by Deidre Davis

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. - The 137th annual Lawrenceburg Horse Show was held June 24-27 in conjunction with the Lawrenceburg County Fair. This horse show is an experience like no other, and one that everyone should experience. During each class, riders are allowed to have a couple of people come into center ring. These people can coach the rider or entertain their horse, and at times it can get a little wild.

The show is put on by the Anderson Post 34 of the American Legion, and this year Armon Effinger was asked to handle the judging honors. With the Shelby County Fair and Horse Show going on at the same time this year, many trainers went back and forth between the two shows. This helped to add variety and excitement to the Lawrenceburg Horse Show. This historic show serves as a final tune up for exhibitors headed to Lexington Junior League and one of the final qualifiers for Louisville.

The Five-Gaited Grand Champion was perhaps appropriately named for the show this week, as there always seemed to be a storm looming in the distance. Thunderstorm Warning and Tammy Devore stormed into the ring on Saturday night to claim the tricolor, with Tre Lee and Strike Up The Lights emerging with the reserve championship honors. Cyd Simmons and Hey Joe made a stellar performance to win the Five-Gaited Amateur Championship just ahead of Stylin’ and Alexandra Harper. Tipsy Gipsy and Gabe Deknatel took a blue ribbon home to Carriage Lane Farm from the Amateur Five-Gaited class. The Easy Button and Lori Boyd Van Gordon fought hard to pick up the red ribbon in this class.

With A Dream was expertly guided to the blue ribbon honors by Melinda Moore in the Ladies Five-Gaited class. Kristen Bagdasarian and Rebel Rooster strutted in for the evening to take reserve honors in this good class. Moore was back in the saddle in Junior Five-Gaited Stake to get another blue ribbon, this time aboard Chardonnay’s Firestorm for Poser Farm. Second went to Cumulombus and Chris Brannnon for Cross Timber Saddlebreds.

When Judge Effinger turned in his card in the Three-Gaited Championship Saturday night, it was A Silver Charm and Tre Lee who headed to the winner’s circle. Doug Bowen made the reserve aboard Made Ya Look for Whistle Stop Farm. Simply Stella and Kathy Capsuto Walker made a flawless performance to top the Amateur Three-Gaited Championship, with Boston Legal and Elizabeth Shatner coming in reserve in the qualifier and championship. Handsome Heir and Susan Hanna took a blue ribbon home to Georgia in the Amateur Three-Gaited qualifier. Barclay de Wet won the Ladies Three-Gaited class aboard Lara Croft for Crabtree Farm, and Dannette Musselman was reserve with Charming Babette. Melinda Moore had another outstanding ride aboard Pretty Penelope to win the Junior Three-Gaited Stake. DCS Miss You Got It All and Lionel Ferreira were reserve in this good class.

Poser Farm was in the winner’s circle again on Saturday night in the Fine Harness Championship with Legend Of Troy and Melinda Moore making the winning drive. Jackie Tanner and Brookhill’s Appollon were reserve in this good class. Linda Boxdorfer and The Silver Tongued Devil were striking to win the Amateur Fine Harness class.

Born Ideal and Rob Tanner had an unbelievable ride to win the Three-Gaited Park class. Barclay de Wet had another stellar ride aboard Suddenly Single to take the reserve honors. The Junior Park Pleasure class was won by Aquavit and Lauren Ashe with She’s Xhilirating and Lisa McMacklin coming in second.

The Roadster to Bike Championship was one of the most exciting classes of the week with four entries battling it out for the tricolor ribbon. When the dust cleared it was Deborah Koning and Scruff who headed to the winner’s circle, followed closely by Rob Tanner and Show Me The Money taking reserve. Lawrenceburg supported the Equine Roadster Cup program this year, holding an open and amateur class to qualify for the classes to be held in the fall. In the open class, Mike Felty made an appearance with Regal Lad for the blue ribbon, with Lady Hawke and Les Cunningham taking the red ribbon for Judd Farms. In the amateur class, BJ’s Hail Storm was flying high with his tail over his back to race away with the blue ribbon with owner Milward Dedman in the bike. Aragaon and Elizabeth Caldwell made a good show for second place. The Roadster to Wagon class was won by Man’s Man and Les Cunningham. This neat horse looks like he will be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s USTA class at Louisville. Michael Bacon burned up the turns with Go For Broke to take the red ribbon in the wagon class.

Susan Crabtree and World Champion Despite It All made a stop in Lawrenceburg to win the Road Horse Under Saddle class, with Deborah Koning and Get-R-Done taking reserve in the outstanding class.

Majestic Oaks Farm had an outstanding week in the pony division, bringing 13 ponies and taking home 13 blue ribbons. Heartland Wonderful Miss and Abby Jones claimed the tricolor in the Road Pony Championship for Creekridge LLC with Heartland Flurry and Jerry Cummins taking reserve. Mr. Lucky Man and Patrice Watson-O’Brien won the 52" & Under Road Pony class and George Komer was second with Sixty Minutes. The 48" & Under Road Pony class was won by Kentucky Hot Brown and Maureen Campbell, with George Komer and Star Princess taking reserve. Campbell was back in the bike to win the Ladies Road Pony class with Stat for Robert Pugh. Danette Musselman and Desert Fox were second in this nice class of ponies.

Holli McDowell and Kilbro’s Grandemeanor captured the blue in the Junior Road Pony class for owner Jack Tatum. Jerry Hunley and Regal’s Executive were reserve. Maureen Campbell made another victory pass in the Three-Year-Old Road Pony class with Entitlement for owner Tom Case. McDowell also climbed in the road pony wagon to make a victory pass with Nashville Cat just ahead of Razz-Ma-Tazz and Lanny Judd.

McDowell took a slower turn down victory lane when she guided Heartland Look At Me to the tricolor in the Harness Pony Championship for owner Kay Marschel. Black Diamond and Mary McFarren claimed the reserve tricolor in this class. T.J. and Juliet McDonald’s elegant entry, The Remington, marched around the ring to win the Open Harness Pony class with Maureen Campbell on the lines. Jennifer Shell and Boxford Bobbi Socks were reserve for Deborah Koning.

Wait & See’s Reality and Chris Gantley took the title in the Hackney Pony Championship for Steven Golden, with Jamie Knight and Johnny in second. Heartland Hackney Farm was represented in the winner’s circle by Heartland High Tech and Maureen Campbell in the Open Hackney Pony class. Heartland Special Special and Callaray Howard were crowned champions in the Hackney Pony Pleasure Driving Championship. Reserve honors went to The Marksman and Randy Bowen. Neon Deon and Chuck Walker were the winners in the Hackney Pony Pleasure Driving qualifier, with Bonaparte and Cleo Lowe taking reserve.

Riders had to be on their toes to show at Lawrenceburg with loud music and sirens coming through the grandstand from the fair and a clown show shooting off confetti guns over the end of the ring. There is no other show like this in the country, and everyone who attended had a blast.