The Tradition Stays Strong in Blowing Rock
Monday, August 18, 2003
By Kelley Colvin
BLOWING ROCK, N.C. - Is the home of the 80th annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show held August 7-10, 2003. This show is a time honored tradition and the town rolls out the red carpet for the horse show exhibitors and fans, which come from all over the east to participate. The Blowing Rock Horse Show is the oldest consecutive running outdoor horse show in the United States. The charity show first hosts over 10 days of hunter competition atop the mountain in the equine preserve.Then, it opens its gates to the American Saddlebred exhibitors. With only an afternoon class schedule the horse show also allows time for people to enjoy the scenery, the quaint shops on Main Street and to socialize over ice cream and watch the children play in the park.
In keeping with the fun-loving spirit, each day's performance was topped off by a luncheon sponsored by different exhibitors. Friday's lunch was sponsored by G & I Broodmare Farm and Cindy and Tommy Currie. Saturday's luncheon was sponsored by Chestnut Lane and Doug Beach, and the final performance of the weekend was topped off by a luncheon sponsored by Pat Moore of Saddle Creek Farm, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Craver and Mr. and Mrs. Wright.
Blowing Rock Charity has great plans to continue the tradition with some new and improved conditions. With the purchase of ten more acres at the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, the preserve has plans to remodel and renovate and even plans to cover the outdoor riding ring. This would guarantee the showing conditions at future horse shows. In addition, there will be a covered warm- up area with new stabling areas added. These changes will be gradually implemented over the next three years with covering the arena being the first priority.
Five-Gaited
John Elway and Paul Boone, an entry of Ann Cannon, racked and out trotted the rest to sweep away the Five-Gaited Grand Championship. Vanity's Gypsy Town and Nancy Troutman rode a close reserve.
Lakeview's Rose Lee Seen and Cash Lovell over powered the rest to win the Open Five-Gaited class. The Snap Shot and Tafton Coleman had all the right moves to win the Ladies Five-Gaited class.
It's A Spring Show and Danny Keziah trotted to winner's circle in the Five-Gaited Junior/ Novice Horse class for Richard and Anita Simpson.
Light A Fire and Dwight Jenkins left a trail of smoke when they won the Five-Gaited Amateur Championship. Callaway's State Senator and Bill Banks were reserve to Jenkins in the championship. Callaway's Crown Jewel and Luanne Kilday, showing under the direction of Steve Hanks Stables, topped the Five-Gaited Amateur class.
The striking palomino, Visa Gold and Shannon Harris trotted away the champion in the Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor division, following their win in the qualifier. Pepper Man and Erin Breslin were reserve to Harris in the championship.
Alianca and Samantha Hill, riding for the Oak Hill Academy, out performed the rest to win the Five-Gaited Pony Championship. Yorktown Melody Man and Ashley Walker were reserve in the championship. Diamond's Hope and Sarah Beth Longworth, riding under the guidance of Cash Lovell Stables, racked to the blue in the Five-Gaited Pony class in their only appearance of the show.
Three-Gaited
In a grand exhibition, Street Rumor and Danny Keziah won the Three-Gaited Grand Championship. Absolute Gem and Stephanie O'Kelly, riding for Susan Ivester, shined to the top of the Three-Gaited Ladies class. Touch The Clouds and Jennifer Crozier reached the top wining the Three-Gaited Junior/Novice Horse class.
Salvation and Dr. Teresa Miller were superior in the amateur division, winning the qualifier and the championship. Callaway's Collectors Choice was the right choice for reserve in the championship.
My Coco Chanel and Cole Rosenbaum, for the Manor Farms, trotted away with the tricolor in the Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor Championship following a superior performance in the qualifier. Endolane Symphony and Whitney Hahn were reserve to Rosenbaum. Love To Dance and Katie Morrison twirled their way to the top of the Three-Gaited Pony Championship. Callaway's Viscount and Cameron Garrison were reserve to Morrison. BI MI Champagne Tate and Kristen Thomas, for Pam Thomas, trotted to the blue in the Three-Gaited Pony class.
Fine Harness
Unforgiven and Karin Banks had no mercy on the competition with an outstanding performance to win the Fine Harness Championship following a qualifying win in the Amateur Fine Harness class. Glady's Knight and Randy Cole, for Linda Blair, were reserve to Banks in the championship after winning in the Fine Harness Open class.
The Dixie Doodle, with Catie Hawley at the whip, drove to the blue in the ASHA Foundation Fine Harness Youth class.
Park
Shamrock's Versace and Nancy Troutman, for Rebecca Tobey, rode to the winner's circle to claim the Three-Gaited Park Championship after a win in the qualifier. A Perfect Design OCF and Heath Hughes were reserve in both classes. Bel Cheval's All That Jazz and Will Cannon, showing under the Boone Stables banner, claimed the tricolor in the Three-Gaited Park Amateur division winning the stake and the qualifier. Son O' Sandal and Andi Wesley were reserve in both classes. The Ballroom Blitz and Jamie Mullins, for Dale Presnell and Tim Henry, won the Three-Gaited Park Junior Horse class.
CH Velvet Day Break and Lynette Gregory topped the Park class for junior exhibitors ridding away with the blue.
Five Star Sweetie and Heather Boodey, for Lineshore Farm, trotted to the winner's circle winning the Three-Gaited Park Pleasure Junior Horse Championship. Periella and Melody Murphy took reserve.
