Trainers up for blue ribbons

Lake Weaver rides Major Orders to the blue ribbon spot Thursday Night in the Youth Plantation Lite-Shod 17 and under specialty class at the Trainers' Show. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Lisa Baum doesn't have to go far to have a good time. The Shelbyville resident (and wife of veterinarian Jim Baum) took another blue ribbon Thursday night at the Trainers' Show on her gelding Tony Montana, only a few weeks after the pair won big at the Celebration's Spring Fun Show.

"He's one of my favorites," she said, shortly after winning the 15.2 and Under Mare and Gelding Amateur class. "He's very talented and easy. You can always count on him, and Link (Webb) is a great trainer -- he's been with Link since the beginning."

There were only three horses in their performance class -- a pattern seen at the Fun Show and in many of the Trainers' Show performance classes so far, but that didn't take anything away from Tony Montana's win.

"It was unanimous -- across the board -- both times," said Lisa. "He's a world champion."

Although many of the classes had few entries, some have had as many as eight, making the competition in those classes a little more steep.

Owner and rider Tom Spencer is also collecting blues. Although he and his family live in Arizona, they also have a place in Shelbyville, across from Sand Creek Farm. He was born in Kentucky, spent decades in Alaska, and retired to Arizona, but his childhood love of the Tennessee walking horse never went away.

"I found myself heading for walking horses," he said. "I grew up with them -- it's a passion. It's a love."

It's that passion that owners and trainers have for the breed that makes the recent conflicts with the industry so frustrating, he said.

"I got first in a class Wednesday night," he said. "He was the only one in the class. He's a good horse, but ..."

Spencer gives his trainer, Jeff Green, credit for the quality care his horses receive, which only adds to their performance in the ring.

"Jeff is very responsible," he said. "He goes out of his way to do it right."

Even though he said he was "hopeful and optimistic" about he walking horse industry, he also echoed the opinions voiced by several owners and trainers at the Fun Show when he said inconsistency in inspections was the root of the conflict between the USDA and the industry.

"If it's possible, let's clean the gray matter out of this process and have it in black and white," Spencer said. "The same process every time -- that will be better."

The trainers' Show continues today and Saturday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Calsonic Arena. Admission will be $10 per night, with 6 and under admitted free.