By Kay Swisher
BRIDGEWATER, Va. - What? A 2003 horse show in Virginia and no rain. Yes, you read it correctly, the Shenandoah Valley Horseman Association won the driest horse show award of the season Oct. 18, 2003, at the Bridgewater Lawn Party Grounds. A total of 312 entries vied for the attention of judge Charlene Cox.
Bill Reel Stables walked off with six blues for the show and both Jeff Hatcher Stables and Benny Johnson Stables each shared the winner’s circle four times. Benny Johnson debuted Barry Meade’s Trial Run in the Walking Horse stake and took the championship honors. Edna Black’s What’s Better Than Cash received the reserve with Bill Reel in the irons.
The most exciting class and the toughest to judge of the evening was the juvenile class. He’s Ritz And Famous, owned by Judy Morrissett with Chris Moss catch riding, walked off with the winning ribbon. Chad Funkhouser, also catch riding, on Mark’s Wildman won the reserve for owner Ann Hawn.
Broadway Billy and Barbara Dean showed their winning ways to capture the Amateur Specialty class. The Haint Of Pusher, ridden by Peggy Harris, tied to the second place ribbon.
The reserve world champion three-year-old Sunfire Phoenix, proudly owned by Mike and Harriet VanDyke, was the a winner again in the Park Pleasure Two-Gait class with Harriet VanDyke, while Rebecca Zirkle and Eb’s Bold Silver walked to the red ribbon.
Marty Reel, on her beloved Royal Master’s Merlot, rode for the win in the All Day Pleasure class. The Roy Wagner Stable’s entry of Mikeisha’s Jazz Delight, owned and ridden by Debra Claycomb, received the reserve tie.
Jeff Hatcher was in the irons for Charlene Gibson in the Show Pleasure class for the win with Merging Into One. Roy Wagner Jr. rode for the red. on Killing Time for Gail Boyer.
In the two and three-year-olds class Donna Shelly’s Gambler’s Gold won the class with Bill Reel in the saddle. Roger Cubbage and Kodachrome Joy tied for the second place ribbon for Tony Pozzilla.
Benny Johnson and Eb’s Bold Silver walked their way to the blue in the Park Pleasure Western Two-Gait class. Kandis Terling and The Paragon left the ring with the second place award.
The black stallion Armed Man, owned by Marty Reel, won the four-year-old specialty with Bill Reel in the saddle. Marco Etchebarne took the red with Richard Fulks’ Cash’s Lady Blossom.
The entry Rose Colored Glasses, presented by Mike Ramboldt for Ramboldt & Cooper, captured the championship in the large class of lite-shod plantation entries. Copy’s Magic Chance went for reserve with owner/rider Dennis Hensley.