Victory Colors Fly Over Salem
Friday, July 27, 2007
by Jennifer Maack-Condren
SALEM, Mo - The second annual Rick Inman Memorial Gaited Horse Show was held on July 21, 2007, in Salem Mo. Twenty-seven classes played host to 91 entries of Tennessee Walking Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters, which was down slightly from 2006 numbers due to the proximity of the Dixon, Mo., show held on the same night this year.
Howard Roberts of Shelbyville, Tenn., was responsible for the penciling of the cards for all classes. Josh Richardson, Floyd Hampsmire and Phil Williams represented HAWHA affiliated show in the DQP capacity.
Victory Colors and Jim Huffman claimed their sixth blue of the season in Open Walking Horse competition. Their performance at the midnight hour was flawless for the win in the class for Jim and Donna Huffman.
4-J Land and Cattle Co. owned horses made a clean sweep of the flat-shod classes, earning a total of six blues to take home to Waynesville, Mo. Starting off the night for 4-J were Jeff Laughlin and Halle Berry earning the blue in the Open Model class. Bill Stotler and Toxic Colors earned the reserve in the class. Jimmy Laughlin and Cash’s Wildcat performed the winning ride in the Open Trail Pleasure class with Kerri Laughlin and Abe Lincoln putting the pressure on with the reserve tie.
The family competition heated up for the Four-Year-Old and Under Park Pleasure class as Kerri Laughlin beat out husband Jeff with Armed Scarlet O’Hara. Jeff received the red ribbon for his efforts with He’s Dangerous With Cash. 4-J continued their winning streak in the Open Park Pleasure Two-Gait class when Wendy Laughlin directed Encore’s Shakin Lady to the win in this tough class. Kerri Laughlin and Aspen Gold were reserve. Wendy Laughlin made a quick change to return to the winner’s circle once more, this time with JFK’s Royal Dreamer in the Lite-Shod Two-Gait class for 4-J. Jeff Laughlin and Stonehenge were reserve.
Jimmy Laughlin enjoyed his ride to the winner’s circle with Encore’s Shakin Lady in the Western Park Pleasure class. Marvelene Kusewitt and Coin’s Etched In Gold received the reserve tie for Rosalie Jones and Marvelene Kusewitt. Jimmy Laughlin returned to capture the final flat-shod blue of the night when he directed Encore’s Shakin Lady to the winner’s circle in the Park Pleasure Two-Gait Stake class for Jimmy Laughlin. Jeff Laughlin and Armed Scarlet O’Hara were reserve in the class.
Jim Huffman Stables earned a total of six blues on this picture perfect evening. Kicking off their string of wins was the Open Two-Year-Old winner Hot Caramel with Jim Huffman in the irons for Dr. and Mrs. Glenn DeGraffenreid. Get-R-Done Ace and Jerald Sutton were reserve in the class for Joe Sutton.
Jennifer Condren presented Armed And Proud for the judge’s approval in the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class for the Bill Maack family under the Huffman Stables banner. Jose’s Big Story and Jimmy Laughlin were reserve in the tough class for 4-J Land and Cattle Co. Hayley Miller directed Pride’s Man In Black to the winner’s circle in the Juvenile Specialty class for Dr. and Mrs. Glenn DeGraffenreid earning the third blue for trainer Huffman. Lisa Campbell and Jose’s Mr. Bojangles received the reserve tie in the class for Mrs. Glen Campbell.
Win number four came when Magic Impression and Dr. Glenn DeGraffenreid made an impression in the Men’s Amateur class for Dr. and Mrs. Glenn DeGraffenreid. Copy’s Golden Boy and Brad Nichols received the reserve honors in the class for Mrs. Glen Campbell.
The Three-Year-Old Open class kept things all in the family when Jim and Donna Huffman competed against each other for the title and bragging rights. Both had reason to be proud of their rides and when the judge’s card was marked Jim Huffman aboard High Heavens edged out Donna and Three Phase Voltage. Both of these horses are owned by the Huffmans and they have every reason to be proud of each one. The win in the Open class with Victory Colors sent them home to Ozark, Mo., with six blues.
Horses presented by the Nichols family received a pair of blues. Brad Nichols directed Coin’s Smooth Operator to the win in the Park Performance class for Mrs. Glen Campbell. Cargo’s Royal Impression and Adam Carlyon were reserve for Mr. and Mrs. James Carlyon. Ritz’s Heart Of Ice and Brian Nichols captured the win in the Open Amateur class for Glenda Nichols. The Pusher’s Generator and Kendra Roberts were reserve for Roberts and Heiney.
Kendra Roberts returned to claim the blue ribbon in the Ladies Amateur Specialty class when she directed City General to a flawless performance for Mr. and Mrs. Harold Roberts under the direction of Anne Hardin of DeSoto, Mo. My Cash At Midnight and Donna Huffman were reserve in the class for Jim and Donna Huffman.
Kate Carter directed the team of The First Command and Patty Ayers to the win in the Four-Year-Old Amateur class. Redemption Hard Cash and Donna Huffman were reserve.
The spectators were treated to an intermission performance of the “Rawhide and Dusty Show”, a bullwhip artist and trick horse performer. This show continues to draw top horses and has established itself on the Midwest circuit. No doubt it will be marked early on many calendars for next year.
Complete results follow and can also be found at www.walkinghorsereport.com.