LUMBERTON, N.C. - The Smyrna Volunteer Fire Department’s 4th Annual Southeastern Championship Walking and Racking Horse Show was held Nov. 4 at the Robeson County Fairgrounds. The team of Jane and Gene Frye were the organist and announcer while Debbie Bush caught all of the winning shots on film as the photographer. Willie Collins was the show manager and ringmaster. The 40 class show was affiliated with the KWHA - HIO and NCWHA with Arnold “Sarge” Walker marking the cards.
The show came to close with the Walking Horse Championship. There were four worthy competitors in the class. Terri Mosley and Jubilee’s Bossman came out on top, making this the fifth championship win this year, as well as several wins in the amateur ranks with Nick Saunders. David Polk and Baywatch were the reserve champions in the class.
The afternoon show had 10 classes with 79 entries in the Plantation Pleasure division. Kistler Stables came out on top winning 3 of the classes. Danny Kistler showing for Lora Fortenberry won the Western Specialty with My My. Owner rider Lora Fortenberry won the Lite Shod Specialty and the Western Lite Shod Specialty with Bold’s Money. An exciting new contender in the Plantation ranks was JFK’s Carolina Lady presented to top the Plantation Pleasure Specialty division by Jason Hughes and later return to top the Plantation Pleasure Amateur Specialty division with Joseph Bartholomew. Southern Walking Man and owner/rider Abby Henderson, won the Lite Shod class. The Youth Specialty was won by Amanda Honeycutt and her horse, Pusher’s Question Mark. Showing in the Open class, Ron Curkendall made the winning ride with I’m Cotton Eyed Joe. The Country Pleasure 2 Gait was won by Johnny Abee and Rimrack’s Dillon. Carolyn Pope won the NCWHLA Plantation class with her horse, Hack’s Queen Of Spades.
The evening show had Walking, Spotted and Racking Horse classes. There were 89 entries in the 18 Walking Horse classes. Blair Gribble made the winning ride in the Two-Year-Old Class with Bustin Into The Millennium. Randall Jones made the blue ribbon ride for Kenneth Myers with The Power Struggle. Justin Harris and Mark’s Midnight Cash were winners in the Four-Year-Old Amateur. Ron Curkendall rode for his second win in the Four-Year-Old with Bummin Choice. Milly Player has been on a blue ribbon roll with Dark Spirit’s Shaker winning the Stake at the North Carolina State Fair and the Amateur Owned and Trained and the Amateur Championship at Lumberton.
Cole Baker made another winning ride for Gribble Stables with Whispering Pride in the Show Pleasure class, out of 12 top entries. Madison Holloway made an outstanding show to win the Youth 11 & Under with her beloved horse, I’m Hammerin’ Hannah.
Nobody loves winning more than Jean Duling does. Trainer, Eddie Tuck rode to the winner’s circle with Ultra’s Special Pusher in the Open Specialty to take home the blue for Jean. Cole Baker likes to collect those blues as he won the Youth 12-17 with Charcoal’s Houdini from Gribble Stables. Katie Helms didn’t let the rain shower bother her as she and The Heat Is On won the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty out of eight entries. David Polk Stables had Kelly Manis and her horse, Pusher’s Spring Rain in top form as they won the Three-Year-Old Amateur Class. Not to be outdone by his daughter, Joe Manis won the NCWHA Members Only class with I’m Strictly Business making the fourth blue ribbon ride for Gribble Stables. John Grainger won the Three-Year-Old class with Flashy’s Redman. Owner-rider Mickey Preslar won the Amateur Specialty with Design’s Midnight. Jerry Jester made the winning ride in the 2 Year Old Amateur for the second show in a row on his horse, Running Loose. The Cash Collector did just that as he and Amanda Dickerson won the Youth 12-17 class.