by Leeann Mione

CLEMSON, S.C. – The 21st annual ASAC Horse Show drew horses, ponies, exhibitors, owners and trainers to Clemson to either get their show season started or follow up their appearances at the recent Gasparilla Charity show. Susi Day made the trip to judge all divisions including Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Friesians, roadsters, equitation and academy.

This year, the show backed up to the Raleigh Spring Premier, scheduled the following weekend, which perhaps caused more than one barn to have to choose between the two if unable to do both shows in a row. The numbers therefore were lighter than normal but that didn’t detract from the quality entries that made the trip to Clemson.

As is typical, the pleasure divisions were the largest. The Adult Country Pleasure Championship featured nine entries and the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship hosted seven teams. Class entries in most all other divisions varied in numbers and most of Saturday afternoon’s academy classes were well filled.

Co-Managers Nancy Boone and Ted Foreman directed the weekend to make sure things ran smoothly and Show Secretary Beth Viering played a large part in ensuring that happened by keeping the office in order.

Wyatt Lilly was master of ceremonies and official photographer Sandra Hall, along with organist Dale Stone, kept him company in center ring. Elizabeth "Trip" Stewart handled the paddock and Jerry Blankenship was the official farrier. Videos were provided by Horse Videos. Vickie Byrd was chairperson of class sponsorships and former manager Henry Jumper served as show chairman.

Hospitality included a nice spread at Friday evening’s exhibitors’ party which was sponsored by ASAC and the daily coffee and donuts were provided by the ASAC Amateur Owners and Trainers Club.

Things kicked off Thursday evening with the Open Fine Harness class. The blue ribbon went to Sandra Kaiser’s entry Dark Vader, but it was her other entry Harlem’s Hometown Spirit who took the tricolor in the Fine Harness Stake after winning the junior horse class. Brian Hamilton drove in the stake and junior class and Kaiser drove in the open class.

The weekend concluded with the Five-Gaited Stake and it was open champion I’m A Skywatcher named to take the victory pass with Bill Schoeman on board for Lori and Larry Schmidt. Julie Burmeister rode Ima Starbuck to the reserve grand championship for Jerry and Valerie Horoschuck.

CH (SA) Carlswald Prince’s Dominoe and Dr. Wendy Troyer took the tricolor in the Amateur Five-Gaited Stake under the direction of Boone’s Farm after having already won the qualifier. Twilight Maximillon was reserve with Josh Wall riding for co-owner Barbara Quinn and himself. He showed under the direction of Peter and Kim Cowart.

Caitlin Leith, also representing West Wind Stables, took the top prize in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Stake with her entry What’s The Hoopla. Reserve winners The Apprentice and Bree Zandy won the qualifier, showing from Cameo Stable, and were met in center ring by Julia and Steve Joyce.

Little Lord Huntly and Cagle James had two winning trips under the direction of Lewis Eckard from Drowning Creek Farm. They won the Five-Gaited Pony Stake and qualifier.

Other winners in the five-gaited division included ladies champion Merchant Commando with Tina Gunby-Smith; junior champion Walterway’s You’re Kidding Me with Quintus Vander Spuy for Jeoff Bodenhorst; novice rider champion Stage Right with Jennifer Spurlin and novice horse champion It’s Saturday Night Live with Kim Cowart for Beth Arndt.

Chick Hern won the Open Three-Gaited class then returned to win the Three-Gaited Stake with James Spriggs up for Spriggs and West. Regime Change and Crystal Seals were the amateur champions after winning the ladies class under the direction of Heath Hughes. Shelby Reimer piloted Day On The Town to the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Championship tricolor after winning the blue in the qualifier earlier in the week. Reimer showed on behalf of owner/trainer and father Brian Reimer. Nicole Price rode Café Demitasse to the reserve championship tricolor under the direction of Hollie Davidson of Cross Winds Farm.

Christy Absher Johnson directed Anna Grace Whitworth and Attache Allure to a sweep of the three-gaited pony division. Cloverleaf Turner Jake claimed the final ribbon in the junior three-gaited division with Quintus Vander Spuy up.

The six-entry Three-Gaited Park Stake was quite competitive and followed a seven-entry open class. Day named Captivating the winner of both classes with Heath Hughes riding for owner Hannah Badgley. Sugar Coated and Paul Boone were next in the stake ribbon count for owner Marie Gwinn. Crystal Seals was back in the spotlight again when she won both amateur park classes with CH The Top Banana.

G.A. Town Harlett and Jessi McCurry represented Harrison Shiflet Stables when they were named the winners of the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park Stake. Michaela Miller and Highpoint’s Tough As Nails were the reserve grand champions from Hickory Lane Farm.

Junior exhibitor park qualifier winners Who’s Your Daddy and Cara Wolf and junior horse winner She’s Miss Understood with Brian Reimer claimed the remaining blue ribbons in the park division.

Youth Road Horse Champion Royal Count carried owner Rebekah Cloninger to the blue then followed it up by winning the Amateur Roadster To Bike Stake from Drowning Creek Farm.

Jeoff Bodenhorst’s winning weekend continued when Regal’s Star Attraction was named the Amateur Roadster Pony Champion and the Roadster Pony Grand Champion with Bodenhorst in the bike. Smackdown and Rebekah Cloninger claimed the open stake reserve tricolor.

