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Pro Am Kicks Off Georgia Circuit in Style!



by Leeann Mione

PERRY, Ga. – Pro Am has been a fixture on the Georgia horse show scene for 34 years and remains one of those shows that has a loyal following because of the show hospitality, the level of competition and the staff that works so hard each year to make it bigger and better.

With show manager Scott Snider at the helm along with secretary Beth Snider, paddock master Dewey Bass, ring secretary Desiree Clausen, master of ceremonies Mark Farrar, ringmaster Don Baker, organist Dale Stone, farrier J.L. Johnson, photographer Doug Shiflet and videographer Richfield Video things ran smoothly once again. Farrar was unable to announce Wednesday night and Thursday morning due to being sick, which delayed his arrival. Chuck Hutchinson, of World Champion Horse Equipment and Bruce Payton graciously stepped in and announced in Farrar’s absence. Farrar was back in center ring Thursday night for the remainder of the show.

Located a couple of hours south of Atlanta, the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry met with some resistance when it was first suggested as the new home of the show in place of Dewey Henderson Arena. That resistance seems to finally be gone for the most part as the stabling, big warm up ring, big arena and facility amenities in general make for a pleasant and hassle free experience showing at Pro Am.

The show benefits the Ronald McDonald House of central Georgia and also hosts the UPHA Pink Ribbon Ladies Five-Gaited Stake to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness. To date, the show has raised more than $170,000 for the cause.

Before the Friday night session, a pink fire truck complete with firemen dressed in pink and covered with more than 33,000 signatures by breast cancer survivors or in memory of those lost to the disease, came into center ring for the playing of the National Anthem. Nicknamed "Carolyn" the fire truck stayed on the grounds throughout the evening so that those at the show who wanted to could add their names to the list.

The Dewey Henderson Juvenile Sportsmanship Award was also presented in center ring Friday night. This year’s winner Kelsey Baird was joined by her mom Cheryl grandparents Bill and Carolyn Hooven and Amanda and Marvin Ward when Scott Snider made the presentation (see separate edit this issue).

Mike Tunstall made the trip from Kentucky to judge all the performance and equitation classes and Payton handled the judging for Saturday afternoon’s academy classes.

This year’s show was dedicated to Buck and Kim Davis who have been staunch supporters of Pro Am for many years. Daughter Deidre, Pro Am treasurer, and son Justin were on hand for the presentation Saturday night.

One of the most anticipated events outside the ring is Thursday night’s progressive aisle party. A great assortment of food and drink ranging from wine and cheese to pizza to barbecue or "Woo Hoos" had the hungry crowd stopping at each participating barn to try a little bit of everything.

The show also sponsored a "Welcome Lunch" Wednesday afternoon and coffee and donuts were available each morning of the show for anyone that wanted them.

Friday night’s exhibitor’s party with food, karaoke and dancing was again a big hit with the horse show crowd. Since most evening sessions were over by 9 pm, exhibitors had plenty of time to relax and enjoy the festivities. It makes a big difference when after a long day of horse showing, people are able to eat and relax at 9 or 9:30 instead of 11, especially when they have to get back up early the next morning for the first session. The Pro Am schedule is just one more thing that makes this show easy to enjoy.

Divisional competition at this year’s Pro Am was terrific in most classes including Saturday night’s finale the Five-Gaited Stake. Four horses came back after their respective qualifiers to battle it out in front of Mike Tunstall. Deborah Butler’s Grand Master Flash, winner of the open class with Todd Miles showing, joined Five-Gaited Georgia-Owned winner Cloverleaf Elegant Belle with Bill Schoeman up for Larry and Lori Schmidt. Lisa Jones and Wicked In A Winning Way, owned by Frank Jones, were in the mix and Maria Gilman came back with the appropriately-named-for-the-occasion It’s Saturday Night Live, recently crowned the grand champion at Gasparilla.