Pleasure
Commander's Firecracker and Sammie Judd smoked out the rest of the competitors to win the Adult Five-Gaited Pleasure Grand Championship, after their blue in the Adult Five-Gaited Pleasure class.
Berry Garcia and Grant Shiflet, showing under the Shiflet Stables banner, racked and trotted their way to the tricolor in the Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship for juvenile riders after their outstanding performance in the qualifier. Turn and Burn was reserve to Shiflet in both classes.
In the Driving division, Moon Drifter gave a commanding performance to win the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Driving class. In the championship, David Phillips drove Moon Drifter to the tricolor. Shamrock's Annabelle and Rheanne Greene drove to the second place tie in the championship. I'm The Real Deal and Allie Wellington proved how real their intentions were by winning the ASHA Foundation Show Pleasure Driving class.
A Promise Keeper and Lauren Camp kept their promises topping the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Adult Championship. Court Dance and Paul Otto were reserve in the championship. So Much To Say and Taylor Shiflet trotted to the blue in the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Adult class in their only appearance of the show. Simply Deliah and Tony Page rode to the blue in the Three-Gaited Pleasure class for limit riders. A Promise Keeper and Lauren Camp proved them all wrong by winning the Three-Gaited Pleasure class for novice riders.
CH Harlem's Moon Shadow and Leann Fulper over shadowed the competition to win the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure for Junior Exhibitors Championship after their win in the qualifier. High Shootin Son Of Gun and Allison Boozer were reserve in the championship. Simbara's Son of A Gun and Catie Hawley rode to the winner's circle win the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class for riders 14-17. Santan's Flaming Dawn and Ali Deutsch smoked the competition to win the English Pleasure Pony Championship following their hot performance in the qualifier. Fox's Dancing Fire and Sarah Beth Longworth, under the direction of Cash Lovell Stables, were reserve in the championship. CH Empress In Black and Lauren Henderson, an entry of the Circle H English Tack, out classed the rest to win the Walk and Trot Pleasure class and championship. All I Do Is Dream and Cara Wolf were reserve to Henderson in both classes.
He's Real Bad and Ron Cook proved how bad they were by winning the Country Pleasure Driving division. CH Herculean and Katherine Hansil were reserve to Cook in the championship.
Capewell and Lisa Worrell Whittle rode to the tricolor award in the Country Pleasure Adult Championship. One More Harlem and Shawn Henderson were reserve behind Whittle. Copper Panache and Ann Dawson topped the Country English Pleasure class showing under the Garrison Stables banner. Fire Shetan and Jane Melton trotted to the winner's circle in the Country English Pleasure Amateur Owned and Trained class.
Martha's Highlite and Alice Frost were on top of their game to win the Country English Pleasure Novice Rider class as well as the Country English Pleasure class for riders 13 and under championship. Man Ray and Sarah Hayden were reserve to Frost in the championship.
Rum Tum Tigger and Luanne Kilday showed the grace and precision needed to win the Country Western Pleasure division. Beaux Radiant Empire and Pat Yatts were reserve in the championship. I'm Puttin On My Tophat and Dorothy Ferguson showed the best combination of rail work and obstacle negotiation to win the Saddle and Bridle Working Western Pleasure class.
Reba McIntyre and Pat Borders trotted their way to the winner's circle in the ASB Hunter/Sport Horse Pleasure Championship. Rare Eclipse and Dora Huie were reserve to Borders. Sarah's Starlike Heather and Lauren Ashe had a grand performance to top the ASB Hunter/Sport Horse Pleasure class.
Driving with speed and fury, Absolute Bedlam and Steve Deutsch won the Roadster To Bike division, winning the championship and the Amateur qualifier. Road Rage and Lindsay Simpson were reserve in the championship. Montana and Hunter Maddy drove to the blue in the Roadster To Bike Open class. I Would If I Could and Luanne Kilday out road the rest in the Roadster Under Saddle class.
Coco Cabana and Jennifer Garrison, under the guidance of G & I Broodmare Farm, proved superior in the Roadster Pony Open division winning the class and the championship. Knight's Pride and Karen Voerg were no strangers to the winner's circle winning both the Roadster Pony Amateur class as well as the Amateur/Junior Exhibitor Championship. Lady Barbette and Thomas Bailey were reserve in the championship. Fox's Fine and Fancy and Alissa Phillips proved how fancy they were by dominating the Roadster Pony Junior Exhibitor, Medallion and Roadster Pony Under Saddle classes.
In the Open Pleasure Pony division, Mystic King had two grand performance, one with Parker Hodges to win the Pleasure Driving class. The other performance was with Meredith Garrison at the whip to win the Pleasure Driving Championship.
Equitation
Erin Bolster riding Periaptor's Dancing Star had the best combination of rail and pattern work to win the Equitation Championship. Mallory Haynse was reserve. Anna Reaves riding Picabo Street topped the UPHA Challenge Cup 17 and Under division. Erin Bolster was no stranger to the winner's circle. They won the Good Hands class.
One of the highlights of the horse show was the Trainer's Equitation class where the winner was to win half of a $350 jackpot. With a close tie, John Whalen, riding Martha's Hightlite, was crowned the winner. This was well received by the crowd who seemed to favor the underdog Steve Alred riding Mollie the Mule.
This concludes the highlights of the 80th annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. For complete and searchable results please visit our website at www.saddlehorsereport.com.
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