Jun 14, 2007

Missouri Fox Trotting horses, owners and riders from all across the country were in Ava last week for the 28th annual 3-Year-Old Futurity and Spring Show of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. While the emphasis of the show is on the Futurity, which concluded on Saturday night, the versatility events of the spring show are attracting more and more attention, as Fox Trot owners show just how compatible and "versatile" their horses are, whether it be jumping, speed events, working cattle in the ranch classes, or maneuvering an obstacle course in the trail classes. The versatility classes even show that Fox Trotters are very comfortable pulling a cart or wagon in the driving single hitch class. Taking the victory lap with the garland of the 3-Year-Old Futurity championship was A'Shante´ Sunrise, owned and ridden in the show by Billy Johnson, of Rogersville. Reserve champion in the show finale was MoCo's She Daisy L.J., shown by Clifton Matlock for Gail Vincent, of Eldon. Winning the open amateur portion of the 3-Year-Old Futurity was Poison Ivy, owned and shown by Jarrod Freeman, of Springfield. Reserve champion in the open amateur division was Ironwood's Rising Star, ridden by Sammie Lynn Barclay for Judith Brunson. In the Amateur Owned and Trained category, the 3-Year-Old Futurity winner was Dixieland Fox, owned and shown by Alan King, of Harrison, Ark. Reserve winner was Straight Out Of The Box, owned and ridden by Lynn Dousay, of Elmer, La. Sally Scott, of Rogersville was High Point Versatility champion via an accumulation of points earned in the various classes and categories of the versatility classes that competed during the daytime shows. Cecil Huff, of Ava, came in second in total points earned. Huff's Cassey's Travelin Lady won the cutting and roping, was second in working cow horse and Open Western Horsemanship, and third in Open Western Pleasure. Huff and Travelin Lady also won the reserve championship in the Ranch Horse competition. Huff, who operates Buck and Spurs Guest Ranch with his wife, Sonny, said this is the third show that offspring of their ranch stud, Cassey's Missouri Traveler, have been either champion or reserve champion in the Ranch Horse Versatility classes. High Point Versatility champion in the youth division was Amber Lawson, of Wilmar, Ark., riding Jester's Chocolate Chip K. Reserve champion in the youth division was Lauren Zinn, of Bradenton, Fla., riding Dixie Stampede B. With the Spring Show and 3-Year-Old Futurity concluded for 2007, the association headquarters here, as well as owners and trainers, are now looking ahead to the biggest show of the year for Fox Trotters, the Show and Celebration, which starts the day before Labor Day and runs a full week, Sept. 2-8.