The group put on a great show and the crowd enthusiastically cheered their favorites but when Mark Farrar called out the winner it was Jones and Wicked named to take the tricolor. Gilman and her entry were the reserve grand champions and they exited with a lot of crowd support.

Ali DeGray was all smiles as she sailed around the ring on her powerful gaited mare and ladies class winner Most Definitely Diamonds and her mom Helen Rosburg was all smiles when she was part of the presentation ceremony after the pair’s win in the UPHA Ladies Five-Gaited Pink Ribbon Stake. Rosburg, herself a breast cancer survivor, was emotional as she presented the pink ribbon and roses to her daughter after a class that helps raise money for breast cancer research and awareness. Dream Castle and Mackenzie Lyttle, from Infinity Stables, were right there with a strong effort to claim the reserve tricolor for Burbank and Collins. The impressive reserve finish was also special and poignant for Reneaux Collins who lost her mom Virginia Burbank to breast cancer in July of last year.

Janet Kellett and CH Banner Headline were last year’s pink ribbon champions and this year they took on the competition in both amateur classes. That decision paid off as they were named the amateur grand champions and champions showing under the DeLovely banner. CH Spirit Of New York continued Frank Jones’ great show by taking the reserve title in the amateur stake.

Todd Miles kept the wins coming for DeLovely with two more blue ribbon rides. He showed DeLovely’s Finest Hour Spent to the blue in the novice horse class and teamed Arrowhead’s Extra Special to the win in the junior class for Melrose LLC.

Coastal Cruiser and Jim Harrell closed out the gaited division with the victory pass in the three-year-old class for Jim and Kay Harrell.

Ronnie Graham and Wee Pee’s Storm made it three years in a row to be named Pro Am’s Three-Gaited Grand Champions for James and Helen Rosburg. Ali DeGray had previously ridden to the win in the ladies qualifier before turning the reins over to Graham for the open stake. Such A Memory and Maria Gilman added the reserve grand champion title to Larry and Lori Schmidt’s show total when they finished reserve in the stake class.

HS Dignitary has made the successful transition to the under saddle division and before turning things over to Courtney McGinnis for her debut, Todd Miles put the high stepping gelding in all the right places to take the blue in the open class for Fish Creek Stables. Supernatural Charm, with James Hale in the irons, claimed the reserve tricolor for owners Pridgen and Adams to add to a terrific week for the James Hale Stables group.

Andrea Perry Block teamed her elegant mare Ro & Me’s Lady Godiva to the win in the ladies stake to add another win to the DeLovely total.

With Style And Grace and Tara Grom teamed up last season with tremendous success and they kicked off their 2011 competition with a sweep of the amateur three-gaited division. They topped two really nice classes for the victories for Bob and Kim Grom. Dennis and Nancy Sloman celebrated with trainer Lisa Jones after Nancy rode Vivian Ward to the reserve tricolor in the competitive amateur stake.

Courtney McGinnis had a great show including her two wins with new teammate HS Dignitary. They were crowned the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Grand Champions and champions. David Chretien and Zoe Schaffel teamed up for a great Gasparilla show for MLS Enterprises before heading to Perry for Pro Am. Schaffel put The Perfect Touch in the perfect spot to claim the reserve grand championship in the junior exhibitor stake.

Euchee Matthews had a busy and successful show with more than one trip to the winner’s circle including his winning ride with Raindrops Not My Worry in the novice class for owner Alicia Davis.

Don Judd and Maria Gilman directed their group to a good show helped in part by Erin Eichenbaum and teammate Legacy’s Cinemac. They claimed the blue in the junior class.

The park division was well filled and competitive with really nice classes in the open, amateur and junior exhibitor stakes. Chuck Herbert was up on Nuttin’ To lose for Edward and Thomas Elliott to claim victory in the open stake. Herbert also teamed the youngster to the blue in the junior horse class. Johnny Casino and Jackie Hale were right there for the reserve title for owner A. E. Nelson. The pair had already taken the blue in the novice class before claiming their reserve title in the stake.

