We Have Video-PREMIER Colt Preview and WHAA Barn Party!!! Enjoy!!!
It was a great time at both locations yesterday!!! Several horses sold and it was alot of fun. Here are the videos we took at both
USDA vs FLEMING-D.C. Circuit Ducks Constitutionality of USDA ALJ’s — For Now
D.C. Circuit Ducks Constitutionality of USDA ALJ’s — For Now
USA February 22 2021
A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently decided a significant case for those animal-related businesses who are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fleming v. U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture, No. 17-1246, 1249 & 1250 (D.C. Cir. Feb. 16, 2021).
The case arose out of administrative enforcement actions brought by USDA against certain individuals (the petitioners in Fleming) who had allegedly violated the Horse Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1821 et seq., a statute that imposes penalties on those who enter sored horses in shows or auctions. As the majority opinion (Maj. Op.) described it, “‘soring’ refers to the practice of injuring a horse’s forelimbs so that it will quickly lift its feet as a result of the pain, inducing it to walk with a high-stepping gait considered desirable for shows and exhibitions.” Maj. Op. at 3-4. Petitioners did not respond to USDA’s administrative complaint. When the agency moved for a default before the USDA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), Petitioners contended, among other things, that the ALJ was an “officer” of the United States who had not been appointed by the President in accordance with the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. The ALJ did not address the argument and entered the default orders. On appeal to the Judicial Officer — who acts as USDA’s final internal adjudicator — the default orders were affirmed, and the Judicial Officer ruled that the challenge to the constitutionality of the ALJ should be raised in the court of appeals. Petitioners then sought review in the D.C. Circuit.
While the petitions were pending, the Supreme Court decided Lucia v. SEC, 138 S. Ct. 2044 (2018), which held that SEC ALJ’s are “officers” whose appointments were invalid because they had not been appointed by the President. SEC ALJ’s were apparently not differently situated than USDA ALJ’s. Therefore, in light of Lucia, the government in the Fleming case “conceded that the ALJ who had decided petitioners’ cases was, as petitioners argued, an inferior officer who had been improperly appointed.” Slip op. at 6. The government therefore moved to remand the case so that new hearings could be conducted before properly appointed ALJ’s. Petitioners opposed the motion arguing that certain additional issues should be addressed, but the court disagreed in a majority opinion by Chief Judge Srinivasan but with an extended opinion by Judge Rao, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
The majority opinion rejected petitioner’s argument that USDA ALJ’s are “principal officers,” ruling instead that they are “inferior officers who can be appointed by department head like the Secretary of Agriculture.” Maj. Op. at 18. The Department’s ALJ’s are inferior officers because, even though they are not removable at will, they are subject to substantial oversight by the Secretary and their decisions may be appealed to the Judicial Officer. Id. at 18-19.
The majority also declined to address petitioners’ argument that the Judicial Officer was not properly appointed because the government represented that any appeal from new hearings before the agency would go to the Secretary not the Judicial Officer. Maj. Op. at 20. The majority also declined to address the argument that the agency had no authority to disqualify petitioners from events and to impose fines in the same proceeding, ruling that this could be addressed on remand. Id.
More significantly, however, the majority ruled that petitioners had not exhausted their administrative remedies with respect to the claim, raised for the first time on appeal, that, separate from the Appointments Clause issue, the very structure of the USDA ALJ position is unconstitutional pursuant to the decision in Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, 561 U.S. 477 (2010). That case held that the two layers of protection from removal of the board members of the agency in that case unconstitutionally infringed the President’s executive authority under the Constitution. Board members could only be removed by the SEC for good cause shown and SEC Commissioners could themselves only be removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance. USDA’s ALJ’s likewise have a similar dual layer of tenure: they can be removed by the Secretary only for good cause established by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and members of the MSPB may be removed by the President only for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance. Thus, runs the argument, this structure interferes with constitutional accountability because it means that ALJ’s are not subject to the President’s control, directly or indirectly.
The majority held that this issue should have been raised before the agency because the Horse Protection Act and the agency’s regulations required, not only exhaustion of administrative remedies, but also exhaustion of issues, i.e., an issue cannot be presented to the court unless it is first presented to the agency, in this case to the Judicial Officer. Maj. Op. at 14. The majority reached this result notwithstanding the fact that a USDA lawyer argued before the Judicial Officer in this very case that the Judicial Officer lacked authority to decide constitutional issues. Id. at 16.
In her separate opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part (Sep. Op.), Judge Rao disagreed with the majority on the exhaustion issue, opining that neither the Horse Protection Act nor the agency’s regulations created the absolute exhaustion requirement posited by the majority. Sep. Op. at 5-10. Judge Rao also believed that USDA should be judicially estopped from taking inconsistent positions on this issue. Id. at 12-16. As Judge Rao described it:
In the majority’s view, this court is barred from considering petitioners’ challenge until the agency considers it first — despite the fact the agency has steadfastly maintained it cannot consider structural constitutional challenges until we reach them first. The court refuses to act before the agency, while the agency refuses to act before the court — trapping petitioners in an administrative judicial hall of mirrors.
Sep. Op. at 1 (original emphasis).
As for the merits of the constitutional issue, Judge Rao found that the two layers of for-cause removal protection that apply to USDA ALJ’s is unconstitutional:
When the two for-cause removal restrictions are combined, neither the President nor the Secretary has any meaningful power to remove ALJs from office — for any reason, much less for “simple disagreement with [their] policies or priorities.” Free Enterprise Fund, 561 U.S. at 502. Because adjudication is the sole mechanism by which the USDA can execute statutes like the Horse Protection Act, see 15 U.S.C. § 1825(b)(1), an ALJ’s double layer of independence deprives the President of any effective control over enforcement of such statutes. The two layers insulating Agriculture ALJs from removal are materially identical to the two layers that protected members of the PCAOB — an ALJ may be removed only for cause by a Board whose members may be removed only for cause. This is an unconstitutional infringement of the President’s executive power.
Sep. Op. at 24. Since petitioners had only challenged the constitutionality of two layers of removal protection, Judge Rao would have struck the layer of review by the MSPB, thereby leaving “one layer of for-cause protection — the Secretary alone would be responsible for determining whether there is good cause to remove an ALJ.” Id. at 37.
Unless Fleming is subject to further proceedings in the D.C. Circuit through panel reconsideration or en banc consideration (which divided panel opinions sometimes precipitate), the two-layer removal protection issue will presumably be raised by petitioners in proceedings before the agency. It seems unlikely than an ALJ or the Judicial Officer will declare themselves unconstitutional, so it would appear that (unless the cases end through settlement) the constitutionality of the two-layer tenure protection will find its way back to the D.C. Circuit. Given the wide variety of USDA regulatory matters that go through an ALJ hearing with review by the Judicial Officer, this is a significant issue for regulated parties.
WHTA Trainers Show Judges…..Wayne Dean, Newton Parks and Johnny Puckett
Trainers’ Show announces judges
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association National Trainers’ Show will be held at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, Tenn. March 18-20, 2021. Judges for the three-day event will be Wayne Dean, Newton Parks and Johnny Puckett.
For more information contact show manager, Dean Byard at 615-582-2364.
2020 WHOA National High Point Award Champions
2020 WHOA National High Point Award Champions
ACADEMY
1. Ava Simons
2. Laney Mullinax
3. Tanner Johnson
ALL DAY PLEASURE
1. My Ravina – Caitlin Winstead
2. Pistol Packin Annie – Morgan Hodge
3. She’s Flirtin With Disaster – Carolina Carraway
ALL DAY PLEASURE YOUTH
1. My Ravina – Caitlin Winstead
2. You Are Always On My Mind – Brenda Nelms
3. Blues Midnight Lady – Hanna Twisdale
AMATEUR FIVE AND UNDER LITE SHOD
1. Sofia Vergara – Tony & Tina Bowling
2. One Elluva Knight – Caylin Fisher
2. I’m Mick Jazzer – Jo Ellen Finerfrock
3. Just A Few Dollars More – Sarah Beth Thomas
AMATEUR FIVE-YEAR-OLD
1. A Sunday Rose – Lisa Baum
2. Gotcha Jose – Jacob Baum
3. No Mas Tequila – Lisa Baum
AMATEUR – YOUTH CLASSIC PARK PLEASURE
1. Jazzanova – Morgan Walden Head
2. JFK’s Storm Chaser – Martha Child
3. Maximizer – Kayte Daffron
AMATEUR – YOUTH WEANLING
1. Joses Balenciaga – Dotson Brothers
2. Hotty Toddy Gosh Amighty – Georgia Hazelwood
3. Country Roads – Dr. George Wright Family
AMATEUR – YOUTH/AMATEUR YEARLING
1. Honors Night – Debbie Smothers
2. Walkin’ the Wild Side – Dr. George Wright Family
3. Motown Vigor – Bella Rosik
COUNTRY PLEASURE AMATEUR
1. Katie All Around – Grace Cozart
2. An All Around Gem – Emma Wood
3. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexie Nelms
COUNTRY PLEASURE AMATEUR FIVE & UNDER
1. Late For A Date – Connie Holbrook
2. Annie’s Silver Dream – Ann Johnson
3. Gen’s Black Ops – Ted & Jean Marie Degville
DRESSAGE
1. Money of Joy TK – Sarah Beth Arnold
2. Dream Liner – Alta & Sarah Beth Arnold
3. Extra Daring – Pat Crouse
FIVE & UNDER COUNTRY PLEASURE
1. It’s A Knight to Remember – Jeff & Lisa Fisher
2. Annie’s Silver Dream – Ann Johnson
3. I’m Supercharged – Bill & Kara Williams
IN-HAND
1. Princely Power – Sydney Deal
2. The Merry Dare Devil – Shannon Gibbs
3. Summa Cum Laude – Roger Richards
NOVICE PLEASURE
1. Retribution – Garold & Julie Ross
2. This Master Is An Encore – Leah Lemberg
3. A Major Jose – Courtney Williford
OPEN CLASSIC PARK
1. Joses Pretty Lady – Martha Child
2. Storm Wolf – Ronnie & Tammy Sapp
3. My Chance For Parole – Virgil Dryden
RACKING PLEASURE
1. Twilight Blue – Jessica Ellis
2. Legend of Jazz – Jessica Ellis
3. Pushers Guarded Secret – Douglas Ann McGovern
RACKING YOUTH
1. Marcus Mariota – Lacey & Morris
2. Keep Me In Mind – Jim & Jason Morris
3. Sambucca – Jim & Jason Morris
SHOWMANSHIP YOUTH
1. Lexi Nelms
2. Riley Gregory
3. Sydney Deal
SHOWMANSHIP ADULT
1. Morgan Hodge
2. Whitley Strickland
3. Ali Merritt
SPOTTED COUNTRY PLEASURE
1. Wolfs After Party – Jason & Lisa Simmons
2. She’s Major Money – Sarah Beth Thomas
3. Wolfs Senorita – Owen & Harrell
SPOTTED LITE-SHOD
1. Pride of the Carolinas – Marcia Hersh
2. Just A Few Dollars More – Sarah Beth Thomas
3. All Bling’d Out – Courtney Vaughan
SPOTTED NON-SPECIFIED
1. Tony Montana MLM – Mandy Motes
2. Shakin’ Up the Night Life – Stephanie Richardson
3. Ozone Alert – Marianne Springer
SPOTTED OPEN-SHOD
1. Ozone Alert – Marianne Springer
2. He Owns the Night – Ronald & Debbie Smothers
3. Storm Wolf – Ronnie & Tammy Sapp
SPOTTED PLEASURE
1. Wolf’s Twisted Justice – Jason & Lisa Simmons
2. The Fashion Statement – Whitley Strickland
3. Tony Montana MLB – Mandy Motes
SPOTTED TRAIL PLEASURE
1. Wolf’s Dirty Money – Cindi Nixon
2. He Owns the Night – Ronald & Debbie Smothers
3. All Blingd Out – Courtney Vaughan
SPOTTED YOUTH
1. Pride of Kentucky – Haley Swafford
2. Unbelievable Jazzibelle – Dickie Gardner
3. What A Wolf Again – Cheyanne Gardner
TRAIL PLEASURE AMATEUR
1. Smart N Wicked – Grace Cozart
2. Indigo 6 – Brittany Chandler
3. The Trixter – Aerial Spooner
TRAIL PLEASURE AMATEUR FIVE & UNDER
1. Stapleton – Leek & Moore
2. Alley Oops – Kaye Dempsey
3. Paranoia – Wayne Westbrook
TWH NON-SPECIFIED PLEASURE
1. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexie Nelms
2. My Ravina – Caitlin Winstead
3. An All Around Gem – Emma Wood
TWH NON-SPECIFIED YOUTH
1. My Ravina – Caitlin Winstead
2. Joses Rolling Thunder – Whitley Strickland
3. An All Around Gem – Emma Wood
SHOW PLEASURE YOUTH
1. Blues For Santana – Tom Ware
2. Janie B Good – Tucker & Tanner Johnson
3. She’s Simply Southern – Jackson Stephens
15.2 AND UNDER
1. I’m Pushin’ N Line – Joe Fostek
2. Dixie Majorette – Sister Milligan
3. Rio Lobo THF – Sam Kite
ADULT PONY
1. Strike – Lisa Baum
2. Versace’s Dollar – Rick Compton
AMATEUR 15.2 AND UNDER
1. Marty McFly – Joe Fostek
2. Nine Carat Diamond – Jacob Baum
AMATEUR 50 & OVER
1. It’s High Maintenance – Sister Milligan
2. Pocket Time – Lisa Baum
AMATEUR FOUR-YEAR-OLD
1. Win Dixie A – McDonald & Walling
2. As I Am – Jason Myatt
AMATEUR LADIES
1. Hey Good Looking – Lisa Baum
2. Dixie Majorette – Sister Milligan
AMATEUR LITE-SHOD
1. I’m Mick Jazzer – JoEllen Finerfrock
2. Walking To Heaven – Leah Terrell
3. Shadow Cruiser – Martha Child
AMATEUR OWNED & TRAINED
1. Jim Tom – Rick Compton
2. Private Line – Kimberly & Perry Walden
AMATEUR OWNED & TRAINED – ALL DAY PLEASURE
1. Roan Ranger – Moore & Leek
2. My Ravina – Caitlin Winstead
3. Finals Jazz Mann – Courtney Vaughan
AMATEUR OWNED & TRAINED – COUNTRY PLEASURE
1. Katie All Around – Grace Cozart
2. An All Around Gem – Emma Wood
3. Bulleit – Moore & Leek
AMATEUR OWNED & TRAINED – TRAIL PLEASURE
1. Smart N Wicked – Grace Cozart
2. Indigo 6 – Brittany Chandler
3. The Red-Light District – Ashlyn Avent
AMATEUR OWNED & TRAINED – LITE SHOD
1. I’m MGM Grand – Rhonda Ingle
2. Walking To Heaven – Leah Terrell
3. Wolf Master – Louis Highfield
AMATEUR PARK PERFORMANCE
1. Do Right – Lisa Baum
2. Paroled From Hard Time – Sister Milligan
3. Ninety Yards – Sister Milligan
AMATEUR PLANTATION – PARK PLEASURE
1. Jose’s No Counting Me Out – Gladney Farms
2. Armed But Kid N – Sister Milligan
3. Extra Classic – Mag Ranft
AMATEUR SHOW PLEASURE
1. Title Sweepstake – Tom Ware
AMATEUR SPECIALTY
1. The Lonestar Legend – Sister Milligan
2. A Pink Floyd – Lisa Baum
AMATEUR THREE-YEAR-OLD
1. I’m Naomi – Sister Milligan
2. It’s Walk Time – Lisa Baum
AMATEUR TWO-YEAR-OLD
1. The Blackstone – Ed Breedlove/KRB Investments
2. C Me Walk and Shake – Sister Milligan
COUNTRY PLEASURE
1. Allen’s Danni Delight – Jennifer Batts
2. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexi Nelms
3. Katie All Around – Grace Cozart
EQUITATION YOUTH
1. Lexi Nelms
2. Emma Wood
3. Sydney Deal
EQUITATION ADULT
1. Morgan Hodge
2. Allison Thorson
FINE HARNESS
1. Tom Collins LTR – Kathy Owen/Double Springs Farm
2. Janie B Good – Keith & Suzy Johnson
3. Private Line – Kimberly & Perry Walden
FIVE & UNDER LITE-SHOD
1. One Elluva Knight – Caylin Fisher
2. I’m Mick Jazzer – JoEllen Finerfrock
3. Grady Wolf – Ronnie & Tammy Sapp
FIVE & UNDER – PLANTATION – PARK PLEASURE
1. Armed But Kid N – Sister Milligan
FIVE & UNDER TRAIL PLEASURE
1. Dark Justice – Ramona Desotel
2. Bittersweet Decision – Marcia Hersh
3. I’m Thunderstruck NDR – Wayne & Debbie Simons
LITE-SHOD
1. I’m Mick Jazzer – Jo Ellen Finerfrock
2. Merry Girl Kate – Marcia Hersh
3. Shadow Cruiser – Martha Child
MODEL MARES
1. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexi Nelms
2. Pushers Guarded Secret – Douglas Ann McGovern
3. I B A Shade of Blue – Kevin Williams
MODEL GELDINGS
1. He’s Armed and Charmed – Rylee Eilerman
2. The Peabody – Dr. Linda Jones
3. Princely Power – Sydney Deal
MODEL STALLIONS
1. Jose’s One Liner – Douglas Ann McGovern
2. Demonic Presence – Ron & Karen Bochenek
NON-TIMED VERSATILITY
1. Belle of Rocky Hill – Linda Starnes
2. Crimson Playmate – Claire Winstead
3. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexi Nelms
OPEN SPECIALTY
1. Warbird – Ginger Williams
2. All About That Jazz – Harold Roberts Family
OPEN THREE-YEAR-OLD
1. Justified Honors – Lisa Baum
2. I Am Precious – S & P LLC
WEANLING FILLIES
1. Josie and The Pussycats – Jones & Richards
2. Country Roads – Dr. George Wright Family
3. I Am Prada – The Dotson Brothers
WEANLING COLTS
1. Pilgrim On Parole – Vic Gernt
2. Hotty Toddy Gosh Amighty – Georgia Hazelwood
3. Sideways – Dr. George Wright Family
YEARLING FILLIES
1. I Am Princess Margaret – Jones & Richards
2. Catherine Zeta Jones – Jones & Richards
3. Honors – Debbie Smothers
YEARLING COLTS
1. Collusion – Jones & Richards
2. Chattahoochee Charlie – Perry & Kimberly Walden
3. JoJo’s Mojo – Dr. Donnie Headrick
PARK PERFORMANCE
1. Gin In Everything – Dr. John Gladney
PLANTATION – PARK PLEASURE
1. Extra Classic – Mag Ranft
2. Wise and Famous – Joe London
PLEASURE DRIVING
1. 2QT2B Real – Wayne & Sandra Barnes
2. Caterpillar – Rhonda Stone
SHOW PLEASURE
1. Walking Chick – Harbert & Nora Alexander
2. A Gin To Win – Harold Roberts Family
TIMED VERSATILITY
1. Belle of Rocky Hill – Linda Starnes
2. Crimson Playmate – Claire Winstead
3. Blues American Woman – Larry Starnes
TRAIL OBSTACLE
1. Victory Trip – Dr. Daniel Starnes
2. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexi Nelms
3. Belle of Rocky Hill – Linda Starnes
TRAIL PLEASURE
1. The Trixter – Aerial Spooner
2. Indigo 6 – Brittany Chandler
3. Smart N Wicked – Grace Cozart
LADIES AUXILIARY
1. Rose Command – Linda Scrivner
2. Dixie Majorette – Sister Milligan
WALKING HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP
1. I’m Lombardi – Henry & Peggy Metcalf
WESTERN LITE-SHOD
1. I’m Mick Jazzer – Jo Ellen Finerfrock
2. Pride of the Carolinas – Marcia Hersh
3. Merry Girl Kate – Marcia Hersh
WESTERN PLANTATION – PARK PLEASURE
1. Wise and Famous – Joe London
2. Yardley – Mag Ranft
3. Lined Up At The Ritz – Lisa Baum
YOUTH COUNTRY PLEASURE
1. An All Around Gem – Emma Wood
2. Miss Sarah Allen – Lexi Nelms
3. Score Diamond In the Rough – Carey & Terry Hughes
YOUTH 11 & UNDER
1. Dollar’s Silver Collector – Tom Ware
YOUTH LITE SHOD
1. All Bling’d Out – Courtney Vaughan
2. I Rish I Could – Glenda Kirkland
3. He’s A Command Handful – Trinity Pendergrast
YOUTH TRAIL PLEASURE
1. Jose’s Rolling Thunder – Whitley Strickland
2. El Santo – Emma Wood
3. Smart N Wicked – Grace Cozart
YOUTH WALKING PONY
1. Versace’s Dollar – Rick Compton
WHOA QUEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE 17 & UNDER
1. Maci Ware
WHOA QUEST PERFORMANCE AMATEUR
1. Sister Milligan
2. Lisa Baum
3. Dr. Jim Baum
4. Sarah Coffee Burks
5. Kenny Compton
WHOA QUEST PLEASURE YOUTH 17 & UNDER
1. Emma Wood
2. Caitlin Winstead
3. Lexi Nelms
4. Courtney Vaughan
5. Lindsay Atkins
6. Addie Braxton
7. Finley New
8. Riley Gregory
9. Claire Winstead
10. Cheyanne Gardner
WHOA QUEST FLAT SHOD AMATEUR
1. Morgan Hodge
2. Grace Cozart
3. Caitlin Winstead
4. Carolina Carraway
5. Maggie Moore
6. Britney Chandler
7. Lexi Nelms
8. Courtney Vaughan
9. Emma Wood
10. Claire Winstead
HIGH POINT HALTER HORSE OF THE YEAR
Miss Sarah Allen – Lexi Nelms
VERSATILITY HIGH POINT HORSE OF THE YEAR
Belle of Rocky Hill -Linda Starnes
RACKING HORSE OF THE YEAR
Twilight Blue – Jessica Ellis
SPOTTED HORSE OF THE YEAR
Wolfs Dirty Money – Cindy Nixon
PERFORMANCE HORSE OF THE YEAR
The Lonestar Legend – Sister Milligan
PLEASURE HORSE OF THE YEAR
My Ravina – Caitlin Winstead
FAST Spring Showcase picks Fikes, Parks, Sorrell
FAST Spring Showcase announces judging panel
Thursday, February 18, 2021
The FAST Spring Showcase is pleased to announce that John Fikes, Newton Parks and Sam Sorrell will judge this years’ two-day event. The show will be held at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, Tenn. April 16-17, 2021. For information on VIP tables, sponsorships and other information call 931-580-5085.
WHOA to host virtual awards ceremony on February 20
WHOA to host virtual awards ceremony on February 20
Friday, February 19, 2021
The Walking Horse Owners’ Association (WHOA) will recognize their award winners from the 2020 show season during a virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, February 20, 2021. The show will be broadcast live on WHOA’s Facebook page beginning at 6 pm central time. The event will include the presentation of the National High Point Awards, Certificates of Merit, WHOA QUEST, and overall Horse of the Year Awards. The highest honor of the night will go to the winner of the Dr. Bob and Elizabeth Womack Presidential Award.
