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ASAC Horse Show Kicks Off Carolina Circuit



by Shawn Frazer

The Clemson Tigers may not have made it to "the big dance" but many smiling faces made it to the winner’s circle at the 23 annual ASAC Horse Show held March 18-20, 2010. The T. Ed Garrison Arena in Clemson, S.C., set the stage for what turned out to be a great three days of friendly competition.

The American Saddlebred Association of the Carolinas (ASAC), a 25-year-old organization supporting the Saddlebred breed, sponsors the ASAC Horse Show. This show is not only a fundraiser for the organization but also a welcome event for members and friends in neighboring states.

ASAC is considered the first show of the season for many. Hibernation of the winter months comes to an end and the show season begins. It is a time when new horse/pony and rider/driver combinations debut. First time ventures out of the academy division are conquered and nerves are calmed when riders enter the ring for the first time. Sportsmanship was abound, veterans supported the newcomers, and newcomers brought exciting new beginnings.

Weather in the Carolinas is never a guarantee in the month of March, however, clear, beautiful days provided a wonderful backdrop while Marilyn Macfarlane of Shelbyville, Ky., tied the competition. Many compliments were given to Master of Ceremonies Dave Goff. Goff, commonly found announcing Mule shows, was a first time Saddlebred/Hackney announcer.

Nancy Boone and Ted Foreman brought a familiar calmness and professionalism to the show as they shared the responsibility of show manager. Forman also acted as ringmaster. Beth Viering kept things running smoothly in the show office as she held the title of show secretary. Sandra Hall Photography captured the three days of competition and pleased exhibitors with a quick turnaround of providing proofs after their classes. Horse Show Videos enabled exhibitors to take home videos of their complete performances to share and learn from. Jerry Blackenship was the show farrier, Dale Stone the organist, and Trip Stewart was the paddock master. Carol Blount could be found in center ring and Henry Jumper of Gastonia, N.C., was the horse show chairman.

ASAC may not be the largest show of the season but do not let that fool you. The competition is tough. Riders and drivers showed amongst the company of Blue Grass Farm, Boones Farm & Stables, Cameo Stables, Carolina Moon Stable, Cheryl Baird Stable, Chestnut Lane, Cross Wind Farm, Fairhope Stables, Harrison Shiflet Stables, Hickory Lane Farm, Jansal Saddlebreds, Jon Walker Stables, Joyce Webster, Lenux Stables, Lisa Jordan-Pearce, Mountain Laurel Saddlebreds, Patti Lovelace, Robert Scott Stable, Stepping Stone Farm, Steve Hanks Stables, Summer Chase, Trail End Farm, Walnut Hill Farm and Willaway Farm. Beautiful, well-deserved ribbons lined every barn.

The five-gaited division fell nothing short of a crowd pleaser. Paul Boone rode Ann Cannon’s Hollywood Material to championship honors in the Five-Gaited Stake. Harrison Shiflet rode Her Name Is Lola to the winner’s circle in the Five-Gaited class for Double Doc Farms. The two classes were a real treat to fans as both trainers put on quite a show. Owner and rider Tina Gunby Smith rode Merchant Commander to top honors in the Ladies Five-Gaited class. Donna Lockett swept the Amateur Five-Gaited classes on Fog, while Callaway’s A Modern Hero, ridden by Ann Ramey Boyd, claimed reserve in both classes.

Debbie Tolliver’s Saturday Night Magic had a busy but successful show winning championship honors in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Stake and qualifier with Maggie Ward and the Novice Rider Five-Gaited class with Jennifer Caron. Katherine McGee Bosworth claimed reserve honors in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Stake and qualifier aboard her new mount A Cloudburst. Debra Sargent rode Katherine McGee’s Bosworth’s Cloverleaf Ladybird and claimed top honors in the Novice Five-Gaited class. Paul Boone rode Starlike’s Successor, owned by William Cannon Jr., to the winner’s circle in the Junior Five-Gaited class. Jerry Tolliver rode Pender Ridge Farm’s Legacy’s Erotic Mistress to the winner’s circle in Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited class. Tiara Terra rode Roseridge Many Tears and swept the Five-Gaited Pony division. Tiffany Hager rode strongly to reserve honors.

Quintus Vander Spuy won the Open Three-Gaited class aboard CH SJ Like A Champ. Mitchell Bruce and If You Have To Ask was all smiles after winning the Amateur Three-Gaited Stake and the Novice Three-Gaited class. Anna Grace Whitworth happily rode her horse CH Tantalize Me LCC and swept both Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited classes. Junior Three-Gaited honors went to Jerry Tolliver aboard Super Goji. Riding Attache Allure, Anna Grace Whitworth swept the Three-Gaited Pony division, increasing her winning streak to four.