Constance Young teamed Lynda Norman’s CH Enough About You to the blue in the open park class. DeLovely teammate Hollywood Electra, now teamed with new partner Katherine Rainbolt, took the victory pass in the amateur park stake. The qualifier marked the first time Katherine Rainbolt had shown in an under saddle class, making their win even more impressive amongst the deep competition. Erin Eichenbaum, riding Diane Sembler Kamins’ entry Blue Bikini, headed back to Judd Stables with the reserve tricolor after a strong effort.

Steeling First and owner Barbara Thureson took the blue in the adult qualifier to add to James Hale Stables successful outing in Perry.

The junior exhibitor division continues to grow each year and keeps getting tougher and Pro Am proved that with a big, talented group heading through the gate for their championship after a nice qualifier. My Silver Silhouette and Emily Hillhouse were not to be denied however. They swept the division with both wins for owner Rebecca Benton and added two more wins to the James Hale Stables total.

Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes and CH The Great Gaspar were knocking on the door and they put together a strong team effort to claim the reserve grand championship title.

The junior fine harness class was the largest of the division with a trio of four-year-olds taking on the challenge. Virginia Polley was all smiles as she headed out of the ring, blue ribbon in hand, and trainer Jimmy Womble beside Cross The Rubicon. Linda McCorkle drove Midd’s Nike to the winner’s circle in the amateur class for owner Harold Daniels and Jeff Leech teamed Old South’s Blue Chip to the blue in the three-year-old class for Carla Hawkins.

Mike and Rick Peel got to share some brotherly love at Pro Am as they both brought customers and horses to show in Perry and both had winning ribbons on the tack room wall by the time it was over. Mike Peel drove the multi-titled mare CH Ashland to take the Road Horse To Bike Championship tricolor for owner Darrel Shea. She was strongly challenged by reserve grand champion Street Legal GRS. Juan Rios, from Majestic Oaks, drove for Hayes and McMackin in the stake. Hayes herself drove to the blue with Street Legal in the novice class under the direction of Rich and Maureen Campbell.

Rick Adams put Martell in the top spot and they took the victory pass in the open class for Ann and Ed Moore of Soquili Stables.

There wasn’t a ladies roadster class at Pro Am last year so Roar Of Thunder and Ali DeGray won the amateur class instead before Ronnie Graham drove him to the open stake victory. This year DeGray was back in the bike to win the ladies class to go with her victories in the ladies five-gaited stake and ladies three-gaited class.

Jesse James and Harry Chapman, who makes the trip each year from Oregon, made it a sweep of the amateur division by winning both classes under the direction of David Cunningham of Beaver Brook Stables. Art Bedard was in the bike for his amateur reserve grand championship finish with Can’t Drive 55, owned by Art and Lynn Bedard. Rick Adams met them at the out gate.

Constance Young took yet another victory pass for DeLovely Farm, but this time she was in the irons of The Ice Man. They topped a hardworking pair of competitors to win the Roadster Under Saddle Stake for Raymond Shively. Quill and Holli Hayes made a single appearance but it was a good one. They took the victory pass in the open qualifier to add another win to the Majestic Oaks total.

James Rosburg was obviously ecstatic after Bud Light was called out as the winner of the Roadster Pony Stake to keep the RGS Stables great show going. Heartland Curtain Call and Juan Rios won the qualifier before returning to take the reserve tricolor for owner Lindsay Jones.

Donna Whatley had plenty of reasons to celebrate in Perry including her winning drive with Heartland Smooth Operator in the amateur stake under the direction of Rich and Maureen Campbell. Romeo’s Kristy Lee LF followed up two wins in the open division at Gasparilla with James Rosburg by winning the amateur qualifier and the amateur stake reserve title.

Surprize Surprize and Caroline Rainbolt Forbes topped the Junior Exhibitor Roadster Pony Stake for Rainbow Princess Farms LLC. Zoe Schaffel drove down victory lane with P.T. Cruiser, her new multi-titled partner, in the AHHS Roadster Pony Youth Medallion class under Chretien’s direction. They followed up their win by taking the reserve streamers in the junior exhibitor stake.

