CLEVELAND, Tenn.--Honoring high point champions was only a small part of the fun and festivities as The American Saddle Horse Association of Tennessee hosted its annual awards banquet on Saturday, February 8, 2003 at the Cleveland Country Club, Cleveland, Tenn.
ASHAT board members Vicki Gillenwater, Chris Long and LeAnne Smiley worked for months planning the banquet, while Mark Farrar added his expertise by announcing the event. Efforts paid off, and this year’s banquet had its largest turnout in many years.
Highlights of the banquet included a raffle where winners could select wrapped prizes or “steal” prizes that had already been selected by other winners. Prizes from affiliated shows included box seats from the Atlanta Pro-Am, the Alabama Charity Championship and the Kentucky Spring Premier. A “fight” broke out between longtime friends and ASHAT supporters Pam Long and Deborah Richardson who traded the making of a tail switch by Karen Warner back and forth. Dorothy Gillenwater proved her abilities as a fundraiser as she sold more than 600 raffle tickets. Proceeds from the banquet and raffle will fund ASHAT’s sponsorship of Member Classes at affiliated shows in 2003.
ASHAT also took the opportunity to honor some of its members with special achievement awards. Dianna Pearson and Jeannie Smith were honored for their commitment to the Tennessee Futurities, and Chris Long was presented a plaque to thank her for her year of guidance as president of ASHAT. Amateur exhibitor Linda Hendricks of Eatonwood Farm, junior exhibitor Abby Jones of Blythewood Farm and trainer David Cunningham of Beaverbrook Stables were each honored for their contributions to the Saddlebred industry.
High point awards were presented to champions and reserve champions in 25 divisions. Richardson Stables, Leon, Deborah and Tommy Richardson were the big winners claiming top honors in the five-gaited division with Kalahari, I Will I Will and Premier’s Evening Shadow. Deborah Richardson also dominated the ASB pleasure horse awards winning with five gaited champion Cheers, Cheers, three gaited show pleasure adult champion Bi Mi Magic Winter and western horse As Catch Can.
Vicki Gillenwater showed horses to win titles across the board including A Blessing in the ladies three gaited, Manhattan Day in the three gaited natural mane and tail and K-Town’s Precious Princess in the park pleasure divisions for her Scenic View Farm and trainer Jacques VanNiekerk.
Alan Hancock claimed the open three gaited division title with Eatonwood Farms’ Magic Spoon while his wife Tammy showed her horse For Sure to win the amateur three gaited title. Bobbye Six scored dual wins with her champions Callaway’s Feature Story in the show pleasure driving and Heartland’s Firefly to win the harness pony award.
Kathy Caylor Stables again dominated the academy division, and riders turned out in mass to cheer on their friends as well as honor their instructor Kathy Caylor. Caylor’s students Emily Barker, Ashley Johnson and Donna Roland were also victorious in performance divisions.
In the juvenile division it was Frank Polley who turned in the winning performances with Seamair’s Twice As Nice in the roadster pony division and CH Atlantache in the five gaited division. Frank and his mother Virginia Polley ride with Jimmy Womble at Mountain Shadows Stables.
Dominating the roadster pony division was Kim Workman of Athens, Tennessee with her ponies St. Patrick and Roger. This marked her first year competing with the ponies under the guidance of Phillip Jackson at Longvue Farm.
Anne Marie Overstreet traveled from Virginia to claim her award for the second year in a row in the pleasure pony division with Starheart’s Wind Chime.
Other ASHAT champions included horses trained by Sam and Anne Stafford of Blythewood Farm, Wayne and Cathy Hackney of Starquest Equestrian Center, Lisa Bible and Kathryn Moore of Bridle Creek Farm, and Phillip Jackson at Longvue Farm.