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Southern States Mule and Donkey Classic
Attracts the “Come-As-You-Are” Crowd

By Kellie Henderson

In the morning cool of September 29, trucks and trailers rolled onto the grounds of the Covington Center Arena in Andalusia to compete in the second annual Southern States Mule and Donkey Classic. Amid the bustle of registration, exhibitors with numbers pinned to their shirts and jackets nervously awaited the moment all eyes would be on them as they entered the arena, while the mules and donkeys themselves brayed at one another outside the show ring.

With a list of classes including many typical horse show classes like halter and Western Pleasure, the event is a far cry from elite horse shows where competitors may spend as much on show clothes and silver-studded tack as they did for a horse.

During the Grand Entry all competitors were invited to give the judge and spectators a preview of the animals they brought to the show grounds.

Destiny Walker of Cullman warms up with her mule Strawberry Shortcake in the Covington Center Arena at the Southern States Mule and Donkey Classic.

"Everyday clothes shouldn’t disqualify someone from showing their animal. We don’t want to discourage Farmer Brown who’s proud of his mules and donkeys, too. When regular middle-income people have animals, they are often working animals, and we want to be an association who welcomes working animals for what they are, as well as animals more accustomed to the show ring," said Campbell.

Following an invocation and the national anthem, exhibitors were invited to bring their mules, donkeys and draft horses into the arena for the grand entry, an equine parade featuring animals that ranged in size from less than 36 inches to draft horses whose backs were taller than grown men in cowboy hats. And the crowd gathered in the stands seemed to be constantly moving as family and friends went to help exhibitors prepare for a class or congratulate them on winning a ribbon.

"One of the really fantastic things about this show is that the entire family gets involved, and there’s nothing better for young people than to be a part of something that engages the whole family unit. And we feel like we have an environment that benefits our Association and the families it’s made up of," said Campbell.

This attitude was reflected in the show ring by this year’s judge, Joseph Bullard of Blountsville, as he took time to talk with the competitors and help young people with animals that were stubborn or skittish.

Halter Grand Champion was a mule named Cruising Cochise shown by 13-year-old Lydia Hurge of Cullman. Her younger sister Destiny Walker also took home a win in Youth Western Pleasure and third in her halter class with her mule Strawberry Shortcake.

Junior High Point Mule was Thunder shown by Kristen Cattrete of Andalusia, and the Youth High Point Mule was Sassafras shown by Joshua Campbell of Rose Hill. Joshua and Sassafras took second place in their halter class and Youth Western Pleasure and competed in several timed events.

"I’m pretty proud of how we’re doing because this is the first time I’ve shown Sassafras, and I just started riding her. She’s kind of temperamental and doesn’t like kids as well, but I guess I’ve gotten big enough to get along with her," said Joshua, who credits his grandmother Donna with helping him learn to ride.

From left to right, sisters Kara and Katie Fraze of Dozier brought Sweet Pea and Cracker Jack into the grand entry. The girls are accompanied by their grandmother Jean Compton.

13-year-old Lydia Hurge of Cullman lead her mule Cruising Cochise to a Grand Championship in halter.		Joshua Campbell wore a smile throughout the morning as he worked with mule Sassafras during their first show together.
Sheryl Betts of Andalusia was named 2007 SSMDA Queen and Hannah Seymour of Andalusia was crowned SSMDA Junior Miss. Lydia Campbell of Rose Hill was chosen as SSMDA Princess and SSMDA Little Princess was Kaitlinne James of Andalusia. Association Vice President Brett Bozeman and his Belgian gelding, Ben, drove the pageant contestants into the ring aboard their red wagon where each girl who competed received a sash and crown.

Sheryl Betts of Andalusia was named 2007 SSMDA Queen and Hannah Seymour of Andalusia was crowned SSMDA Junior Miss. Lydia Campbell of Rose Hill was chosen as SSMDA Princess and SSMDA Little Princess was Kaitlinne James of Andalusia. Association Vice President Brett Bozeman and his Belgian gelding, Ben, drove the pageant contestants into the ring aboard their red wagon where each girl who competed received a sash and crown.

Other classes offered at the Mule and Donkey Classic included Hunter Under Saddle, Costume, Jumping and a stick mule race for children 10 and under. Timed event classes also offered driven classes for miniatures, in which miniature animals pulled their exhibitors in small buggies around barrels and poles.

This year’s show had 149 entries on 39 animals, numbers were up slightly from last year. In addition to the annual show, the SSMDA sponsors trail rides and other events throughout the year.

"We had a Plow Day competition in the spring and got a good response from that event, so we are trying to plan another plowing competition in November, tentatively set for November 10," said Donna Campbell.

"We face a challenge as an organization in the fact that mules and donkeys aren’t exactly popular. But we have high hopes for this group, and we hope to continue providing learning experiences in a welcoming environment. Families and young people can be involved in something that’s fun and keeps kids out of trouble, and that always counts for something," Campbell said.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Southern States Mule and Donkey Association and their upcoming events can contact Donna Campbell at
334-222-8660 or Brett Bozeman at 334-222-1769.

Kellie Henderson is a freelance writer from Troy.