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Huge Success at The Chattanooga-Cleveland Horse Show



by Merritt Pryor

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Chattanooga-Cleveland Charity Horse Show celebrated its 31st anniversary at the Tri-State Exhibition Center, June 18-21, 2008. The show served as a benefactor for the Signal Centers. This organization provides community-based programs of education and support for children, adults and families with physical, educational and socioeconomic challenges to promote their independence.

The numbers of competitors were up for the show which helped to make for an exciting weekend event. Another factor that contributed to the great show was the comfortable temperatures. The evenings were cool which made the show very enjoyable. After changing the date of the show last year, the decision was made to move it back to its more traditional time in the middle of June. That decision definitely was a good one. Another decision that proved to be a good one was to set up the temporary stalls closer to the warm up and covered arena. This made the arena closer for the exhibitors but also helped to make the progressive barn party a hit.

The show officials worked hard to make sure everything ran like clock work. Armon Effinger made the trip to mark the cards while John Owens once again showed off his excellent announcing skills. Sandra Hall made sure she got the winning photo of each entry. David Peel, Robert Debord and Audrey Naylor ensured the show ran smoothly as managers while Liz and Jessica Holmes manned the show office. Charles Ritchie added to the already exciting horse show by putting each class to music with his organ.

Five-Gaited

The show was brought to a close Saturday evening with a fantastic open stake class. Lisa Heres-Rosenberger, James Spriggs, Tommy Richardson, Jim Harrell and Kristen Bagdasarian all went head to head for the championship honors. In the end, it was CH Data Dot Com and Lisa Heres-Rosenberger who garnered the tricolor for owner Frank Jones. It has been a stellar year for Jones as he has collected top ribbons at Pro-Am, The Dixie Cup and Mid Summer Benefit. For this show, the decision was made to turn the reins over to his trainer who put on quite a show despite a thrown shoe which prevented the team from taking a victory pass. It was a great night for Jim Harrell who finished in the reverse spot behind his trainer, Heres-Rosenberger, with Coastal Caper. Kristen Bagdasarian rounded out the top three with Let’s Roll.

In the ladies’ class, the blue ribbon went home to Laura Dozer and Callaway’s Lunar Eclipse. This team picked up the reserve ribbon in the amateur championship. Kristen Bagdasarian gave Dozer a run for the money with Let’s Roll as they trotted away with the red streamers. Parker Road, with Dr. Owen Weaver aboard, graced the winner’s circle in the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship after winning the qualifier. Cheryl Sotrop rode Worthy’s American Society to the reserve spot in the amateur qualifier.

Caroline Burglass swept the junior exhibitor five-gaited division with My Teddy Bheir under the direction of Marjorie Judd. Reserve in the championship was awarded to Worthy’s Once More and Kristin Goforth. Ghostly Blue and Stephanie Turner garnered the red ribbon in the qualifier.

Deborah Richardson turned the reins for Mountainview’s Starcatcher over to her farrier’s wife, Elizabeth Wilson, for the novice riders’ class and Wilson had the horse looking just right to garner the blue. Wilson had grown up showing hunter/jumpers but made the switch to saddle seat look effortless. Reserve was awarded to Nancy Sloman and Too Elegant.

Rachel Birgells rode Inheirit The Stars to the win in the novice class. Kristen Bagdasarain had Charmed Delight looking great to ride away with the reserve ribbon.

One of the crowd favorites of the show was Busting Out. The young entry, owned by Creekridge, LLC, was piloted to the winner’s circle in the junior class by Anne Stafford. The horse began to make a name for himself after he won Louisville in 2007 with David Blevins and is continuing to turn heads. James Hale finished in the reserve spot with My Starissa.

Riding for Penny Lane Farm, Rachel Birgells had Heirritatum looking grand to garner the blue in the UPHA class. Darell Cruse finished in the reserve spot with Rumble Of Thunder. Stephanie Opp swept the pony division with Last Shot Of Tequila.

Three-Gaited

The Three-Gaited Jackpot Stake victory went to Regime Change and Heath Hughes. This elegant gelding with a high step was all show horse when he earned the tricolor for owner Crystal Brown Seals. Ashley Johnson took the red tricolor with CH Viper while Jim Harrell rounded out the top three with Tropical Heir.

Under the direction of James Nichols, Laura Dozer took home the blue in the ladies’ class and tricolor in the amateur championship with Angel Innocence. Finishing behind Dozer in both classes was Dr. Owen Weaver and her elegant mount Madeira’s Love. Jan Small Beth won the amateur qualifier with The Proof Is In The Heir while Nancy Bryant picked up the red streamers with Royal Sweet.