Holli Hayes was back in the winner’s circle when Dimitri was named the blue ribbon recipient in the novice road pony class for owner George Burgy. Majestic Oaks teammate Heartland Tuscany won the UPHA Roadster Pony Classic for Rudi Beneke with Juan Rios handling the drive.

With proud dad Karl Hirschhorn looking on, the Hirschhorn trio of Heather, Haley and Hannah had a great week with their various entries under the direction of Chelsie Smith. Hannah rode Aragorn to the blue in the AHHS Roadster Pony Youth Medallion class.

The Hayes-Rios team would keep the wins coming for Majestic Oaks in the Hackney and harness pony divisions. Hayes drove Twin Willow’s Wild Elegance to the tricolor in the Harness Pony Championship, which featured four sporty long tail ponies working hard to impress Tunstall. Their win made it a sweep of the open division for owner Gaeton Lorino.

Heartland Elegant Touch, after much success in the pleasure driving division for owner Gwen Stableford, has made the switch to the harness pony division and she was in top form with trainer Mike Barlow driving to claim the reserve title in the stake.

Kilbro’s Code Red and James Rosburg made a single appearance and claimed victory in the amateur class for Helen Rosburg.

Sandra Surber’s cob tail Front Page News and Juan Rios were twice victorious. They were named the Hackney Pony Grand Champions and open champions. John and Charlotte Wrather had a busy and successful show under the direction of Janet Crampton and they both showed ponies with good results. John Wrather drove Seamair Simply Awesome to the Hackney Pony Stake reserve title. Charlotte Wrather would go on to win in the pleasure driving division but first, Helen Rosburg and Heartland High Tech made a single appearance to win the amateur cob tail class.

The pleasure driving ponies had two nice classes and their drivers worked hard to showcase their skills but when they lined up after the stake, it was Boxford Courageous Spirit making a big move up in the ribbons to be named the grand champion with Charlotte Wrather. Helen Rosburg and Heartland Stepaside came into the stake class with the blue ribbon from the qualifier to their credit and they exited the stake class as the reserve grand champions.

Sandra Surber had yet another winner at Pro Am. This time Cheyenne Mabey was called upon to present Extremely Supreme to the blue in the AHHS Hackney Pleasure Driving Youth Medallion class.

The pleasure classes were deep and competitive across the board and the adult five-gaited pleasure riders had their work cut out for them in both their stake and qualifier to impress Tunstall in an effort to earn a ribbon.

Deborah Richardson brought a bounty of entries to Perry and she was busy taking victory passes most of the week. She and Gotta Be Charmed were unstoppable on their way to the Adult Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship and qualifier wins for Richardson Stables. Richardson swept the division last year with (SA) Tornaado’s Storm Warnings. Nancy Kaplan was so excited when Harlem Globetrotter’s Monsoon was named the reserve grand champion because the cheers from the Red Oak Stables group nearly drowned out announcer Mark Farrar as he called out her number.

CH Executive Dunk won the junior exhibitor class last year and followed that up by winning this year’s junior exhibitor stake under the direction of Christy Parker. Ashley Brandies was up for the winning ride for owner Patti Boysen. Callaway’s Set The Bar and owner Courtney Greenbank, showing from Cedarwood Farm, put together the winning team effort in the qualifier and followed that up with the reserve streamers in the stake under the direction of Chuck Herbert.

Carissimo, winner of numerous titles in the country pleasure driving division last year with former owner Donna Beck is now owned by Dr. Steve Gilman. Maria Gilman and Don Judd directed them to the Country Pleasure Driving Championship win at last month’s Gasparilla show. Maria took over at Pro Am and showed Carissimo to the Park Pleasure Stake and open class wins while her dad recuperates from a driving accident suffered last week at home. The Sun’s Out and owner/trainer Euchee Matthews stepped up to take the reserve tricolor in the stake.

