by Linda Scrivner
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Hamasa Shriners Spring Jubilee kicked off its first year on Friday night with 169 horses showing. Five years ago the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity began a show, the Spring Sensation, which was the Mississippi season opening show. After four successful years, the show folded and another group picked it up and had a successful show in 2005. That group declined to have another show. Mississippi exhibitors were not satisfied with losing such a successful show. This season the Hamasa Shriners picked up the pieces and started their new show.
In 2004, the Spring Sensation had 310 entries and the Starkville Spring Jubilee in 2005 hosted 419 entries in two evenings. The Hamasa Shriners Spring Jubilee started off with 169 entries on Friday evening and was looking forward to an even bigger show on Saturday evening. The USDA arrived and most exhibitors declined to show. Forty-five entries entered the ring on Saturday night making a total of 214 entries for the show.
The Shriners were disappointed since a portion of the proceeds from this show will go to support the Hamasa Shriners Transportation Fund. This fund provides needed transportation for many Shrine Hospital children. The Hamasa Shriners said they were thankful to the owners, trainers, exhibitors, spectators and staff for making Friday night a success and to those that continued to support the show on Saturday night. Several show spokesmen said that they would plan on another show in 2007. The shriners would also like to thank the National Horse Show Commission, Inc., the Mid-South Walking Horse Association and the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association for their assistance in preparing for this show.
Commission DQPs held inspections on Friday night and several violations were written. On Saturday, many were concerned that there would be problems concerning the interpretation of the scar rule. Others were concerned about the swabbing procedures done by the USDA for foreign substances and many declined to show.
Jack Way and Five-Way Farms continued to show. Jack Way commented, “I didn’t want to make a big splash. We need to go to horse shows and show our horses. We’ve got issues to be resolved but ultimately we’ve got to find a way to put the horses in the show ring. I just followed the instructions that Link Webb gave us before the show. There were some last minute clarification issues and many didn’t show. We can’t quit. We’re moving in the direction and the way we used to train. We succeeded in hard times in the 70s and we’ll do it again,” he concluded.
A group of trainers went up pre-show on Saturday evening and discussed the scar rule interpretation and inspection with the VMOs present, Dr. Lynn Bougeois and Dr. John Poe. Link Webb stated later, “I didn’t show because I didn’t feel comfortable about the scar rule interpretation. There’s a little difference on what they were last year and we need more time to work with the VMOs on scar rule inspections.”
Lonnie Messick, NHSC executive vice president and director of animal welfare/DQP services, reported that no government tickets were written for the shows held at West Monroe, La., or at Starkville, Miss.
On Friday night, the two VMOs attended the Louisiana Jubilee. There were 82 entries with 6 NHSC tickets written. There were two post-show scar rule tickets. The other four violations were pre-show: two scar rule tickets, one unilateral sore and one industry ticket. On Saturday night there were 122 entries in Louisiana and NHSC issued four tickets, all pre-show. Three were scar rule violations and one was a foreign substance violation.
At the Starkville, Miss., show Friday night 169 entries showed and there were four NHSC violations. There were two pre-show scar rule, one bilateral sore, and one unacceptable horse tickets issued. On Saturday night with the government present, 45 horses were checked with two pre-show scar rule violations.
Joe Fleming of Shelbyville, Tenn., judged the 52-class event. The shriners had a hospitality room with delicious food and drinks from 3-5 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday for exhibitors and the working shriners.
The Championship Stake had one entry. Jack Way and Showboat Silk performed flawlessly and exited the ring with the garland and the tricolor ribbon. Double B Farm owns Showboat Silk, who is trained by 5-Way Farms. The crowd showed their approval throughout the evening with applause for those that did show their horses.
Six walking classes did not have any entries. Five-Way Farm led the blue ribbon tally with seven blues. Chris Zahnd of Swingin Gate Stables enjoyed five blues. Eric Cunningham returned home with four blues and Bud Dunn and Son Stables and Jean Brannon earned a trio of blues apiece. Webby Burch won dual blues
Five-Way Farms’ first blue came in the Show Pleasure Specialty class, which was filled with seven top entries. Jack Way directed I’m Armed And Lethal to claim the blue ribbon in this outstanding class. Carolyn Rutner proudly owns this striking stallion. Alex Way directed the next Five-Way Stables entry, The Summit, to the top of the Juvenile Show Pleasure Specialty class on Friday. Carolyn Rutner also owns The Summit.
Thad Way claimed the blue on Command’s Rainbow Star in the Amateur Park Performance class for E & W Enterprises. Jack Way next showed Phantom Of The Ritz to victory in the Three-Year-Old Stallion WHTA Riders’ Cup class for Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Carter.
The Summit returned for his second blue of the show in the Amateur Show Pleasure Ladies Specialty class with Kay Turner in the irons. Showboat Silk won the Amateur Specialty class with Holly Erwin aboard and then returned to win the Stake class with Way directing.
Chris Zahnd and Silver Darling made a blue ribbon performance in the seven-entry Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for the first of Swingin Gate Stables’ five blues. Ray and Betty Warren own silver Darling. James Vernon returned in the next class to claim the five-entry Men’s Amateur Specialty title aboard The Down Home Blues for Chris Zahnd.
Clocked In and Mary Ruth Wright won the Amateur 15.2 and Under Specialty title in a field of eight entries to earn the third Swingin Gate Stables’ blue for owner Jo Ann Dempsey. Andrea Zahnd won the 10-entry Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Specialty class on her The Willhamina.
He’s The Bottom Line won Swingin Gates Stables’ fifth blue in the 11-entry Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion Specialty division. Ben Moss was in the irons for Carney and Moss.
Trainer Eric Cunningham won four blues with his spotted horses. The first victory was in the Two and Three-Year-Old Spotted Open Shod class with Kim Parrott aboard Silver Dollar Cameo for Doug and Mozella Herring. Charles Roye was extremely proud of his Lean’s Sun Lilly. Lean’s Sun Lilly and Ferrell Bates claimed the blue in the five-entry Open Lite-Shod Spotted Two and Three-Year-Old blue. They returned to claim the blue in the Open Lite-Shod Spotted Specialty class also. Ashleigh Parrott and Splashed By Art took the winning pass in the Spotted Juvenile Open Shod class for Kim and Ashleigh Parrott.
Jean Brannon and Go Mister Walkaway Joe won Brannon’s first blue in the six-entry Amateur Country Pleasure class. They also won the Amateur Country Pleasure/ Gaited class. Go Mr. Saturday Nite Sam and Brannon won a third blue for owners Jean and Rob Brannon in the Amateur Lite-Shod Specialty division.
Bruce MacDonald rode to the top of the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class on Flash Me The Cash for the first of three blues won by Bud Dunn & Son Stables. Bruce and Robin MacDonald own Flash Me The Cash. Andy Adkins aboard Downtown Pusher won their second blue in the 13-entry Juvenile 12-17 Specialty class. Randall and Sadie Baskins and Andy Adkins own this talented bay horse.
The Polar Express returned to win another blue in Starkville, Miss., just as he did in 2005. Kristin Williams directed him the first way of the ring and Steve Dunn rode the second way to claim the blue in the outstanding Pro-Am class with seven entries.
Webby Burch and I’ll Be Good won the first of two blues for Webby Burch. They won the 11-entry Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for Bobby Luna. Rachel Burch directed her Mark’s Monterey Bay to the Walking Seat Equitation Open title on Saturday.
Jenny Jones led Legally Blonde By RFK and Sara Bailey Jones down victory lane in the Lead Line class for Frank and Sissy Bailey. Just as they did in 2005, Joel Stewart and Rebel’s Black Star captured the Amateur Canter class under the guidance of Woods Stables.
Pushover Gold Standard and Betty Sue Gregg won the seven-entry Ladies Amateur Specialty title for Guy Burkhalter and husband/trainer Wayne Gregg. Back To The Ritz carried Link Webb to the blue in the in the Aged Mare and Gelding division for Pat Hackney.
Karla Massey rode her Aesop to the Trail Pleasure title for James Nichols. Daniel Joseph claimed the six-entry Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion title aboard The Night Pusher for Dick Peebles Stables and owners George and Carol Smith.
Robert Stivers won the Park Performance title with Smoke-Watch for Orlando Greenshaw. Andy Williams claimed the victory in the five-entry Open Spotted Open Shod class aboard his Pushers Thy Ghost.
Next, Judy Keene claimed the six-entry Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty title with Stormy’s Black Rain for Jim Sullivan.
The Saturday evening performance began with the Yearling class. Chris Richards directed Giovanni Casanova to the blue in the seven-entry class for Roger Richards. Roger Richards was extremely proud of this youngster. Pat Vinson and Master Key’s Lady’s Man made quite an impression on judge Fleming and the crowd winning the Weanling blue.
Tim Holley directed He’s Cash’s Hard Rock to the top of the Two-Year-Old Stallion WHTA Riders’ Cup for Larry Rea. Bonnie Taylor and her She’s 234 KT Gold claimed victory in the 50 and Over Specialty class. Taylor Farms prepare this team for the show ring.
Jerry Gardner and Sams’s Surprise won the Amateur Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding for owner/trainer James W. Myers. Ralph Pinner and his Twenty-Four Carat Cash won the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class.
Results follow and can also be found on our web site www.walkinghorsereport.com.