AREA RESIDENTS RACKING UP TOP HONORS AT STATE HORSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The sport of competing in state racking horse shows has become a popular phenomenon among area residents, some of whom have brought home numerous awards.

Theresa Dormeyer of Cape Girardeau and her registered racking horse, Threat's Misty Dew, rode away with a number of awards at the Kentucky State Show last month.

The horse won first place with a unanimous decision in the country pleasure championship. Also, Misty Dew is the reserve champion in trail pleasure.

"I just started showing this year, so I was shocked when I won the first championship I entered," Dormeyer said. "I didn't have enough nerve to do it before, but a friend showed me how to ride properly, so I decided to enter."

A racking horse is a versatile horse with a smooth, four-beat gait, she said.

Dormeyer entered her Tennessee walking flat-shod mare in several contests at the Missouri State Show. Misty Dew became the reserve country pleasure champion and also won third place in the trail pleasure championship last month.

Dormeyer said she is excited about entering Misty Dew in the world championship for racking horses, called the World Celebration in Decatur, Ala., to be held Sept. 18-26.

"I believe we do have a chance in the world championship," said Dormeyer. "I'm hoping to place in the top five."

For a racking horse to be registered, it must be ridden before a judge to determine whether the horse racks, Dormeyer said.

"I got interested in racking horses after my husband, Phil, and I bought Misty Dew," Dormeyer said. "I love entering championships because it's a lot of fun to show off my stuff and compete against other riders and horses."

Other area residents also are involved with entering racking horse competitions in nearby states.

Jim Morris of Perryville won a number of awards last weekend at the Illinois State Show. Morris and his gelding, Sunset's Sequel, rode away with a first-place award in the country pleasure championship.

Also, Morris and a flat-shod racking horse named Chatter Boy, owned by his son, Jason, won first place in the men's country pleasure and first place in the trail pleasure.

In the Kentucky State Show, Morris and Chatter Boy received a first-place award in the trail pleasure.

Morris owns five racking horses, and he personally trains them in preparation for horse shows. He has been working with racking horses for the past 15 years, he said.

"We've been successful throughout the years," Morris said, "and entering racking horses in area competitions is a good family sport."

Morris said he likes racking horses because of their smoothness, gait and disposition.

"They're just fun horses to ride," he said. "You can enjoy riding them at home, on a trail ride, or in a horse show."

Cape Girardeau resident Vicci Mims said her racking horse named Pride's High 'n' Mighty has won a number of state titles in the past. However, because of health reasons, Mims hasn't been in heavy competitions for the past year.

"In the past I have won four reserve world titles," Mims said. "I enter racking horse contests because I enjoy the breed and the sport of competition. Also, the people in the industry are enjoyable to be around."

The racking horse is small to medium in size. It averages 15 hands in height and approximately 1,000 pounds in weight.

As the most natural gaited horse in the world and the fastest growing breed of light horse in the nation, the racking horse is unique. It's known for its ease of command, beauty and grace, gentle manner, disposition, intelligence, and versatility. The racking horse has enjoyed popularity as an ideal pleasure horse, a utility horse, and a harness horse.