On November 4 and 17-18, 2000, SSHBEA members showed up in grand numbers to show off the versatility of our wonderful breed as they competed in the 7th Annual Sport Horse World Championship. Interest in versatility is growing, and this show proves it with 447 entries! These horses came from nine states including California, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
Celebrating the well-trained trail horse, the Competitive Trail Ride kicked off the Championship on November 4, 2000. This year the ride was held at the Cannon County Walking Horse Association Campgrounds, in Woodbury, TN. The campground provided ample room filled with hills, streams, and timberland. This combination created many of the natural obstacles that are often encountered by a trail horse.
The day turned out to be cold and damp, but this did not deter competitors as they showed up from everywhere to show their horses abilities on the trail. His abilities as a great trail horse gave RED EYE WHISKEY ridden by Charlie Moore the "Blue" in the Open Division. BO'S BIG BAD JOHN won the Champion title for the second year in a row for rider Niki Thompson in the Youth rider 12- 17 class. The 2 year-old division, competitive as ever, was won by BOJANGLES DIXIE DARLING with rider Niki Thompson. The Youth riders 11 & under showed they were not going to be left behind on any trail, as MY LADY FALINE and Samantha Mohon won this division. Interest was so great that a ladies class was added on the spot. SILK & SASSY ridden by Krista Smith brought home the honor of winning the blue for this added class.
A special thanks goes to the Cannon County Walking Horse Association for the use of the campground. A big thanks also goes to judges Jerry Higgins, Terry Given, Mike Kirby, Ricky Todd, and Mike Wilson, and their time keepers Jennifer Basham, Donna Eaton, Jason Smith.
Competition resumed on Friday November 17 at the Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, TN with Roger Malone acting as show manager.
The Hunting Horse division began Friday evening competition with a bang, literally, as a blank is shot to judge control of the horse. This and other obstacles and situations are used to show why Spotted Saddle Horses are great in a field trial or coon-hunting situation. William Bolden had the challenge of judging this competitive division. And winning the Open class against some challenging competitors was LIMITED EDITION, ridden by Janice Higgins. Youth riders 12-17 was won by BO'S BIG BAD JOHN and Niki Thompson after their great ride through the course. DANCE DANCE DANCE and Robert Sanders won the two-year-old class as the two year olds showed what great prospects they are.
Reining followed as the power steering came into play. APACHE, ridden by Diana Branaman, exhibited his skill and brought home the blue in the open division, while ROCK BACK BILL and Maranda East brought home the honors in the Youth riders 12-17 class. The two-year-olds put on a great show as BOJANGLES DIXIE DARLING and Niki Thompson won their second two-year-old class of the show.
Special Thanks to Amanda Brown who held the task of judging the Reining and Jumping divisions.
Jumping got spectators and competitors attention as PAINT'S IDAHO KID and Tammy Coffman jumped through the series, right into the winners circle in the Open class which boasted 22 entries. THUNDER'S LIL HAIL RAISER, ridden by Emily House, followed suit and won the Youth riders 12-17 for the second year in a row!
Show me the speed! This is exactly what came next as ROCK BACK BILL and Maranda East saddled to victory in the Saddle around the Poles class, reminding everyone with a Spotted Saddle Horse you can have speed and smoothness in one beautiful package! This is a great class for beginners and experts alike.
Stepping the speed up a notch, next came Pole Bending. Out of 21 entries PAINT'S LITTLE CHICKADEE and Michelle Talley proved to be the fastest of the day winning the Open class. DANCE DANCE DANCE and Robert Sanders won the two-year-old class proving he could do more than dance.
Just in case anyone was not sure about how fast a saddle gait can be, TONTO THREAT and Diana Branaman gave a great demonstration and won the Saddle around the Barrels.
PAINT'S LITTLE CHICKADEE and Michelle Talley ran their hearts out and out ran 22 entries in the Open Barrel Racing class. The two- year old class offered some fast competition as FLASHY MAN'S MAGIC LADY ridden by Blane Tankersley took home the winning blue.
Saturday- November 18, 2000, brought yet another day of competition. Starting off the day's competition was the Competitive Trail Obstacle division. If you have never seen this exciting division it is a "must see." And if you think your horse is trained to the "T", well is he trained to a teeter-totter? The teeter-totter is only one of the many obstacles that these horses faced that morning. Others including a rope gate step boxes, backing "L's", a mailbox, a stump, and many others.
In the Open class, showing his willingness and great training, SPORT, a Multi-Sport Horse Champion who can definitely boast as the oldest horse at the show took home the blue, as Chris Alexander rode and maneuvered him through the difficult course. Another Multi-Sport Horse Champion, OUTLAWED WHISKEY and his rider Maranda East aced the course to victory in the Youth Riders 12-17 class. WAR DANCE and Jason Stoneback gave a great example of how well a two-year old can be trained by winning the Two-year-old class. Again seasoned youngster Samantha Mohon showed the youth can not be out done by riding MY LADY FALINE through the course right into the winners circle, in the Youth- Riders 11 & under.