110 different owners will be recognized for their 2020 achievements. Winning owners are encouraged to be a part of the broadcast and appear live on the screen when their awards are presented. Winners who would like to join us on screen can register for a Zoom link that will allow them to use the camera on their computer or smart phone. Please note that the event can only be viewed on Facebook; the Zoom link will be for winners’ video feed only.
WHOA Facebook Page (for anyone who wants to watch the awards ceremony)
Zoom Registration (for winners who want to appear on the broadcast)
Click here for a list of owners who will be recognized during the event.
TWH Trainers win favor from US Federal Court, “ALJ disqualified”
The following is a link to a ruling by the Wash DC Federal District court. The petitioners asked the court to review and questioned the eligibility of the Admin Law Judge who presided over the case. This opinion says the ALJ was not selected with the proper criteria.
Please read the link below sent to the WHV admin yesterday!
Beloved TWH World Grand Champion passes Master’s Razzle and Jazz-FULL OBIT (WHR)
Equine Obituary – Master’s Razzle and Jazz
Friday, February 12, 2021
FROM WHR
The Walking Horse Community and the Alan Riddley Family lost Master’s Razzle And Jazz, the reigning 2020 World Grand Champion, on Friday, February 5, 2021, due to complications of colic. Master’s Razzle And Jazz, affectionately known as “Lurch”, will forever be remembered by his gentle ways, powerful gait and his eye-catching presence.
He was a affectionately nicknamed “Lurch” because of his size and methodical movement based on the butler character from the Addams Family TV show. This nickname was extremely popular with his fans who would wait patiently at shows and exhibitions just to get their picture made with Lurch, some being lucky enough to take a spin on him.
Born on May 17, 2009, this beautiful bay stallion was bred and raised by Alan, Lorie and Lilly Riddley of Shelby, North Carolina. He was sired by the 2007 World Grand Champion, Master Of Jazz and out of Dazzle Me Dumas. Even at an early age the Riddley family knew that this young stallion was something special. “He always had a presence about him,” recalls Alan. He remembers it taking almost three years to break the enormously proud stallion who would go on to have a show career extending nine years and 70 successful show ring appearances with nine different riders; all of whom were successful with their ride on the gentle giant. Alan stated, “I always believed in Lurch, even through the down times. He was a horse of a lifetime!”
Lurch started his show career at the age of three under the direction of Herbert Derickson of 4 The Glory Farm. The duo made several shows together during his three and four-year-old seasons. During his five-year-old season, the Riddley’s decided to sell Master’s Razzle And Jazz.
In 2016, while under the direction of Brad Beard and owner Laura Mauney, the gorgeous bay stallion won his first Reserve World Grand Championship in the Trainers’ Ride for the Roses class. The following year Alan made the decision to bring Lurch back into the family.
Again, teamed with Derickson, Lurch went on to have much success winning the 2017, 2018 and 2019 NCWHA Asheville Stake Championship and his first World Championship in 2018 in the Five & Over Stallions Sec. B class. Following that season, Lurch was sidelined with tendon and ligament strains. In 2019, the duo only made three appearances claiming the title of Reserve World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion and the NC Championship Stake.
Mid-season of 2020, Alan made the decision to move Lurch to Callaway Stables with John Allan Callaway taking the lead as head trainer. This combination was the perfect fit and proved to be an undefeated dynamic team. John Allan and Lurch provided one of the most memorable performances by capturing the 2020 World Championship and World Grand Championship titles.
Following the Celebration, Lurch was asked to make special exhibitions at the Kentucky Celebration, the National Trainers’ Show, the Alabama Jubilee and The Celebration Fall Classic. His last exhibition trip would be to the Abernathy/MWHA Preview earlier this year where kids and adults both waited in line each day to take a ride on the 2020 World Grand Champion.
John Allan said, “Lurch was a once in a lifetime for me. He gave me everything he had when I asked for it. His absence isn’t just felt in our barn and family, but by everyone in the industry, especially the kids that loved him. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a giving and true Walking Horse.”