Allison Walker had the winning ride with Soquili’s Christmas In July to top a nice Novice Park Pleasure class for Ed and Ann Moore. Globetrotter’s Class Act was the junior horse champion for Robert and Barbara Walla with Euchee Matthews showing.

Designed To Charm did indeed charm Mike Tunstall and he named Roy and Judy Werner’s Redwing Farm owned and bred mare the winner of the three-year-old class.

Kaitlin Whatley and CH The Last Straw duplicated their Pro Am results from last year. They turned in two winning team efforts again this year to win the Adult Three-Gaited Pleasure Stake and Georgia-Owned class. Starlight Voyager and Ali DeGray, two-time winner’s at Gasparilla were the adult reserve grand champions after having taken the victory pass in the adult qualifier.

Mrs. Julian Gregory was thrilled when she watched Kaylee Norman head to the winner’s circle with Hillsides Light My Fire, last year’s open park pleasure champion, in the Junior Exhibitor 14-17 Three-Gaited Pleasure Championship. Miss Fancy Town and Taylor Price won the 14-17 qualifier with a stellar effort then returned in the stake to claim the reserve tie. Their good show added to a great week for Brian Reimer Stables, due in large part to the fact that Susan Reimer was back in good form and looking great at the show after recuperating just a short time ago from a serious illness.

Zoe Schaffel headed down victory lane again with her new horse Chantilly Castle. They topped a competitive 13 and under stake for MLS Enterprises LLC to follow up their winning debut at Gasparilla. Eleanor Rainbolt-Forbes and Thunder Gone Wild won the talent filled qualifier before coming back in the stake and claiming the reserve grand championship title for Rainbow Princess Farms LLC.

Grace McDonell and CH Keeper Of The Stars topped a big Walk and Trot Pleasure 12 and Under Stake to add the tricolor to the Judd Stables total. Jordyn Isgrigg and CH Olympic Charm, winners of the qualifier under the direction of Jimmy and Helen Robertson, came back and were second in the 12 and under stake.

Karen West had a huge win in the novice rider class, which was well filled and quite deep. She put Roseridge It’s Called Love in all the right places to take the blue ribbon back to Buffalo Creek Farm then came back in the equally deep novice rider championship to make a second victory pass for the week. Mike and Kathy Barlow directed the winning pair.

Kim Boros was all smiles at the out gate when Jamie Boros and Seismic Force exited with the novice rider reserve tricolor after a strong team effort under the direction of Gimpel and Graham to follow up their debut at Gasparilla.

RGS Stables teammate Heart Of Steel put another tricolor on the tack room wall when Patricia Bonati drove for the victory in the Show Pleasure Driving Stake. Lovely Addition, last year’s grand champion with Donna Smith, finished with the reserve grand championship title under the direction of Tim Henderson.

Jacqueline Ware handled the driving duties with Soquili’s The Nutcracker Prince to win the Show Pleasure Driving qualifier for Soquili Stables and topped a nice group on the way to victory lane.

CH Absolutely Exquisite made a triumphant return to the show ring at Pro Am. With Tara Grom in the irons, the chestnut mare topped the Adult Country Pleasure Championship. Deborah Richardson and (SA) Tornaado’s Storm Warnings won the adult qualifier before claiming the reserve title in the adult stake.

Strike Up The Lights and Taylor Price were met in the winner’s circle by Brian Reimer after they topped a good group to claim the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship title for Niki Price and Taylor Price. Worthy’s Hale Bopp, with Lindsay Slemmons up for Cynthia and Lindsay Slemmons, finished with the reserve grand championship after having won the qualifier earlier in the week. Reimer Stables claimed the one-two punch in the junior exhibitor division.

Judy Sanders teamed Fox In Clover to a big win in the Georgia Owned class with a strong effort under the direction of Lisa Jones to keep Creekside Farm’s great week going. Dance By Candlelight and Heather Reitzel Shea were the novice rider winners and topped a talented group of five other novice riders for the win. The husband and wife team of Heather and Darrel Shea kept trainer Mike Peel busy in Perry.

CF Private Night Out and Janet Kellett won the Country Pleasure Driving Stake, showing for Alde-Mar Farm. Their championship win made it two years in a row for the Bob Vesel-trained team. Harlem’s Worldly Lady made it two years in a row to win the qualifier with Ali DeGray showing under the direction of Ruth Gimpel and Ronnie Graham. Katherine Johnson and It’s Night Time were next in line for a ribbon in the stake and they headed back to the James Hale Stables tack room to hang up the reserve tricolor.

Jan Henderson and New York Fire won the Western Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier both of which hosted some top talent in the division. Grey Smoke and Christine Waddell, from Impossible Dream Farm, had a very busy week showing in both the western and hunter divisions under the direction of Jeanie Waddell and John Goda III.

Grey Smoke took the reserve in the Western Country Pleasure Championship and also won the limit class. Waddell also piloted him to the reserve grand championship title in the OTAB Western Pleasure Championship.

Deborah Richardson and Nations Chief were victorious in the Shatner class for Richardson Stables and they also won the OTAB Western Pleasure Stake and qualifier. She also switched gears and put Ro & Me’s Lasting Impression in the winner’s circle in the Hunter Seat Classic.

Courtney McGinnis and Cassie Bell finished one and two, respectively in the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship and each had a win under their belt before the class began. McGinnis won the NHS Good Hands class and Bell took the victory pass in the 14-17 equitation qualifier showing under the direction of Five Gait Stables. Macey Miles also had wins in the equitation division for DeLovely. She won the UPHA Challenge Cup and the 13 and under class.

Rachel Rafolski made it a clean sweep with both wins in the adult division. She was met in the winner’s circle both times by trainer and instructor Christy Parker of Pine Haven Stables. Reagan Huguley, last year’s grand champion, claimed the reserve tricolor this year for Stepping Stone Farm under the direction of her mom Courtney Huguley.

Scott Bruggeworth is not a new face in the show ring, but he’s a new face in the DeLovely group and he made his mark on the division with the winning rides in the UPHA Walk and Trot Challenge Cup and the 10 and Under Walk and Trot class.

Jackie Taylor was the winner of the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup and her win added another to the Brian Reimer Stables total. Ashley Brandies took the winning trip down victory lane in the Pleasure Equitation Medallion class.

The Morgan and Friesian horses joined the Pro Am schedule a couple of years ago and although their numbers were light this year, those that made the trip to Perry did a good job of entertaining the crowd and impressing judge Mike Tunstall.

Melinda Dennis and her Hyland Acres Mystique were the Morgan English Pleasure Grand Champions and open champions for the second year in a row. Dennis would also head down victory lane with Hyland Acres Mystique in the Morgan Pleasure Driving qualifier in a single appearance in the driving division.

Mary Brannon drove CBMF Seal The Deal to the tricolor in the Morgan Pleasure Driving Championship. Brannon drove for owner Irene Hawkins.

Owner Sylvia Kaye Bedell and Willowick Center Stage teamed up for the wins in the Morgan Classic Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier.

Euchee Matthews put Soldier Creek Phoenix in the winner’s circle twice for owners Alicia Davis and Jean Rothe. Center Stage was the Morgan Western Pleasure Grand Champion and qualifier winner. The pair won those same titles last year. John Goda III and Let’s Roll were the reserve grand champions for owner Carole Downs.

The amateurs and junior exhibitors showed together for their western pleasure classes and BDM Aruba’s Destiny came out on top in both classes. Isabella Bertolani rode for owner Melinda Dennis. Bedell and Comoshuns’s Legally Blonde were right behind them in the stake to claim the reserve tricolor for Little E Farm.

