Fun Times At ETSA Midsummer Classic
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
by Dianna Pearson
WHITE PINE, Tenn.- Hot weather and an afternoon thunderstorm on the final evening didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of exhibitors at the ETSA Midsummer Classic Horse Show, held Aug. 4–6 at the Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in White Pine, Tenn. The show featured a schedule of 95 classes.
The ETSA Midsummer Classic Horse Show is managed by Tammie Bunch and is organized by members of the East Tennessee Saddlebred Association (ETSA). A group of dedicated, hard working volunteers take on a number of responsibilities to make the show run smoothly. The Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center is a state-owned facility that is operated by Walters State Community College. The facility features a spacious indoor arena, 200 permanent stalls and camper parking. Plans are underway to construct new barns and a new covered warm-up ring. The new barns will be multi-purpose and will use temporary stalls for housing horses for horse shows and sales. The facility is convenient to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, known for outlet shopping and home to Dollywood.
ETSA treated exhibitors to free pizza and soft drinks at the exhibitors’ party following the Friday evening performance. The exhibitors’ party also featured a dog show which provided entertainment for party attendees. Classes included sexiest dog, dog and owner look alike, best dressed dog, best trick and Jack Benny dog for dogs 10 years of age and older. The costumes showed that the dog owners had put a lot of time and thought into preparing their dogs for the competition. This was the first time for the dog show and organizers hope to make it a yearly event due to the positive response.
Lee Hudson of Shawsville, Va., served as judge for all classes and Sandra Hall of Chesterfield, S.C., was the official photographer. Taulby Runyon of Morristown, Tenn., provided farrier service.
FIVE-GAITED
The familiar team of Champagne Property, with Roger Meade in the irons for owner Jan Frame, made the victory pass in the Open Five-Gaited Stake. Marjorie Judd and Japonica for Lydia Bailey were reserve after winning the ladies class earlier in the week.
Another entry from Roger Meade Stables, Star Dreamer, made a sweep of the amateur division, winning the Amateur Five-Gaited qualifier and championship. Reserve honors in both classes went to Inherit The Town and Brittney Horton for Tommy Horton.
Mr. Fizz and Tim Henry riding for Oak Hill Academy captured the blue in the novice stake, with I’m Suspicious Material and Roger Meade in reserve for Connie Jessee. Purple Heart put in a good performance to a win the junior class with Alan Hancock aboard for John and Sammie Judd. Sweeps Week and Chad Chandler were reserve for Lake Dailey LLC.
My Ways Just A Dream and Caroline Burglass claimed wins in the juvenile qualifier and championship for owner Bruce Burglass. Tori White and Alianca were reserve in both classes.
THREE-GAITED
The elegant team of Devoted Miss and Crystal Brown Seals made the victory pass in the open stake for Peggy Brown and Crystal Brown Seals. Dr. Gene Reasor and Seven Hills Ricochet were reserve. Watermelon and owner Tammy Hancock claimed wins in both the amateur qualifier and championship. Devoted Miss and Crystal Brown Seals were reserve in the amateur qualifier.
Brilliant Amber and Debbie Koning made the victory pass in the novice class for owner David Crockett, with Seven Hills Ricochet and Dr. Gene Reasor claiming the reserve title. Regime Change and owner Crystal Brown Seals made a good show and took the blue in the junior class followed by Debbie Tolliver and Red Hawk’s Lady Hawk in reserve.
Americana’s Wings and Paige Pennington turned in a lovely performance to claim the blue in the junior exhibitor class for Claude and Paige Pennington. Reserve honors went to S.S. Catch My Act and owner/rider Taylor Young. The junior exhibitors made the judge’s decision a little more difficult in the championship, and Bluegrass Melody and Ashleigh Price and Americana’s Wings and Paige Pennington were put back on the rail for extra work. Both young ladies worked hard to show their horses to their best, and Ashleigh Price and Bluegrass Melody made the victory pass for Melvin Blankenship, with Americana’s Wings and Paige Pennington in reserve.
THREE-GAITED PARK
The park division is always a popular division at Midsummer Classic and 2006 was no exception. It’s Infinite Justice and Chad Chandler claimed the tricolor in the open championship for Lake Dailey LLC. Reserve went to American Cuisine and Allison Moore. A Revolution and Glenda Altizer earned the right to make the victory pass in the open park class for owner Tommy Horton. Bright Memories and Debbie Koning were reserve for David Crockett. Celtic Storm and Karen Blankenship Shumate were in top form to win the amateur qualifier and championship. CH The Top Banana, with owner Crystal Brown Seals up, claimed reserve in both classes. Amateur-trained park honors went to Coy Roy and Emily Hall.