This year the Sport Horse Committee, knowing the importance of starting a young horse right, added a colts in hand obstacle class. This class brought out some of the best-trained weanlings and yearlings around. And the first-time class can boast 6 entries. Amanda Eaton was the handler of the first-ever World Champion Obstacle Colt in-hand winner, SMOKEY'S LUCKY SPUD. This pair put on a great exhibition of how trained and willing a young horse can be.
Special thanks to judges Sammy Woodard, Jerry Higgins, Dicky Gardner and their timekeepers Donna Eaton, Lisa Tidwell, and Jason Smith.
The youngsters were getting restless to show all the adults their skill, and that is just what they did as they competed in their own Reining, Pole Bending, and Barrel Racing classes. And did the youngsters ever show up! Several classes had more then ten entries. A proven World Champion, REBEL'S CINNAMON TWIST, and up and coming competitor, Carley Fetzer brought home the blue for the Youth riders 11 & under reining class. The Soggy Poles let the youth compete with some of the older folks in this race to see who can be fast, smooth, and can come out with the most water. Not that the older folks had much of a chance as ROCK BACK BILL and Maranda East rode to victory. Youth riders 11 & under - saddle around the poles gives these great youth riders a chance to show off their speed and learn the patterns without scaring the parents too bad! And Blane Tankesley set the standard, riding FLASHY MAN'S MAGIC LADY to the winners circle. Maranda East and ROCK BACK BILL proved they could run as good as they saddled the poles and won the Youth riders 17 & under Pole Bending.
The youth gave the older folks another chance as they competed in the Soggy Barrel race. But for the third time, Maranda East and ROCK BACK BILL took home top honors. The Youth Riders 11 & under- Saddle around the Barrels found Samantha Mohon back in the winner circle. Youth riders 17 & under Barrel Racing again showed the great talent of Sport Horse juvenile riders as Maranda East and R0CK BACK BILL took home yet another blue.
0bstacle driving is the next level of obstacles and one of the most challenging events, but you could not tell as MISTY MOONLIGHT and Elizabeth Bell completed the course with ease.
On to something just for fun - Broom Polo! It's the latest thing. Lots of fun for all ages and a great break from the seriousness of competition. This is a must-see, must-try event because it is so much fun.
After a lunch break, competition continued with team penning. Nine teams participated in the Novice Practice Session. Then the youth riders 12-17 got down to business as PHOTO FLASH REFLECTION and Travis Lopeman, WHISKEY'S MISS KITTY and Megan Tidwell, OUTLAWED WHISKEY and Maranda East set the example for how team penning should be won! The Ladies team penning class was next, and not only did TC'S SUGAR BAY and Linda Coffman, TONTO WHISPER MY NAME and Jennifer Woodall, TC'S PRIDE AND JOY and Patty Coffman bring home the winning run. They also showed us there are some cowgirls around here. The Mixed class found SPORT and Chris Alexander, CANDYMAN'S LOLLIPOP and Heather Powell, TOUCH OF LACE and Stephen Carter in the winners circle. The Youth Riders 11 and under could not wait to team pen, and HI TECH REDNECK and Clay Dunivan, FLASHY MAN'S MAGIC LADY and Blane Tankersley, MY LADY FALINE and Samantha Mohon wasted no time in bring home a win.
Shotgunning kept the excitement in the air as one horse and rider separated one designated cow from the herd. SNOWY RIVER and Liz Gassaway won the Novice class in her first time competing in Shotgunning.The Open class allowed BUBBA BEE and Ricky Williams to show what kind of cattle horse a Spotted Saddle Horse can be as he brought home the title. ROSCO and Curtis Creason could not be out done as they made the fastest run in the Youth riders 12-17 class. In the Ladies class, PAINT'S LITTLE CHICKADEE and Michelle Talley added another blue ribbon to their collection. The youth were ready to go ! This they did as the Youth riders 11 &under was won by FLASHY MAN'S MAGIC LADY and Blane Tankersley.
Working Cow Horse puts a spin on working cattle and shows just how much control a horse and rider can have over a steer. The horse cuts the steer from the herd and directs him to move in a designated pattern. This is definitely an edge of your seat event as it is amazing to watch a true cow horse. This year PAINT'S LITTLE CHICKADEE and Michelle Talley put on a good performance and won the World Champion title.
At the end of the three days of competition, six Hi-point Champions are rewarded. Points accumulate for theses horses throughout the competition as placings are given in each class. Horses placing first through fifteenth are awarded points in Championship classes.
And Michelle Tally - Petersburg, TN
And Tammy Coffman - Oak Ridge, MO
And Ricky Williams
- Lebanon, TNAnd Jason Stoneback - Memphis, TN
And Maranda East - Nicholasville, KY
And Samantha Mohon - Covington, TN
The Sport Horse Committee would like to thank all sponsors, judges, timekeepers, announcers, and everyone who makes the show possible.
2001 promises to be a great season and the Sport Horse Committee would like to invite everyone to come check out Sport Horse. There really is a class for everyone.
Then when someone ask "What have you done with your Spotted Horse lately?" you can answer, "The question should be what event have I not tried with my Spotted Saddle Horse?