Lightning’s Shot Of Gen. This year Lightning’s Shot Of Gen walked away with top honors in the SWHBA Futurity Yearling Filly class as well as the SWHBA Futurity Yearling Championship with owner Jeral Petty.

Darden Gladney came in from Louisiana to support the show with world champion entry It’s Up In Arms. Gladney made his way to the winner’s circle aboard It’s Up In Arms in the Amateur Park Pleasure Western Specialty as well as Park Pleasure Amateur class.

Jody Balfay enjoyed her weekend showing Pride’s Tribute into the winner’s circle in the Trail Pleasure Western Specialty class as well as in the Trail Pleasure Western Canter class.

Complete results follow and can be viewed, searched and printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.