FINE HARNESS
Two entries answered the call in the Open Fine Harness Stake. The sharp-eared Games People Play driven by Jeff Long for J.R. Young exhibited beauty and elegance to earn blue ribbon honors. Eatonwood’s Julia and her owner, Ron Hendricks, were reserve.
ROADSTER
Here Comes Billy with Allison Moore at the lines showed their speed and style to win the Amateur Road Horse Stake. Moore and Here Comes Billy earned the right to another victory pass as the winners of the Road Horse Under Saddle class. Thriller and Kimberly Holt were reserve. Thriller came back in the Open Road Horse stake with Kimberly at the lines to earn the blue ribbon.
The speedy Radiant Decision driven by Dan Boles laid claim to the blue in the Open Road Pony class. Linda Hendricks and Baby Oh Baby were reserve.
Susan Butler and Parader made the winning drive in the Amateur Road Pony qualifier for Hugh Butler and came back in the amateur championship for reserve honors. Rhythm Ann and Lib McClellan were reserve in the qualifier, but came back in the amateur championship to claim the tricolor.
Heartland Wild Thunder and Jeb Boyd were in winning form to claim blue ribbon honors in the Juvenile Road Pony qualifier and the tricolor in the juvenile championship for owner Luanne Kilday. Wait And See’s Bright Flame and Bryce Smithwick were reserve in the juvenile qualifier while Swizzle Stick and Alissa Phillips claimed reserve honors in the championship.
The Bid Chair and Lisa Bible made the winning drive in the Junior/Novice Road Pony class for owner Alissa Phillips. Hot Headline and Tim Rogers were reserve. Wait and See’s Bright Flame was expertly guided by Bryce Smithwick to claim blue ribbon honors in the Road Pony Under Saddle class followed by Shadowland’s Elijah and Tori White in reserve.
PLEASURE DRIVING PONIES
Boxford Grand Expectation with owner Elizabeth Kuykendall made the tricolor drive to claim championship honors. Heartland Dynasty and Linda Hendricks made the winning drive in the qualifier and came back in the championship for reserve honors. Perfect Rhythm and Helen Catron drove to reserve honors in the qualifier. Perfect Rhythm, with Alissa Phillips at the lines, came back in the juvenile class to claim the blue for owner Helen Catron. Aimee Harrell and her cute Twin Oaks Phoenix were reserve. Twin Oaks Phoenix with Aimee Harrell in the irons made the winning ride in the Youth Pleasure Pony Under Saddle class. Alissa Phillips and Royal Oak’s Parader claimed reserve honors for owner Nancy Phillips.
PARK PLEASURE
Swamp Boogie Queen with trainer Heath Hughes in the irons made the winning ride in open park pleasure for owner Michele Landis. Dutch Chocolate Of Silver Oaks and owner Robin Fowlkes were reserve. Russell Cross aboard A Spring Affair made the victory pass in the junior park pleasure class for W. L. Nininger followed by BWF Karson and Phil Godsey for Dean Beam. Swamp Boogie Queen and Heath Hughes came back in the park pleasure championship to capture the tricolor with Chad Chandler aboard Midas Touch for Lake Dailey LLC in reserve.
SHOW PLEASURE
Play The Red and Gretchen Frederick made plays for the blue in both the five-gaited pleasure qualifier and championship. Deborah Richardson and Callaway’s Confidant rode to reserve honors in both classes.
Tuffy’s Commander with Crystal Brown Seals in the irons made the winning ride in the adult qualifying class for Peggy Brown. Reserve honors went to Vicki Gillenwater and K-Town’s Precious Princess. Deborah Richardson aboard CH Prophet’s Fire Hazard made the winning ride in the ETSA member class with Dekerobics and Elizabeth Strunk reserve for Roger Strunk. Callaway’s Keep The Faith and Shannon West were the winners in the amateur-trained class. CH Prophet’s Fire Hazard and Deborah Richardson put in another good performance to claim the tricolor in the adult championship. Dekerobics and Elizabeth Strunk were reserve.
Juvenile show pleasure was the largest class of the show and Tori White and her Salute To Champagne made the winning ride in the qualifier. Reserve honors went to Jane Feist and Eatonwood’s Raven Lady for the Feist family. Twelve entries came back for the juvenile championship. Central Park West and Sarah Bennett made a beautiful ride to claim the tricolor, followed by Superior Day and Ariel Schulte in reserve.
