| High Hopes Acres showed
extensively in the 1980's. Showing was a family project that was shared by Gene and
I as well as our children, Rodney, Charlee & Melodee, and our parents, N.A.(Tuffy) and
Wilma Williams. Gene and I were in charge of training and handling, the children
enjoyed the showmanship and costume classes, Daddy rode shotgun on the trips and acted as
"Supervisor in Charge" and although Momma sometimes traveled with us, she
preferred to manage the "Home Front" while we were gone. It was a time in
our lives that Gene and I will treasure forever.
It was our pleasure to handle such horses as the memorable Double O Seven & A
Half "Moto", who was the 1981 AMHA National Grand Champion
Stallion. Gene trained and handled Double O through the show season, but when it
came time to compete for National Champion, Gene unselfishly handed the lead rope to
Daddy. We still smile as we remember how well that Double O "showed"
Daddy!
Other Champions in our stable at
that time included Cedar Hedges Fury, Dedears Golden Girl, Bond Savannah Sue, Crescents
Sparkey and High Hopes Indian Summer. Golden Girl was our "all around"
horse. She competed in the Under 30" Mares, Children's Showmanship, Costume,
Obstacle, Riding and Driving. Each time I placed the full costume on Golden Girl's
back and slipped the head piece over her ears, I knew that when I placed our two year old
daughter, Melodee, on her back I could relax and place my trust in her. From
Oklahoma to Texas to Tennessee and Kentucky, Golden Girl never let us down. No
matter what happened in the ring, she was as steady as a rock.
Demanding careers, unending
activities that the children were involved in and the death of our beloved Wilma placed
our showing on hold. It wasn't until the birth of HighHopes Rose of Cherokee that we
considered once again entering the show circuit. Rose was placed in the capable
hands of Becky Schulz of Redrock
Training Stable in May of 2000 and our "competitive fires" were
re-ignited! Rose of Cherokee was our new beginning, and as we compile our new
string of show horses, check back often to see our progress!
Nancy L. Williams
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