by Lynn Raciti-Shost

DUNLAP, Tenn. -- Last Saturday, June 25, was a beautiful night for a horse show in Dunlap, Tenn. This year marked the 42nd annual O.K. Hege Memorial Horse Show, sponsored by the Dunlap Lions Club and held at the Sequatchie County Park.

The show started right on time at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation of the American Flag by Ray Angel and his spotted horse, Gen's Rare Find. Reverend Dan Rains gave the invocation and Eric Beavers sang our national anthem. There were 26 classes, 20 for walking horses and six for spotted horses.

Charlie Green of Shelbyville, Tenn., picked up the $100 check for the Walking Horse Trainer with the most entries. He was also the trainer with the most blue ribbons to his credit at the show with six. Ray Angel was the Spotted Horse trainer who carried the most entries in his respective breed to the show.

The first class to take the grass track for judge Don Milligan's scrutiny was Lead Line, Six Years and Under, which featured two entries. These two youngsters were so well-matched that he was unable to choose between them and awarded two blue ribbons. One went to Raven Sapp aboard Raven's Commanchee and the other blue to Shelby Green and Hustler.

Walking Yearlings were up next with five horses and handlers taking the rail. The champion from the Manchester Lions Club Show, Stone Jones and Wendy Boyd, walked away with the blue ribbon for James and Lisa Washburn of Fayetteville, Tenn. This was the first of two blues for the evening for trainer Wendy Boyd. Charles Drake and Honey's Texas Cash were reserve in the class and Drake Farms of Rock Island, Tenn., is the owner.

As the competitors entered the ring for the Walking Horse for riders 11 and Under, the cheers of proud parents and grand parents filled the night air. Nine very serious, young people gave their best for judge Milligan's consideration. Mr. Lane Moore and A Screaming Eagle topped the class to earn the victory pass. This was the team's second blue ribbon this show season under the banner of Ken Moore Stables, Athens, Ga. Carol Jackson of Cleveland, Ga., is the horse's owner. Owner and exhibitor AnnaLisa Cooper of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., and Star of the Year were reserve. Cooper's horse is trained by Charlie Green Stables.

Charlie Green walked out of the Two-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings class with the first of six blues Charlie Green Stables collected throughout the evening. This time he was aboard the Trainers' Show Champion, Catcher In The Act, owned by Robert and Luann Sigman of Canal Winchester, Ohio. Commanding The Man and owner, exhibitor, and trainer, Jerry Woodlee of Shelbyville, Tenn., were reserve.

Nine horses took the grass track for the Trail Pleasure competition. Raise The Roof and Leah Boyd walked and shook their way to their first blue ribbon in the show ring. Owned by Leah Boyd of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Wendy Boyd, also of Murfreesboro, Tenn. is the trainer. Dawn's Midnight Sun with Debbie Smithson in the irons took home the red ribbon to owners JoAnn and Gina Brooks of Shelbyville, Tenn. Dawn is trained by Der Stables, Sparta, Tenn.

A smooth ride on Another Smooth Operator earned Erin Fann the victory in the Walking Ponies for Riders 17 and Under class. Owned by Stewart's Nursery and Farm of McMinnville, Tenn., the blue ribbon entry is trained by Bobby Fann. Lauren Robinson and Light Switch were reserve for owner Steve Robinson of Cookeville, Tenn., and trainer Joey Claborn.

He may not be one of the world's greatest tenors but Pavoratti, in his debut performance in the show ring, with Charlie Green up, was worthy of the blue ribbon that judge Milligan awarded them. The class was Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions and Wallace and Laura Brandon of Franklin, Tenn., are the proud owners. Jerry Beaty and Bustin N The Light claimed the red ribbon for owner Greg Pippin of Baxter, Tenn., and trainer J.T. Luck.

Two horses answered the gate call for Walking Horse, Juvenile to Ride, 17 and Under. My Bright Star and Jessica Bailey under the guidance of Doug Moore of Clermont, Ga., picked up the win. Bailey's grandparents, Butch and Ann Bailey of Winston, Ga., own My Bright Star. Bethany Smith and Pride's Man In Black were reserve for B & S Farms of Livingston, Tenn.

Pro-Am Specialty, with an amateur riding in the first direction and a trainer up for the second direction, was won by Generator's Big Chance with Alecia Cooper and Charlie Green taking turns in the saddle. Alecia Cooper and Bill Torrance of Shelbyville, Tenn., own the winning entry. Kyle Little and Anthony Moore were the riders of the second place horse, Virginia Hill. Candie Watts of Crawford, Ga., owns Virginia Hill.

