SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The 36th annual Spring Fun Show in Shelbyville, Tenn., started off with an explosion. As the crowd watched the sixteen exciting entries that answered the first gate call in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Mares and Geldings, 15.2 and Under, there was no doubt that 2006 would have a great Spring Fun Show.
The judges tied five of the 17 classes unanimously. Marty Irby and his Lion King won the first of the unanimous ties in the Owner-Amateur Country Pleasure, Gentleman Riders. 2000 World Grand Champion Cash For Keeps and Ray Gilmer won the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod unanimously as the 15-year-old stallion showed the versatility and natural talent he possesses. The recently purchased Moore and Walden entry,WGC I’m Silver Too, and Jackie McConnell earned the Walking Horses, Five-Years and Over title unanimously.
In one of the best gathering of four-year-olds in many years,WC Star and Jackie McConnell were the choice of all three judges in the Riders’ Cup Four-Year-Old Stallions(Canter)class.
Rounding out the judge's unanimous ties was WC She's Push In Command and Connie Hess. This team won the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings. Hess's win topped one of the two largest classes of the night with 19 horses. Texas Independence and Nancy Groover won the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings also a 19 horse class.
The first performances of the 2006 event indicated that this will be an exciting show from beginning to end.