By Christy Coon

As has become tradition the 2004 show season for the West Coast, walking horse exhibitors and trainers began with the Carousel Charity Horse Show. The 33rd annual show was once again held at the West World Show Grounds in Scottsdale, Ariz., March 11-14. This multi-breed event featured Saddlebreds, Morgan, Hackney, Arabian, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, Roadster, Spotted Saddle Horses and Tennessee Walking Horses.

Mike House of Shelbyville, Tenn., joined the panel of five judges to evaluate the Walking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse entries.

The Scottsdale weather vacillated between rain and cool weather to sunny, 90-degree weather. The torrent of rain that occurred late Friday night and early Saturday morning actually delayed the show Saturday. The show typically runs simultaneously in two arenas, an indoor arena – The Equidome, and an outdoor arena – The Wendell Arena. However due to the downpour, Wendell Arena classes were moved to the Equidome, making the Saturday show schedule a long and grueling one for all. By Saturday evening, things were back on track, and the remainder of the show ran smoothly.

The culmination of the show came with an excellent showing by the Open Stake Championship team, Motown Delight and trainer Russ Thompson. Having won their earlier preliminary class, this championship win was an excellent way to end the Carousel Show. It was also a great way to honor Motown Delight’s owner, Eva McClure, who recently passed.

Golden West Farms topped the blue ribbon count with a total of 19 wins, three of those being championship wins. It was great to see trainer Manuel Rodriguez back with the Golden West team. In addition to the hard work of trainers Scott Benham and Manuel Rodriguez, Hannah Pulvers assisted by showing many of the GWF entries.

Pulvers showed Generatin’ Colors on behalf of her mother, Jana Anderson, DVM, to four wins in the Spotted Saddle Horse and country pleasure classes.

Strictly Off The Record added three blues and a tricolor championship sash to the GWF wall in the lite-shod division for proud owners Jim and Judy Sims.

The Mike and Marilee owned entry, My Advice, picked up three wins in the park pleasure division. Mike was aboard for one of the wins, while Hannah Pulvers was in the irons for the other two.

Pulvers also directed Linda Crowley’s Iced Sundrop to three trail pleasure wins, including the Trail Pleasure Specialty Championship.

Show pleasure entry, Apocalypse, was seen in the winner’s circle twice, much to the delight of owner Joyce Hofstee. She directed Apocalypse to the win in the Amateur Specialty, while trainer Scott Benham directed the blue ribbon ride in the Open Specialty.

The Schamber family entries of Tennessee Extra Cash and As Good As Elvis each collected a blue. Young Travis Schamber and Tennessee Extra Cash topped the Show Horse Specialty Juvenile Rider class, while parents Tim and Tammie and sister Taylor cheered them on. Trainer Scott Benham directed As Good As Elvis to the Show Horse Three-Year-Old win.

Rounding out the Golden West Farm wins was China Beach, owned by John and Bobbie Parady, taking the Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty Championship. Bobbie jubilantly directed this win.

Russ Thompson Stables carried home a total of seven blues and four tricolor championship sashes for their flat-shod and padded entries. The Park Pleasure team of Jamey Thompson and The Last Cash collected two preliminary wins, as well as the Park Pleasure Three-Gait Open Championship, for owner 4-J Land & Cattle Company.

Legacy Walker owned entries, Walking On Thin Ice and He’s Pushin The Ritz added nicely to the RTS ribbon wall. Pat Harrington executed two great rides aboard Walking On Thin Ice to capture the Show Horse Amateur Specialty win and the Show Horse Specialty Championship. Harrington also directed He’s Pushin The Ritz to the winner’s circle in the Show Horse Four & Under Amateur Specialty class.

Sue Brassy directed Noel and Roberta Williams’ I’m The Man In Charge to a win in the Show Horse Novice Amateur Specialty as well as the Show Horse Amateur Specialty Championship.

Mort and Gerre Mann were happy with trainer Greg Bryant and Bart Starr and their winning ride in the show Horse Open Specialty class.

Step Aside Stables trainers Dana Kanstul and Sue Wittick were happy with their five blues and one championship sash at the Carousel. The Gentleman Is Armed was responsible for three blues and the tricolor sash in the Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty Championship for owner Kathy Atwater.

Kana Kanstul’s Patriot Score and Matt DiCambio’s Noon’s City Lights each added a single blue to the Step Aside Stables ribbon count. Joseph Manos made a long trip from Northern California to participate in this season opener. His trip was made worthwhile with a lite-shod win with Steel Watch and Spotted Saddle Horse win with Wind Dancer.

The amateur owned and trained team of Spook’s Rain and Shelley Angel were ecstatic with their two wins. Those wins were in the Arizona Owned Flat-Shod Specialty class and the All Breed Belles and Beaus class.

Rounding out the blue ribbon tally was the local team of Bob Carolin and Dumafatchie owned by Roma Felible. Their win came in the Arizona Owner Country Pleasure Specialty class.

Complete results from the Carousel show follow and may also be found on our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.