The competition heated up in the Three-Year-Old Walking Mares and Geldings class but Cash's Darling Girl and Brett Boyd handled the heat and took the blue ribbon for Charles and Joy Gleghorn of Fayetteville, Tenn. Josh Taylor and his ride, Masquerading Perfection, were reserve for Frank Deville of Lee's Summit, Mo.

Six three-year-old walking stallions took the rail for the next class and displayed their talent to judge Milligan. When the judge's card was turned in , Centennial Cash and Charlie Green were called to the victory circle. This was Green's fourth blue of the show and the second for owners Alecia Cooper and Bill Torrance of Shelbyville, Tenn. Jazz Dandy and Jerry Woodlee of Shelbyville, Tenn., tied reserve for owner Paula Burks of Calhoun, La.

Owner and exhibitor Julia Miller of Dayton, Tenn., directed her horse, Extra's Music Director, to the victory in the Lady Amateurs on Walking Horses competition under the Richardson Farms, Cleveland, Tenn., banner. This duo also won at Pikeville. The Charlie Green-trained entry, The Paper Rose, and Susie Harmon were reserve for John and Susie Harmon of Wartrace, Tenn.

It didn't take magic for Buck Williams and That Santana Magic to claim the victory in the Walking Horse Specialty for Aged Mares, Geldings or Stallions class. Jamie Waddell of Verbena, Ala., is the horse's owner. Bob Sapp and Steppin tied second in the class for Tony and Melissa Britt of Pikeville, Tenn.

Nine horses answered the gate call for Amateur Show Pleasure class. Lou Anne Jennings and The Lieutenant Colonel pick up their first victory as a team and Jennings the first of her two blues at the show. Jeff Green of Shelbyville, Tenn., is the trainer and Jennings of Erin, Tenn., is the owner. ET's Resurrection and Beck Oakley were reserve for Paul Oakley of Lebanon, Tenn.

The Amateur Two-Year-Old Walking Horse class was won by The Bold Collection with Debbie Marbry in the irons for trainer and owner Chester Marbry of Shelbyville, Tenn. By Reservation Only and and Ed Breedlove of Buford, Ga., were reserve under the Charlie Green Stables banner.

The Neoshoba County Classic Champion, Brett Farve, scored another blue ribbon for owner Carole Baxter of Alexandria, La. This time the athletic entry won the Four-Year-Old Open class with trainer Jerry Woodlee of Shelbyville, Tenn., in control. Jaclyn Smith's entry, Jose's Miss Copy, was reserve with Buck Williams in the saddle.

A Skywatch Girl was the horse to watch in the Amateur Three-Year-Old competition. Jennifer Wilhelm was up on the Chester Marbry-owned and trained blue ribbon entry. The MVP and owner exhibitor Woody Woodruff of Shelbyville, Tenn., were reserve. The MVP is trained at Charlie Green Stables.

Lou Anne Jennings made her second victory pass of the evening in Park Performance Open Specialty on another of her horses, My Good Time Charlie, under the direction of Jeff Green. Hard Caladeral, Claude Fry's amateur owned and trained entry, earned the red ribbon from judge Milligan. Fry made the trip from Scottsboro, Ala., to compete at Dunlap.

It didn't take Spidey sense to see why I'm Spider Man and Ed Breedlove earned the blue ribbon in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Championship. This was the fifth blue ribbon for a Charlie Green-trained entry. Danny Rylee and Cash & Carry Little carried the red ribbon home to Gillsville, Ga. Doug Moore is the trainer and Danny and Carole Rylee are the owners.

The sixth and final blue of the show for Charlie Green Stables came in the Amateur Specialty class when The Lowrider and Susie Harmon rode to the victory circle. John and Susie Harmon of Wartrace, Tenn., are the owners. Eric Lyons and Pushovers Home Grown, trained by Richardson Farm of Cleveland, Tenn., and owned by the Lyons family of Rock Springs, Ga., finished reserve.

The final class of the show was the Open Walking Horse Stake with five entries. No matter what time of the night or how late the hour, the crowd is always ready to cheer their favorites as loudly as possible when the entries are named in the stake class. Saturday night at Dunlap was no different. The judge put all five entries through flat walk, running walk and canter in both direction accompanied by the hooting and hollering from the audience. After the competitors lined up and the dust settled, the clear victor was Sundust With Attitude and Josh Taylor. The show stake champion is trained by Josh Taylor of Ken Taylor Stables, Bell Buckle, Tenn., and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Sapp of Hartsburg, Mo. The reserve on the judge's card went to Scorecard and exhibitor and trainer Jeff Green of Shelbyville, Tenn. Samantha Green is the owner.

This concludes coverage of the 42nd annual O.K. Hege Memorial Horse Show. Complete results follow and may also be viewed, searched and printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.