The hunter division for the Morgans was the largest with several nice entries performing in both classes in an effort to claim the wins. Kris Cole and Ultra’s First Class Male nabbed the victory in the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Stake. Cole rode for owner Darlene Stodolski and showed under the direction of Mary Brannon. They also topped a well-filled OTAB Hunter Pleasure class. Melinda Dennis and CBMF Chasing Rainbows were the hunter reserve grand champions for Mike and Jill Bertolani after having won the qualifier earlier in the week.

The Hirschhorn trio, Heather, Hannah and Haley have had a love affair with Friesians and have been a familiar sight in the Friesian classes since their careers began in California with Dixon Stable (now J.L. Dixon Stable). Directed by Chelsie Smith, the girls showed five different Friesians at Pro Am and did a great job doing it. There was a Hirschhorn sister in center ring picking up a winning ribbon in six of the seven Friesian classes offered.

Kelsey Baird has also been a consistent competitor in the Friesian division under the direction of her mom Cheryl Baird. She had a successful show with Kim Davidson’s Friesian Inne in addition to her very special award Friday night.

Owners Helen Rosburg with Waeltsje, Rhonda Cofer with Udeman and Samantha Hocking, showing Lynn Pace’s Syb Van De Loekshamhoeve, rounded out the list of competitors that showed in the Friesian division.

Heather Hirschhorn and Axcel were the Friesian Saddle Seat Stake and open qualifier winners. Heather also showed Steffen B to the Friesian Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier victories. Baird and Inne were the reserve grand champions in the Saddle Seat Pleasure Stake for Davidson. Cofer and Udeman were the reserve grand champions in the Friesian Country Pleasure Stake.

Bouke and Haley Hirschhorn were the Friesian Saddle Seat Pleasure Walk and Trot Grand Champions after winning the walk and trot qualifier earlier in the week for Karl Hirschhorn. Hannah Hirschhorn and Atje were the reserve grand champions.

Rosburg continued her family’s great show with a single appearance driving Waeltsje to the blue in the Friesian Pleasure Driving Open class.

Deborah Richardson, in addition to her two wins with Nation’s Chief in the OTAB division, claimed the tricolor in the OTAB English Pleasure class with The Devil You Say and made a lasting impression by adding another tricolor to her total. She and Ro & Me’s Lasting Impression were the Open Hunter Pleasure Grand Champions.

Evanne Leigh Floyd, of Gravel Hill Farms LLC, and Mountainview’s Manhattan Beach won the OTAB Hunter Over Fences to make it two years in a row at Pro Am that they have claimed victory in the OTAB hunter pleasure division under the direction of Rick Peel.

Morgan View Farm, led by trainer Renee Jones, packed a one-two punch in the OTAB Walk and Trot 11 and Under Hunter Pleasure Stake and qualifier. Zannah Herndon and her own American Idol took both victory passes and Jordan Gorman rode Barons Mark Of Glory to the reserve grand championship for Morgan View Farm.

Shelby Reimer not only won the Parade Horse Stake with Columbia Buckaneer, she did it for the fifth year in a row. The class has been back on the Pro Am schedule for five years and Reimer has gone undefeated under the direction of her parents Brian and Susan.

Bruce Payton had a nice group of academy riders to evaluate Saturday afternoon and the young riders got a great opportunity to show in the big ring in front of an appreciative audience.

Claire Matheny, Angie Ballard, Mariah Bouchet, Arden Ward, Catherine Walthall, Marylynn Sutton, Grace Murrow and Hannah Hall all posted wins in the academy division. Reserve championship titles went to Blaire Alexander, Lily Hock and Catherine Walthall.

Pro Am has had a long history of being a show that kicks off the Georgia show season in style. Under the direction of Scott Snider and his capable staff including his wife and show secretary Beth Snider, exhibitors are made to feel welcome and appreciated. The Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Roadsters, Morgans, Friesians and their riders and drivers that have been coming for years or were new this year to Pro Am helped make this year’s show one of the success stories of the new 2011 show season.

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