by Maggi Painter

            POMONA, Calif. – The Tennessee Walking Horse Association of California held the 43^rd annual California Celebration on June 9-10, 2007, at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif. Jamie Hankins of Paris, Ky., did the job of judging this year’s event.

            Rounding out the two-day event was the final class of the show, the Show Horse Grand Championship Stake. Russ Thompson directed Generator’s Nat King Cole to the title for owners Graham and Brassy.

            Topping the ribbon tally was Russ Thompson Stables with 28 blues; five of those being grand championships. The winning combination of Jim Heiting and Dragonfire claimed two blues. The first came in the Park Pleasure Western Amateur Specialty class. They returned the next day to claim the Park Pleasure Western Amateur Specialty Grand Championship. Jim Heiting also directed Unfaithful to the Gentleman to Ride Specialty class blue. Heiting’s wife, Cindy, returned to the winner’s circle aboard Masquerading Masterpiece in the Park Performance Amateur Specialty Stallion and Gelding competition.

            The Gordon family Stonegait Farm owned entries claimed five of the RTS blues. Ashley Gordon directed her multi-titled champion Genius Dixie Chick to the Lite Shod Pleasure Western Amateur Specialty, Lite Shod Pleasure Youth Specialty and the Lite Shod Pleasure Amateur Specialty Grand Championship. Mom Kelly Gordon directed her beautiful sorrel stallion Sam Whiskey to the Amateur Four-Year-Old Specialty class title. Ashley also directed Countdowns Cordell Walker to the Park Pleasure Youth Specialty class blue for Caressa Hernandez.

            The Curtis Roseman family made the trek from Scottsdale, Ariz., to claim five blues for the RTS crew. Robbie Roseman directed Look Who’s Taking Command to the blue in the Park Pleasure Amateur Three and Under Specialty class title, then return to claim top honors in the Park Pleasure Open Three and Under class. Roseman also directed High Altitude to the Show Pleasure Youth Specialty class victory. Sister Amy directed Simply Thrilling to the Amateur Specialty class victory. Later Robbie Roseman returned to the ring to claim the Amateur Specialty Grand Championship aboard Simply Thrilling.

            She’s All That Jazz claimed dual California Celebration blues for owner Beth Beasley. The first came with Yvette Eddy aboard in the Amateur Specialty Novice Horse or Rider Specialty class. Tori Cook did a fantastic job of catch riding to claim top honors in the Youth Specialty class.

            Roger and Rebecca Emerick owned entries claimed three California Celebration blues. Their three-year-old stallion Magnifico remains undefeated in competition, claiming the blue in the Three-Year-Old Stallion class with Russ Thompson aboard. The Emerick’s World Grand Champion The Texas Lexus claimed two blues. Tori Cook directed him to the Trail Pleasure Youth Specialty class title, while Jamey Thompson lead him to the Halter Model class blue.

            He’s On Georgia Time and Jamey Thompson walked out with two blues. The first was in the Park Pleasure Open Specialty class, and then later returned to claim the Park Pleasure Grand Championship tricolor ribbon. O’ So Special and Kelly Cook claimed top honors in the Amateur Ladies Specialty class. Another Cook entry, The Wild Irish Rose claimed the blue in the Weanling Halter class with Trish Wooten at the lead.

            Single blue ribbon entries for the RTS crew included Major Gator winning the Amateur Show Pleasure Novice Horse or Rider Specialty class with Julie Turner aboard. Turner made a great ride aboard her Feelin Good in the Two-Year-Old Open class. Steven Pruneri did an outstanding job catch riding Break On Thru to claim the blue in the Amateur 15.2 and Under class. Later Pruneri returned to direct his Three-Year-Old Mare Senorita Margarita to the blue in the Amateur Three-Year-Old class.

            Scott Benham’s Golden West Farms rounded out the number two spot in the ribbon tally with 24 blues; six being grand championships. The world championship combination of Miss Spectacular and Bobbie Parady started out the show winning the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty class title. They also ended the show winning the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty Grand Championship.

            Manuel Rodriquez directed Strictly A Rocker to the blue in the Park Performance Open Specialty class. Adrienne Cappuccio returned to claim the Amateur Park Performance Grand Championship tricolor ribbon.

            Jenny Earhart and her newly aquired Pushers Oliver Twist made the trip to the winner’s circle five times. This team claimed the Amateur Trail Pleasure Western Novice Horse or Rider Specialty, Amateur Trail Pleasure English Specialty, Amateur Trail Pleasure English Novice Horse or Rider Specialty, Amateur Trail Pleasure Grand Championship and the Trail Pleasure Open Specialty with Michelle Mediros aboard.

            Joyce Hofstee made the trip from Central California to add two blues to her resume. Hofstee directed A Drop Of Bad Medicine to the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class victory. Next Hofstee rode Lucky Silver Dollar to the Amateur Park Performance class blue. Phyllis Langley’s JFK Motown Heather claimed three blues for the GWF crew. Jenny Earhart directed this flashy grey mare to the Amateur Country Pleasure Specialty, Amateur Country Pleasure and the Amateur Country Pleasure Grand Championship titles.

            Jenny Earhart also directed Master’s Royal Blend to the Amateur Show Pleasure Grand Championship, while owner Michelle Mediros claimed the top honors in the Open Show Pleasure class. Michelle McDermott made four trips to the winner’s circle. McDermott directed her sister, Maureen McCabe’s, spotted saddle horse Chief Sierra to the blue in the Spotted Saddle Horse Western Open Specialty, Spotted Saddle Horse English Open Specialty and the Spotted Saddle Horse Grand Championship. McDermott also directed her flashy palomino mare Generator’s Diamond Dixie to the blue in the Trail Pleasure Amateur Specialty class, while Jenny Earhart lead Dixie to the Halter Two and Over class blue.

            The Noon Edition and Demara Nuzum made a flawless performance to claim top honors in the Fine Harness division. Mike and Marilee Moran’s yearling colt Score’s Nooner claimed the blue in the Halter Yearling competition, and then later in the Halter Championship. Trish Wooten was at the lead.

            Bouquet Creek Farms and Wendy Shaw claimed 12 blues including a grand championship. Bill and Betsy Marzinzik owned horses accounted for seven blues. Move It Or Lose It claimed top honors in the Lite-Shod Open Specialty class with Wendy Shaw and the Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty, Lite-Shod Youth Specialty and the Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty Grand Championship with Lauren Shaw. Tried And True captured the blue on three occasions. Lauren Shaw directed him to the Lite-Shod Amateur Western Specialty. Shayna Kingsbury took over the reins of Tried And True to claim the top spot in the Lite-Shod Western Open Specialty and Lite-Shod Western Open competition.

            Carla Shumway owned entry Cash On Time captured the Pro-Am Flat Shod Specialty, Lite-Shod Pleasure English Amateur Specialty and the Lite-Shod Pleasure Amateur Novice Horse or Rider Specialty class victories. Single blue ribbon winners for the Bouquet Creek Farms were Wonder Woman’s Delight claiming the Trail Pleasure Open with Amanda Rodriquez and JFK’s Paramour and Lauren Shaw in the Country Pleasure Youth Specialty competition.

            Rounding out the blue ribbon winner’s at the California Celebration was the flashy sorrel gelding The Skyjazz and Andrea Turner claiming the top honors in the Trail Pleasure Four and Under Specialty class competition for McKenzi Wicketts.

            This completes the coverage of the California Celebration. Complete show results can be viewed, searched and printed at our Web site www.walkinghorsereport.com.