I’m An Early Riser and Mary Lynn McMains rose to the top to claim first place honors in both the show pleasure driving qualifier and championship. Made Of Steel and Sarah Bennett were reserve in the qualifier, and CH Highpoint’s Coming Attraction and Kaelyn Donnelly were reserve in the championship.
COUNTRY PLEASURE
Harlem’s Night At The Apollo and Luanne Kilday made victory passes in both the adult country pleasure qualifier and championship. Deborah Richardson aboard My Secret Heir was reserve in both classes.
Callaway’s Blue Agate and Emily Burglass dominated the juvenile country pleasure division by putting in a blue ribbon performance in the qualifier and claiming the tricolor in the championship for Bruce Burglass. With A Twist and owner/rider Shannon West claimed reserve honors in both classes.
Man In Charge with owner Debbie Dyson at the lines made the winning drive in the Country Pleasure Driving Stake. Deborah Richardson and the colorful CH Vincent Van Gogh made the winning ride in the ETSA Member Country Pleasure class followed by Salute’s Mercedes with Brittany McNamara up for reserve. Cold November Rain and Arlene Riddle captured the blue in the amateur-trained class with Brittany Volker and Priority Male making the red ribbon ride.
Mighty Gus with Emily Hammond in the irons claimed the right to make the victory pass in the natural country pleasure class. Kira’s Mischief and Marti Vitulli were reserve.
Luanne Kilday guided Worthy Of The Moment to the win in the Saddle & Bridle Shatner Western Pleasure class. Katharine’s Black Magic and Brittney Horton were reserve. CH Vincent Van Gogh and Deborah Richardson exhibited the style that makes them consistent winners to capture the Western Country Pleasure qualifier and championship classes. Edgewood’s Beyond The Sky and Karen Blankenship Shumate claimed reserve honors in the western qualifier while Worthy of the Moment and Luanne Kilday made the reserve ride in the championship.
Mighty Gus with Allison Moore up displayed the versatility of the American Saddlebred by winning the Saddle and Bridle Hunter Seat Classic. Priceless Katherine and Crystal Brown Seals were reserve for Nancy Hopping.
EQUITATION
Championship equitation honors went to Lindsey Roeske aboard Truly’s Let’s Roll, with Kaelyn Donnelly on Angel Of Fortune in reserve. Ashley Judd aboard Melrose First Edition made the blue ribbon ride in the pleasure equitation class followed by Eva Franczek and Black Copper in reserve. Michaela Miller aboard Highpoint’s Tough As Nails made winning rides in both the 10 and under walk and trot qualifier and championship. Courtney Rose Wilson aboard My Lovie Dovie claimed reserve honors in the qualifier.
MISCELLANEOUS
She’s A Pop Tart with Jane Feist in the irons for James Huguley made the winning ride in the pleasure pony qualifier followed by Candy Kisses and Tori White in reserve. White and Candy Kisses came back in the championship to make the winning ride and claim the tricolor. Crown Jeweler, with Sondra Hodgson up for Kathryn Rodosky, was reserve champion.
Courtney Rose Wilson aboard My Lovie Dovie made two good shows to win the qualifier and championship in the pleasure, no canter classes. Jesselyn Bundy aboard her Callaway’s Beautiful Music made reserve rides in both classes.
Deborah Richardson and Callaway’s Said & Done made blue ribbon rides in both the ASB Style and Amateur Racking Stakes. Commander Storm Cloud and Andrew Smucker for Heather Jones were reserve in the Style Racking Stake. Reserve honors in the Amateur Racking Stake went to Callaway’s Just My Type for Jane Gheen and Debbie Tolliver. Neal White guided Luck Of The Irish to the winning ride in the ASB Open Racking Stake followed by Lifetime’s Last Fling in reserve for owner Terry Hartsock.
ACADEMY
Academy riders competed in a variety of classes on Saturday afternoon for the right to come back and show in the academy equitation championships on Saturday evening. Katey Lichtenstein aboard Preordained made the winning ride to claim the tricolor in the Academy Equitation Walk, Trot and Canter Championship. Marcy Richards and Let’s Rock N Roll claimed reserve honors. Twelve riders returned for the walk and trot equitation championship. Haley Davis aboard Preordained laid claim to the tricolor followed by Sarah Strong aboard Harlem’s Wind.
This concludes the highlights from ETSA Midsummer Classic. Complete results can be sen and searched by clicking on SHOW RESULTS.
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