SALEM, Va. - The historically enchanting town of Salem opened it’s arms once again this year for the 31st Roanoke Valley Horse Show. It is a place where the Hunter/Jumper and Saddlebred worlds meet with one thing in common - the horses.
The quaint town of Salem and it’s neighboring city, Roanoke, really get into the spirit of the horse show. Several billboards could be seen dotting the roads proclaiming, “The horses are coming!”, while banners hung in the midst of downtown Salem. Roanoke, a favorite to many certainly has it’s own ambiance that is hard to describe unless you’ve been there.
Saddlebred exhibitors get a taste of a much larger crowd, which only adds to the excitement of the show ring, as spectators from all over come to enjoy the competition. The stands are full every night, making it feel like a true horse show.
The schedule at the horse show is a bit different than usual, as the Saturday night stake classes are over by 8:00 or 8:30, at which time, the much awaited Grand Prix is held. With 27 horses competing, and 11 of those making it to the jump-off, the 2002 Grand Prix certainly was exciting. Nonix Le Parc and Aaron Vale were the pair to come out victorious, taking home the esteemed win.
Another highlight of the week was the Jack Russell Terrier Races which were held in between the Junior/Amateur Owner Roanoke Jumper Classic and the evening session. People had talked about the races all week, and everyone was there to watch. Those little dogs really get into a good race.
The show committee had many activities outside of the show ring for exhibitors to enjoy. An exhibitor’s party was held after the show on Thursday evening, a junior exhibitor’s splash party was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel, a golf tournament was held on Wednesday morning, and a continental breakfast was available to all exhibitor’s every morning. Fran Crumpler held the judging duties for the Saddlebred and Hackney divisions.
Though numbers were down this year, and many regular exhibitors did not include Roanoke in their show schedule, nothing could shake that old-fashioned horse show feeling that Roanoke is famous for. Despite all that, many people stepped up to the plate and made stake night a real treat. Eight entries all vied for the gaited stake win with six entries gracing the ring for the walk/trot stake. With the enormous crowd and the large number of horses showing back, Saturday night was truly enjoyable.
Eight competitive entries trotted through the gate for the Five Gaited Championship with a huge crowd already waiting to welcome them. It was exciting to see so many entries in the championship, as the open divisions have been somewhat light this year. The exciting entry of Prairie Dancer and Paul Boone were truly a sight to take the tricolor for Alice Lydia and Kathy Berger. Berger had already taken the reins, riding this fine horse to the ladies qualifier blue.
The open qualifier heralded Katie’s Rob Roy and Shirley Trail in the winner’s circle. The Virginia-Owned Five Gaited class saw Bluebonnet’s Wild Thing and Joy Bowman for the blue.
Callaway’s Hannah Cole and Barclay deWet made a terrific show to earn the amateur title in the stake after their win in the amateur mare qualifier for Leatherwood Farm. Red Oak’s Robin and Emily Jarrett were called for the amateur stallion/gelding qualifier.
In the junior exhibitor stake, it was Callaway’s Rhapsody In Blue and Andrew DeGrace for the qualifier blue and tricolor for Deborah DeGrace.
Smith Lilly made quite a show with the well-known entry of Leatherwood Farm, Have You Ever for the tricolor in the junior horse stake. This pair had spectators on the edge of their seats last year and proved to do the same this year as well. Lilly seems to have a way with young gaited horses and guided Resplendent to the three-year-old blue for Sue Nifong and Silverlin Farm.
Visa Gold made quite a show in the Civic Center with his trusty partner, Shannon Harris in the irons to take the pony qualifier blue and stake tricolor.
Tim McGraw, no, not the country singer, but the horse with James Lawrence in the irons took the blue in the novice gaited class for Mary Schmidt.
Six extremely talented entries hit the gate in the Three Gaited Championship, making for a tough class. Matt Shiflet guided the winner to both the open qualifier win and the championship for Gaited Inc. That entry was a gorgeous bay by the name of Lace Elegant who is better than ever and right on the mark this season under the new direction of Diamond View Farm.
Classic Colors and Stefanie Lackey Sanchez were just right to take the ladies qualifier blue to add to the West Wind banner. In the Virginia-Owned class, the fixy entry of Margo Feldman, The Sleeper, never faltered a step to take the blue. The amateur stake was yet another competitive stake. My Wicked Ways and Carol Reedy were just the pair to take both the qualifier blue and stake tricolor.
The newly formed team of French Silk Stockings and Allison Combs made yet another great show under the Mercer Springs banner, riding to the winner’s circle in the the junior exhibitor stake and 13 & under qualifier. Game of Superiority and Shaye Coleman were the ones to beat in the 14-17 qualifier, under the direction of Margaret Gardiner.
Claude Shiflet made a great show aboard Attache’s Touched By An Angel for the junior horse stake for Barbara Baker. Bill Shiflet then led Champagne Reve to the UPHA Three-Year-Old Classic win for Riley Shiflet, keeping it all in the family.