Winning the junior exhibitor championship in a comeback ride was Jackie De La Parte and CH Keeper Of The Stars who rode under the direction of Don Judd and Maria Gilman. Reserve in the championship went to the winner of the qualifier, CH Mahvalous Asset and Paige Pennington.

Betty Valenti bested the novice rider class with Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. Reserve went to Lexi Rueff and Lady Latte under the direction of Betsy Webb. Accepting the blue in the novice horse class was Be Advised and Carl Irwin for Happy Valley Farm. James Hale and Chick Hearn rode away with reserve for Emily Schwebke.

Winning the Junior Three-Gaited was Barbara Wood’s entry, Walterway’s Valedictorian, with Maria Gilman in the irons. Dexter Diamond, with Dan Flowers in the saddle, accepted the red ribbon for Chloe Treston. In the UPHA class, Simbara’s Bess Buy looked fantastic for the win with Sean Norris in the irons.

The top two teams in the pony class swapped ribbons in the championship. In the qualifier, the high trotting Simbara’s Audacity and Alexis Landreth earned the blue ribbon with My Gisele and Brighton Barousse in reserve. In the championship, the results were reversed with My Gisele earning the tricolor for the Penny Lane banner with Simbara’s Audacity in for reserve.

Three-Gaited Park

Master And Commander looked fantastic with Tommy Richardson in the irons to sweep the open division. Reserve in the championship went to James Hale and Callaway’s Midnight Madness while Carl Irwin picked up reserve in the qualifier with Reveal. Soquili’s Rhythm And Blues topped the three-year old class with Randy Stoess aboard.

Under the Judd Stables banner, Morgan King swept the amateur division with Meadowlark Jubilee. Reserve in both the qualifier and championship was Illicit with Barbara Thureson in the irons. Christine Freeman looked stunning to dominate the junior exhibitor division with Hillcroft Rare Heir. Reserve in the championship went to Protector and Dylan Hines under the direction of Impossible Dream. The red ribbon in the qualifier was awarded to Callaway’s Kings Ransom and Taylor Young.

Fine Harness

Lynn McNamara looked impeccably dressed in all white when she drove Night Sight to the winner’s circle in the Fine Harness Stake. The red tricolor went to I’m Fantabulous. Shane Mullens piloted the elegant entry owned by Beth Ann Rhodes to the reserve spot in his first performance. Lovin’ Lass looked lovely in the amateur class. Key Waller drove this Blythewood trained entry to the winner’s circle for Creekridge, LLC. Reserve was awarded to General Spirit and Donna Smith.

The Junior Fine Harness class was awarded to Willie Bracket with Pedro Martinez at the lines. Martinez was back in the winner’s circle in the UPHA class with Magical Promises. Reserve went to Santana Moss and Dan Flowers

Roadster To Bike

In top form, Geronimo and Anna Marie Dempsey sped away with the tricolor in the Roadster To Bike Championship but not before a winning drive in the amateur qualifier. Reserve in the championship went to ChÈ and Andrew Mirabole. Mirabole also garneredthe blue ribbon in the open qualifier with Dancin’ For Dollars.

Ponies

Under the Blythewood banner, Chris Long Schubert had St. Patrick looking just right to garner the tricolor in the Road Pony Championship after winning the amateur qualifier. Reserve went to the winners of the open qualifier, Ashley McKenzie and Lamborghini.

The amateur championship tricolor was awarded to Boxford Courageous Spirit and Charlotte Wrather under Janet Crampton’s watchful eye. Reserve went home with Doug Wylie and Babylon.

Rebecca Deutsch looked fantastic in the Junior Exhibitor Road Pony Championship with a comeback drive with Heartland Fire And Rain. This team, in their first show together, picked up the reserve spot in the qualifier. Reserve in the championship went to the qualifier winners, Shelby Reimer and Jose Cuervo.

John Wrather and Charlotte Wrather were teams to be reckoned with when it comes to their long tail, cob tailed and pleasure ponies. John Wrather dominated the harness and hackney classes with Seamair Sensation and Seamair Simply Awesome respectively, while Charlotte Wrather swept the pleasure classes with Oliver Twist.

Show Pleasure

Richardson Stables put on quite a show and continued into the pleasure division. Deborah Richardson had Doubletree’s Confederate Gray looking just right to garner the tricolor in the Adult Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship. The team picked up the reserve in the qualifier. Reserve in the championship went to Amy Deal and Romantic Renaissance. Jacque Nance had Under Oath in top form to win the qualifier.

