Gulf Coast Horse Show returns to Panama City Beach
PANAMA CITY BEACH -The 10th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival is being held April 23-26 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach.
This year the show is hosting the Walking Horse Trainers Association Riders Cup in nine classes: 2-year-old mares and geldings; 2-year-old stallions; 3-year old mares and geldings; 3-year-old stallions; 4-year-old stallions, cater; 4-year-old mares or geldings, canter; stallions, 15.2 and under, 5 years and over, canter; mares or geldings 15.2 and under, 5 years and over, canter; and walking horse championship open.
The show starts every day at 5:30 p.m. and the gates open at 3:30 p.m. with entertainment before and after the show. This year some classes have been eliminated and some changes to day and order of classes have been made in an effort to help expose potential horse buyers to the desirability of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed and its versatility.
Specialty acts during the show include Tim Leper and "Wild Thang," as well as monkeys riding dogs and herding sheep. Also, straight out of Las Vegas, all four nights, is Eric Martonovich and "Big Horse Productions," with acrobatic acts and Roman riding on their eight Belgian steeds.
Flippenout Productions will round out Friday and Saturday nights with their synchronized, dual trampoline acrobatic acts performed by U.S. Olympians. They jump in tandem, flipping and twirling with skis and snowboards.
There is to be an amateur/amateur rider swap, a novice amateur specialty, a WHOA challenge class and an amateur show pleasure specialty championship. There are speed racking classes Friday and Saturday night. Gaited mules are also back this year with style racking mules and gaited trail pleasure mules on Friday night, and walking trail pleasure mules and speed racking mules on Saturday night.
Prize money ranges from $30 to $250 for most preliminary classes. The walking horse championship open prize money ranges from $350 to $3,000 plus saddle and floral horseshoe (no qualification necessary).
This year's judges are Rollie Beard from Lewisburg, Tenn., Steve Dunn from Shelbyville, Tenn., and Steve Hankins Sr. from Tazwell, Va.
Musical entertainment is being provided by Northwest Florida's own "Ivey Brothers" on April 23 and prior to the show each afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Arkansas "Kenny Kidd" performs April 24-25, and "Jeff Cook and the Allstar Goodtime Band" on April 26.
There are food and merchandise vendors, as well as rides and amusements for the children -and adults who dare - including bouncy houses and pony rides.
Some Paddock Club table and box seating is still available.
For more information on the new classes, show schedule, reserved tables, sponsorships, box seats and vendor space call Todd or Ginger at (850) 914-9030 or visit www.gulfcoasthorseshow.com.