During the fall of 2020, it was decided that the next step in this 11-year-old stallion’s life was to head to the breeding barn. His future certainly was looking bright. The Riddley’s selected Rising Star Ranch and David Williams to oversee the next chapter of Lurch’s life. Williams stated, “We are very saddened at his passing. I had high expectations for what he would produce. His sire has been one of the highest percentage show horse producers. His dam had also produced WGC Epic. This Fall will be bittersweet seeing his offspring and knowing this will be all we will have from him. We loved the big guy and appreciated our association with him and the Riddley’s.”
Following a routine workout on Thursday, February 4, the Callaway Team noticed that the stallion wasn’t quiet himself. After a preliminary examination the decision was made to transport Lurch to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, with symptoms of colic. During the surgery, the surgeons at Rood & Riddle discovered the damage was too severe from the colic and they could not save him.
The Riddley Family would like to express their deepest appreciation for your love, support and encouragement throughout the years. In addition, a heartfelt thank you to Callaway Stables for their love and great care for Lurch. Never before has our industry had such an ambassador that any child or adult could enjoy as they did with Master’s Razzle And Jazz.
He was truly a once in a lifetime horse for the Riddley Family, who will greatly miss this gentle giant that was loved by all.
February All Ages Sale is now underway at Rising Star Ranch!
February All Ages Sale is now underway at Rising Star Ranch! We currently have just over 30 head for you to “Horse Shop”. We have weanlings, yearlings, bred mares, open mares, a few riding horses and a few surprises. As always, we have a little bit of everything in our All Ages Sale.
A couple of new features we want you to be aware of in our auctions.
First, we have lot #00 which is a “Test Bid Mare”, this is a fictional mare in which you can register to bid or login if you are already registered and place a bid to make sure everything on your end is working properly when you decide to bid on an actual horse.
Second, we have incorporated the use of “Proxy Bidding”. Proxy Bidding is when you place a bid for the maximum amount you decide to go up to on that entry. If you are outbid the system will automatically keep you bid in at only the next bid interval amount until that bid goes over your maximum bid that you posted.
Third, bid changes should be able to be seen now in real time without having to refresh the page. We have had a problem in the past where bidders had the high bid and were outbid and did not review the email sent by the system that they were outbid and only relied upon what was seen on the screen. In the past if you did not refresh your page you may never see the bid change and would be under the false impression you still had the high bid. This change should remedy that.
This being an On-Line Auction, most of the entries are not physically at Rising Star Ranch and will only be here if they are sold and arrangements made to be picked up by new owner. If you are unable to pick up your purchase when it arrives at Rising Star Ranch it can be boarded at Rising Star’s daily board rate until it is convenient for you to pick up.
We have been successful with these types of sales to make the process easy on the seller as well as the buyer. If you see an entry you would like more information on or have any questions at all, feel free to email me at dwilliams32563@hotmail.com or you can click the message tab on each entry’s page.
Auctions begin to close on Saturday February 13th starting at noon. Thanks again for your participation in our auction.
Click the link and head to the sale!
David W. Williams
Rising Star Ranch
TWHBEA Executive Committee Election Results
| TWHBEA Executive Committee Election Results |
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Dear TWHBEA members,
TWHBEA held its annual International Board of Director meeting Saturday, February 6th 2021 at the TWHBEA headquarters in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Due to the pandemic, the meeting was reconvened from December 2020. Directors could attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. The board consists of 56 directors and the election of officers is as follows after two contested positions: President and Vice President of Marketing (official voting results provided by Winnett Associates, PLLC):
President: Jack Heffington Senior Vice President: Ashley Wadsworth Vice President Admin/Fiscal: Joyce Moyer Vice President Breeders’: Kasey Kesselring Vice President Marketing: Frances Bates Vice President Owners’/Exhibitors’/International: Brad Woodruff Vice President Performance Horse: Amanda Wright Vice President Pleasure Horse: Kristen Reichard Vice President Training: Thom Meek Vice President Member At Large/Bylaws/Enforcement: Robin Webb Vice President Member At Large/Youth: Chris Hazelwood Secretary: Walt Chism |