Mary Kate Harpole swept the junior exhibitor five-gaited show pleasure division with Callaway’s Quasar. The team looked fantastic as they headed to the winner’s circle. Reserve in the championship went to Late Nite Fun and Melissa Heres-Rosenberger while Stephanie Fox picked up the reserve in the qualifier with I’ve Been Dheired.

The park pleasure division was filled with quality entries. Making the trip from Missouri was John Wallen and it paid off with a win in the Park Pleasure Championship with Taking A Chance. Reserve went to Maria Gilman and Mo Rhythm. The results were reversed in the qualifier.

Allison Walker garnered the blue in the Denver Junior Park Pleasure class with Soquili’s Sir Galahad. The reserve ribbon went back to Rachel Birgells and Tat Wilder. Rounding out the top three in the competitive class was She’s All Pearl and Allison Moore. Brian Reimer had Princess Mia in top form to take the blue ribbon in the UPHA class.

Under the Judd Stables banner, Barbara Woods had two fantastic rides aboard CH Sweet Virginia to take home the blue and tricolor in the adult three-gaited show pleasure division. Reserve in both classes went back to Richardson Stables tack room with Deborah Richardson and Tornaado’s Storm Warnings.

Paige Pennington had Americana’s Wings looking great to garner the tricolor in the junior exhibitor pleasure championship for the older riders. Absolute Proof and Dabney Hofammann took home reserve. The qualifier was filled with stiff competition and winning the blue under Janet Crampton’s guidance was Maria Rogers and Sultan’s Royal Affair. Reserve went to CH Trapp Mountain and Marcelle Richards.

The 13 and under division was dominated by trainers’ daughters. Winning both the qualifier and championship was Melissa Heres-Rosenberger with CSF Supreme Memories. Reserve in both classes went to Marjorie Judd’s daughter, Ashley Judd, with I Made You Look.

Truly’s Lets Roll and Ashley Roeske earned the blue in the novice rider class. Reserve went to Wynn Smiley and Thunder Over Manhattan.

In the three-gaited pleasure pony, S.S. Catch My Act and Taylor Young were fantastic to win the qualifier and championship. Reserve in the qualifier went to Drama Queen and Brooklyn Frazier while Lillian Young and Holiday Brew earned the red ribbon in the qualifier.

The Walk/Trot Show Pleasure 13 & Under class was dominated by the Betsy Webb trained team of Skylar Rueff and CH Heirill. Reserve in both classes went to Maximum Bob and Shea Summers.

Mary Lynn McMains looked great with I’m An Early Riser to take home the blue in the qualifier and tricolor in the show pleasure driving division. Reserve in both classes was awarded to Sandra Plant and Hey Heads Up.

Deborah Richardson was back in the winner’s circle in the adult country pleasure division with CH Prophet’s Fire Hazard. The team was unstoppable as they won the qualifier and championship. Alexis Braswell had the reserve entry in both classes with Americana’s Flight.

Winning the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship were New York’s Hot Stuff and Taylor Young. This team also picked up the blue in the 13 and under qualifier. Reserve in the championship went to the Diamond View trained team of Emily Rhoads and Lucky Curve after placing reserve behind Young in the qualifier. The 14-17 class was won by Shelby Reimer and I’m Just Curious while Emily Burglass finished in the reserve spot with Callaway’s Blue Agate.

The Line Of Fire and Pam Robertson dominated the country pleasure driving division. Reserve in the qualifier and championship went to George Ann Nash and Rich Prince.

Deborah Richardson took home top honors with Lion King in the country western pleasure division as well as the Shatner Western Pleasure class. Reserve in the western qualifier and championship were Nancy Moreno and Likely Suspect while Key Tucker garnered the red ribbon in the Shatner Western Pleasure class.

Equitation

Alison Harpole made the pattern look effortless in the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship to garner the tricolor. Reserve went to the 14-17 winner, Sally McEwen, while Nina Hobbs took home the third place ribbon after finishing in the reserve spot in the qualifier. Christine Thomas had a near flawless performance to win the UPHA Challenge Cup 17 & Under class.

Madison Waddell looked great to win the Walk/Trot Saddle Seat Equitation 10 & Under as well as the UPHA class. Alexandria Murr and Jennifer Huston switched places between the two class but both went home with a red ribbon.

Topping the Pleasure Equitation Medallion 14-17 was Aubri Kennamer. Christine Thomas came in the reserve spot.

Academy

Saturday afternoon was dedicated to the future of the Saddlebred, Morgan and Hackney industry with the academy division. Topping their respective classes were Nick Schubert, Katie Brockman, Diane Morgan, Michelle Dunaway, Katherine Mustafa, Hannah Abrams, Caroline Dolt, Morgan Morton and Lindsey Slemmons.

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