35th Annual P-TA Horse Show Attracts Large Crowd and Top Contenders
The Vic Thompson Stables of Shelbyville had a good warmup for the Celebration at the P-TA Horse Show on May 27 at the Celebration grounds . They had the exact setting , top quality competition , and the enthusiasm necessary for a practice run at the big show . The primary factor which differentiated this show from the Celebration was its one night status .
Vic ’ s hard-working team carried away five blue ribbons through the talented hands of Mack Motes , Judy Tillett , and Burt Daugette . Mack earned three blue ribbons on JOHNNY MIDNIGHT . SUPER SPORT , and SHAD OW ’ S SONATA . Burt rode MOONGLOW , JR ., last year ’ s Amateur World Grand Champion , to the top spot in her class while Judy piloted the UNTOUCHABLE , the World Champion Juvenile horse last year , to the winners
circle in that class . In the stake class , JOHNNY7 MIDNIGHT proved
beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a different horse than we saw in last year ’ s Celebration . It is still early in the year and it will be interesting to see what else Mack and Vic do to improve JOHNNY7 . Believe me , there was not much he was doing wrong at the P-TA Show .
Pressing JOHNNY7 all the way in this exciting and crowd pleasing class was MIDNIGHT IMP . a full brother to JOHNNY7 and SUN ’ S DELIGHT . Neal “ Shorty ” Branscum showed this horse to perfection and had the crowd with him all the way .
In the three-year-old stallion and gelding class the competition was something to see . SUPER SPORT and Mack Motes were spectacular in wanning this class . Several observers voiced the opinion that SUPER SPORT was the best horse on the show grounds and it would be hard to argue with them . A real crowd favorite with plentv of style and motion was Doug Wolaver and TRIPLE THREAT AGAIN . This highly regarded son of former World Grand Champion TRIPLE THREAT has been one of the early season favorites and he has the ability to match his press clippings . Doug had to take his horse out of the class when the judge called for a workout because the big bay had pulled a muscle in his right rear flank . No doubt Doug did the proper thing by removing him from the show ring .
Tying reserve to SUPER SPORT with a superb performance was Jack Moorman and SUN ’ S GREAT SOCIETY . TOMBSTONE II and Frank McMeen were the yellow ribbon winners . This class was loaded with
top entries and the exhibitors really put on a show for the crowd .
The two-year-old class had some top prospects under the saddle and TIGER BAY and Bob Cherry were impressive winners . Bob and his horse seemingly got stronger as the class progressed and at the finish he had his mount going in true gaits with plenty of speed and action . Tying reserve and looking bright for the future was DELIGHT ’ S LITTLE MAN with Tom Hailey the owner-rider doing a fine job exhibiting his horse . The third place horse in a closely knit top three was EBONY ’ S ECHO , George Rogers the owner doing the riding . This class was the first of the night and certainly got the show off to a rousing start . It was also encouraging from the standpoint that it indicated some top young stock is developing . The
breed needs more high calibre young horses if it is to continue to grow .
50
The Ladies Owner-Amateur class was also privileged to have some top stock exhibiting . The winner with a real consistent showing was PERFECTION ’ S SHADOW S with Molly Tallent up . The reserve tie went to MINT JULEP and Laura Brandon , wife of trainer Wallace Brandon . The third place ribbon was won by SOCIETY ’ S LITTLE MAN with Pauline Wiener in the irons .
The Walking pony class was a real crowd-pleaser with a number of horses vying for the blue ribbon . Little Sally Beaumont won over some stiff competition on MIGHTY LITTLE GIRL . This darling little show girl stuck right in there with the best of them never missing a lick and showing her pony like a ring-wise veteran . The reserve horse was JAKE ’ S GLAMOUR BOY7 and Milly Ring .
RHYTHM ’ S HOT PEPPER and Paul Whitehead won the four-year-old walking mare class with a fine showing from start to finish . Paul saved his best passes for the right time and really did a fine job exhibiting his horse . Boyd Hudgins guided COMPANY MANNERS to the reserve tie keeping the class close in the top three . The number three horse was HANDSHAKER ’ S MARY AL LEN and Doug Wolaver .
Steve Hill won the three-year-old walking mare class with a top flight exhibition . Steve is one of the most talented showmen around and he used all of his ring savvy to good advantage in winning on ELDORADO ’ S BLACK LABEL . Boyd Hudgins had another fine entry in this class and tied second on GRAND JOY . The third place tie was awarded to DAT ’ S DE BABE and Jack Johnson .
The four-year-old walking stallion and gelding class made the crowd sit up and take notice . Hershel Talley and CLOWN ’ S IMAGE put on a good performance to tie the blue ribbon . John T . Carter rode an outstanding bay stud named WARLOCK to the reserve spot while the number three horse was SUN ’ S LEGAL HEIR with Boyd Hudgins up .
The juvenile class had several of the best horses around but the UNTOUCHABLE with Judy Tillet up proved to be too much . Tying reserve was FAIR WARNING and Debbie Church . Keeping the top two working for their honors and tying third was GO BOY ’ S NODDING STAR and Belva Wood . This class was one of the best received of the night and underlined the increasing number of fine juvenile riders being developed each year .
Mack Motes won one of his three ribbons in the mare class , five-year-old and over . Mack did a top riding job on
SHADOW ’ S SONATA “ to take the blue . The number two spot was won by GO BOY ’ S SONG and Dooney Thomas . The third place ribbon was awarded to SUN DUST GLORY GIRL with Boyd Hudgins doing the riding .
MOONGLOW JR . and Burt Daugette won the owneramateur class with another solid performance over the number two horse SPUR ’ S COMMANDER and David Ryan . The class was closely contested from start to finish and the crowd picked up favorites and let their feelings be known . Tying third was PRIDE OF SPRINGS with Gayden Schrock up .
The handling of the show was carried out excellently again this year as the show sponsors continue to enhance the outstanding reputation of this show . Judge Richard Mary again proved his ability in the middle of the ring and announcer Bob Jennings added his fine style to the announcing . Jimmy Richardson and his traveling organ did an outstanding job in the musical area . -
The success of this show is a tribute to the fine people who worked so diligently to put it on . It was without a doubt one of the best early season shows this year .
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse