By Linda Scrivner
LEWISBURG, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association held its annual awards banquet on Friday evening, Dec. 5, 2014, at the TWHBEA Headquarters. Following a welcome by master of ceremonies Mark Farrar, Jr., the invocation by Tony White and a delicious meal, the evening’s presentations began.
Distinguished guests were recognized and appreciation was expressed for the 2014 sponsors.
The TWHBEA Master Breeder Award, the highest and most prestigious recognition given to a breeder, recognizes those breeders whose work over an extended period of time has had a significant and long-lasting impact on the breed. This year the Master Breeders Award was bestowed upon two worthy individuals.
Sheryl Crawford was the first recipient. She and husband, Doug have been breeding walking horses for more than three decades. World Champions under saddle bred by Crawford include Our American Eagle, Look Who’s In Command, That Lady’s In Command, In Command Again, Combat Commander and You’re In Command. Crawford-bred halter World Champions include Down & Out On Gen, A Royal Flash, Godiva In Command and Royally In Command. Other top show horses bred by Crawford include Miss Hard Cash, A Perfect Delight, Godiva In Command, War Commander, Proudly In Command, Two Star Command, Girls Can Command, Don’t Look Back, Magically In Command, Highly In Command, At Your Command, Best In Command, Ready To Command, She’s The Lady Of The Night, Strategically In Command, Right Back At Ya, The Storm Commander, We’re Back, Scratch Player, Tee Time and Miss Pebble Beach.
The other Master Breeder Award was presented posthumously to Billy Maddox. With the purchase of one mare, the Rock McEwen-bred Dixie Allen Baker in 1959, the late Billy Maddox of Duck River, Tenn., created a 50-year breeding record that is unmatched in the annals of walking horse history. From this one mare spawned horses such as Big Shot’s Dream, Dixie’s Little Star, Dixie’s Dark Lady, Sun’s Dark Dixie, Delight’s Dixie, Duck River Girl, Pride’s Foxie Farrah, Premier Delight, Pride’s Kojack, Delight’s Dark Dixie, Ravishing Ruby, Charcoal’s Delight, Deal Me Aces, Dixie’s Desperado, Gen’s Way High Willie, Pride’s Super Sonic, Pride’s Gypsy Woman, Coin’s Super Sister, Duck River Pride, Fantastic Gold, The Duck, Bionic man, Hard Texas Cash, Coin’s Double Pride, Pride’s Premier, Coin’s Spun Gold, Legend Of Pride, Grand Performance, Cabbage Row Joe, The Legend, The Revelation, Red Sun Rising, Red Sunday’s Best, Genius’s Dixie Chick and Power Force.
2014 TWHBEA Honors
Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Association
TWHYA Outstanding Youth Member of the Year – Morgan Murphy
TWHYA Youth Volunteer of the Year – Dana White
Lizzie Umberger Sportsmanship – Andy Hill
TWHBEA Child Ambassador – Hunter Gaenslen
TWHBEA Youth Ambassador – Denise Rowland
TWHBEA Performance Horse Ambassador – Joy Smith
TWHBEA Pleasure Horse Ambassador – Tracy Pinson
TWHBEA Friendship Award – Tom Kakassy
TWHBEA Member of the Year – Duke Thorson
Master Breeders - Sheryl Crawford & Billy Maddox
Sires & Dams of the Year
Outstanding Sire of The Year – Lined With Cash
Dam – Spirit’s Delightful Dream
Sire by Total Points – Jose’ Jose’
Sire by Percentage Points – A Greater Generator
Reese L. Smith, Jr. Distinguished Service Award – Lacy Upchurch
TWHBEA World Versatility Show Overall High Point Champion – Enchanter’s MG
Regional Futurity Premier Sires & Dams
Western International Regional Futurity Premier Sire – Nite’s Design
Western International Regional Futurity Premier Dam – A Jazzy Witch
Ohio Regional Futurity Premier Sire – Rowdy Rev
Ohio Regional Futurity Premier Dam – A Triple Delight
National Futurity Horizon Awards
Yearling – Moto Moto
National Futurity Graduate – Jazz On My Mind
GO! Gelding
Flat-Shod Super Gelding – Enchanter’s MG
Performance Super Gelding – An American Threat
Motivated Mare
Flat-Shod Super Mare – Count On Spiri O’ Three
Performance Super Mare - Lined Royal Cash
Distance Awards
Distance Horse of the Year – Ebony’s Texas Sport
Open Gaited Horse of the Year – Pride’s Tennessee Jack
Distance Rider of the Year – Connie Graves