Caitlin Leith drove Zildjian to the Junior Exhibitor Roadster Pony Championship win and they also took the victory pass in the AHHS Medallion qualifier to add two more wins to the West Wind total. Jose Cuervo was the reserve grand champion with Taylor Price showing from Brian Reimer Stables.

McGee Bosworth rode John Glenn to the winner’s circle when they were named the Roadster Pony Under Saddle Grand Champions from Carolina Moon Stables after previously claiming the blue in the AHHS Roadster Pony Under Saddle Medallion class. Poinsettia’s Scatt Dragon was the reserve grand champion with Kaleb Kaiser up from Hamilton Stables.

Karen Voerg had two different winners in the roadster pony division. Her homebred Rant ‘N Rave K.V. won the open class and Seamair Premiere won the novice pony class.

It’s Showtime, with Tamra Arndt handling the lines, won the Harness Pony Stake and open class from West Wind Stables. Seamair’s Spectacular and Kala Spriggs won the Pleasure Pony Driving blue ribbon from Etowah Stables.

Megan Barrett and Mojo topped a good group to claim the tricolor in the five-entry Five-Gaited Pleasure Stake to add another championship to the West Wind total. They also won the six-entry qualifier. CH Admiral’s Gifted Miss and owner Carolyn Teal finished as the reserve champions in the stake under the direction of Harrison Shiflet Stables.

A Royal Event followed up the win in the open class by claiming the Park Pleasure Championship title with Steve Joyce in the irons for Susan Mims. Jessica Holmes, riding from Boone’s Farm and Stables, piloted A Chocolate Treat to the reserve title. Junior horse winner Royal Crest’s Stoney Maloney with Shannon West, and Park Pleasure Driving Champion Voodoo Magic’s Black Pearl, with Steve Joyce, claimed the remaining ribbons in the division.

CH A Chance To Dance and Marie Gwinn kept the wins coming for Boone’s Farm when Day selected them to go to the top of the class in the seven-entry Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship. Rebekah Cloninger teamed My Mountain Heirs to second place for owner Denise Outen.

Anna Grace Whitworth was back in the winner’s circle but this time she was on board CH Pistolero. The two teamed up to win the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Pleasure Stake and topped a pair of competitors in the process for Tammy Whitworth. Abbey Bailey and Johnny Sea were next in line for a tricolor for Kristi and Abbey Bailey and they showed under the direction of Harrison Shiflet Stables.

Alex Cedrone made her first appearance out of the academy division and she added two more wins to the Boone’s Farm total with a sweep of the 12 and under walk and trot pleasure division, riding Miraculous Odds, for Dan and Laura Cedrone. He’s Over The Edge carried Kaleb Kaiser to the reserve championship ribbon from Hamilton Stables.

Other winners in the three-gaited pleasure division included Grand Prize and Luanne Kilday for Deborah Jordan, Iva Secret and McKenzie Bryant for Tony and Anne Bryant, novice rider champion Dr. Courtney Devane and Final Copy and amateur owned and trained champion Bonita Baile with Daniel Walthers.

Shelby Reimer teamed Reedann’s Phine By Me to the win in the Show Pleasure Driving Stake for owner Marion Bryan from Cameo Stable. She was followed in the ribbons by qualifier winner Father McKenzie with Sharyn Lackey from West Wind.

Upstate was up on top in the nine-entry Adult Country Pleasure Stake (the largest class of the show) and the eight-entry adult qualifier. Katie Matthews rode for owners Bill and Linda McCombs from Boone’s Farm and Stables. Stablemate Southern Strut, with owner Marie Gwinn, was the reserve grand champion in the competitive class.

Strike Up The Lights and Taylor Price faced a nice group in the seven-entry Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship and represented Brian Reimer Stables with their winning performance. Mystic Affair won the six-entry qualifier before taking the reserve championship streamers with owner Tess Sullivan from Boone’s Farm.

Novice rider champion Katie Lichtenstein, with Preordained, and amateur owned and trained winner The Thief Of Hearts with Kristin Panos claimed the remaining wins in the country pleasure saddle division.

Ro-Day-O and owner Annette Green swept the Country Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier for Summer Chase.

Kilday continued her busy weekend but this time she was on her own mount, O’ Ain’t I Something, as she headed to the winner’s circle. They were named the Western Country Pleasure Champions after winning the qualifier from Trails End Farm. Molly Weinstein rode Marni Cothran’s Zion’s Jubal to the reserve title in the stake for Willaway Farm and Cothran was up for the win in the Open Western Pleasure Limit Horse class.

Owner/trainer and exhibitor Patti Lovelace put Attache’s Grand Finale in the top spot to win the Saddlebred Hunter/Sport Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier. Princess Dancing In The Clouds and owner Angie Williams took the reserve streamers in the stake.

Friesian Walk/Trot Only winner Emilie du Vallon, with owner Susan Orton, claimed the blue in the Friesian division’s only class.

Haley Griffin put two more wins on the Lenux Stables list when Susi Day named her the grand champion and champion in the 10 and under walk and trot equitation division. Griffin rode Simply Striking for Griffin Brothers Acquisitions. Dazi Brown, riding Pickles And Popcorn, was reserve in the stake under the direction of Heath Hughes of Hickory Lane Farm.