Heath Hughes captivated the audience by sweeping the Open Three-Gaited Park division aboard the Badgley’s Doubletree’s Captivating. CH The Top Banana and Cloverleaf Turner Jake battled it out in the Amateur Three-Gaited Park division. Crystal Brown Seals rode CH The Top Banana to the stake win and Nancy Chauvin rode her Cloverleaf Turner Jake to the reserve and it was reversed in the qualifier. Virginia Waddell was beside herself after wining both Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park classes on The Soul Heir. Jerry Tolliver rode Cindy Bartell’s Roberta Of Highwood to the Junior Three-Gaited Park title.

Annette Greene drove Silver Side Up to wins in both Fine Harness classes.

Larry Jenkins drove Carl Julian to the winner’s circle in both the Amateur Roadster to Bike Stake and the qualifying class.

Regal’s Star Attraction LF and Jeoff Bodenhorst are always a crowd pleaser and once again did not disappoint when they found themselves winning both of their Road Pony classes. Joe Cook’s Wait & See’s Bright Flame and Hailey Chestnut drove their way to junior exhibitor top honors in the AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony class and Junior Exhibitor Road Pony Stake. Twin Willow’s Storm Warning and John Glenn battled it out in the AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony Under Saddle class. Kelsey Baird and Twin Willow’s Storm Warning came out on top.

Katherine Whitlow and her pony Heartland Twice As Nice won the Open Hackney Pony class. Ann Ramey Boyd guided her High Heels And A Smile to a sweep in the Hackney/Harness Pleasure Driving Pony division.

The Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Stake and qualifier were swept by Debra Sargent and Michelle Sumner’s Arizona Haute. Ken Swope rode The Roanoker to the winner’s circle in the AOT Five-Gaited class.

Heath Hughes rode Luanne Kilday’s Backstage Pass to the winner’s circle in the exciting Park Pleasure Stake. Open Park Pleasure top honors went to Harrison Shiflet and The Heir To The Kingdom. Haley Stone and Reedann’s Go For It won the Junior Park Pleasure class. Rick Adams drove Absolut-Leigh So and won the Park Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier.

CH Pistolero and Tammy Whitworth won the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Stake. Sugar Coated and Marie Gwinn won the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class and earned reserve honors in the championship. Bree Zandy had quite a comeback ride and won the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Stake with The Apprentice. Abbey Bailey won the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class aboard Johnny Sea. Elizabeth Harris rode Highpoint’s Royal Flame to claim the AOT Three-Gaited Show Pleasure title. Novice Rider Three-Gaited Show Pleasure top honors went to Tammy Whitworth and CH Pistolero. Bonnie Koch and CH Selvaggio won the Show Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier.

Tammy Whitworth took home the tricolor ribbon with Endolane Symphony in the Country Pleasure Stake. Dori Zandy and CH Highpoint’s Grandee won the Adult Country Pleasure class. Erin Ohning and Callaway’s Letter To The Editor earned top honors in the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier. The AOT Country Pleasure winner was Sara Roberson and Stand And Watch. Black Copper and Lynn Bedard won the Novice Rider Country Pleasure class. Country Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier went to CH Reedann’s Phine By Me and Marion Bryan.

Country Western Pleasure classes are always a pleasure to watch. Monsignor and Marie Gwinn swept their division while VHF The Cinnamon Drop Kid and Marni Cothran took top honors in the Limit Country Western Pleasure class.

Attache’s Grand Finale was the Country Hunter Pleasure winning horse in the qualifying and stake class and had a different rider in each; Patti Lovelace and Lindsey Newsom both enjoyed a winning ride.

Anna Banazaweicz and Dazi Brown dominated the equitation division. Banazaweicz had wins in the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship and the Pleasure Equitation 17 & Under classes. Brown rode tall to the Walk/Trot Saddle Seat Equitation 10 & Under class and stake. Radio Flyer and Kaitlin Hughes brought winning ribbons home to Hickory Lane Farms thanks to her great performances in the Walk/Trot Pleasure 12 & Under classes.

Saturday morning was the time to shine for the academy riders. Taking home the blue ribbon to proud families and trainers were Claire Badgley, Briseida Mora Camacho, Amy Cedrone, Laura Cedrone, Bud Crowe, Grace Kehoe, Haley Mauldin, Shannon McNamara, Denese Patch, Dakota Palassio, Sue Rutz, Sydney Sanders, Riley Sutherland, Parker Todd and Donna Wesslen.

It was also an honor during the show to present Jack and Sandy Epley with the ASAC AOT VIP Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize and give appreciation to an individual AOT or non-AOT member, who has voluntarily given his or her time and effort for the betterment of the ASAC AOT Club. Jack and Sandy Epley, owners of AlphaGraphics in Greenville, S.C., have volunteered for years in printing the ASAC directory and this year in addition to the printing, have taken on all the editing and proofing of ads and names while giving the directory a whole new look.

Saturday evening concluded the show and welcomed the first day of spring.

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