HARRODSBURG — Deborah Butler is a Florida girl, but she keeps getting drawn back to Kentucky.
And winning in Kentucky.
Her latest victory came Wednesday night when she rode Bi Mi’s Southern Rose to a win in the adult five-gaited pleasure class at the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show.
Bi Mi’s Southern Rose is trained by Danville residents Raymond and Lillian Shively, who operate DeLovely Farm in Rockport, Ind.
Butler, who is also the horse’s owner, bought her in Lexington last year and has fallen in love with her.
“She’s wonderful. She’s strong. She’s quality, she has that etheral headset and those eyes and that disposition. She’s nice in the bridle, strong trot and strong rack. And she’s so well mannered. She’s got a lot of spirit, but she’s so well mannered. And she;s just a baby in the stall. She doesn’t bite, she just loves on you.
“I showed her a little bit at the end of last year, but I had ot get to know her. She was a little green and she needed a little more training.”
Butler also showed Grand Master Flash on Wednesday, and said she may show Bi Mi’s Southern Rose again Friday night.
Despite being a Florida native, Butler has Kentucky connections. Her mother and grandparents are from Kentucky. She has also bought three world champion horses from Melinda Moore at Arrowhead Farm.
“And I’ve won here previously with Pour Some Sugar On Me and then Arrowhead’s Dreamcatcher,” she said. “I just keep getting drawn back here. I love it here.”
But she also has business back in Florida which is keeping her busy. Butler is a shopping center develop, and just got 160 acres approved to develop.
“I’m busy with that, so I’m trying to hire som help and get it all off the ground and it’s a lot of work,” she said. “And they put up with me.”
Bi Mi’s Southern Rose will be ready for the World’s Championship Horse Show next month at the Kentucky State Fair.
“I’m going to have to practice. She’s ready to go, I’ve got to practice some more,” she said. “She’s just wonderful.”
With the horse show being a week later than the fair, Butler said it was too early to judge whether she liked it and what kind of impact it would have on the show.
“I hope it doesn’t keep more exhibitors away,” she said. “It’s going to keep some spectators away. There are some other shows going on now, too. But I’m just not sure yet.”
Florida woman extends her Kentucky roots at Mercer horse show
Mercer County Fair & Horse Show
Wednesday
At Mercer County Fairgrounds, Harrodsburg
(Horses listed with owner and exhibitor, if different)
UPHA Challenge Cup — 1. Billy, DeLovely Farm, Caroline Moeller.
Ladies three-gaited — 1. Ro & Me’s Lady Godiva, Jeff & Nancy Chauvin, Nancy Chauvin; 2. Mesmorizing, Victoria Reed; 3. Promised Love, Sandra Kipper, Stacy Kipper.
Adult five-gaited pleasure — 1. Bi Mi’s Southern Rose, Deborah Butler; 2. I’m Looking Over, Melody Adler, Kristen Stivers; 3. Giacomelti, Sue Ward.
Junior exhibitor three-gaited pleasure, 13 & under — 1. CH Tipitina, Stephanie Sedlacko, Alex Rudder; 2. Picard, Duane & Donna Snider, Te’a Snider; 3. Sultan’s Up All Night, Dan Baker, Channing Baker.
Amateur roadster to bike — 1. Scruff, Ralph Anderson.
Junior exhibitor country pleasure — 1. Cheetah’s Admiral, Stephanie Morrison, Reagan Morrison; 2. Gracey Grace, Aubrey Behnke; 3. My Ferrari, Nancy Kanivic, Jennifer Moritz.
Junior park pleasure — 1. Stonecroft First Impression, Maureen Jenner/Marlstone Farm, Lionel Ferreira; 2. It’s Only Money Honey, Lisa Palmer, Mike McIntosh; 3. Madeira’s Bella Rose, Albert Alexander, Joe Brown.
UPHA walk/trot, 10 & under — 1. Callaway’s Never Wanted More, Jaqueline Manzo, Jessica Manzo; 2. On The Record, Isabelle Fuchs; 3. Our Red Ruby, Sharon Moritz, Karla Moritz.
Five-gaited limit — 1. Without Any Doubt, Coe & Bill London, A.J. Bruwer; 2. Deal Me Diamonds, John Cummins & Margaret McNeese, Billy Jarrell.
Junior road pony — 1. Regal’s African Prince, Dan & Leah Light, Tom Lowry; 2. Celebrity Status, Candied Partners LLC, Randy Harper; 3. Crystal Creek’s New Generation, Carl & Kathryn Nichols, Stephanie Sedlacko.
ASB show pleasure driving — 1. Worthy’s Alright Son, Fred Hensler, Meagan Hensler; 2. Rosey Dollface, Granite Hill Stable, Kristen Solien.
Amateur three-gaited — 1. Jim Carrey, Ashlyn Farms LLC, Patrice Watson-O’Brien; 2. Freakness, Mary Langdon, Kim Langdon; 3. Mega Star, Coe & Bill London, Coe London.
Junior exhibitor road pony medallion — 1. Silver Oaks Sinner And Saint, Lisa McMakin; 2. Turbo Blue, Ann Boyd, Bret Van Gorden; 3. Ranger, Julianne Wilson, Kelsey Morgan.
Adult three-gaited pleasure — 1. My Kind Of Lover, James Williams, Sarah Lawson; 2. Xanthos, Aurora Farms LLC, Melody Adler; 3. Breathe, Alexa Noble.
Masters five-gaited — 1. Callaway’s No More Mr Nice Guy, Bruce Williams; 2. Grand Master Flash, Deborah Butler.
ASB Western pleasure — 1. Upton Sinclair, Bandy Acres Farm, Charlotte Kurtz; 2. Gun Medal, Beverly Costinew, Amy Rock.
Walk/trot pleasure, 12 & under — 1. Night Sight, Tara Welch, Bethany Welch; 2. CH Callaway’s Torch Bearer, DeLovely Farm & Olivia Turner, Olivia Turner; 3. Candlelight Revival, Brandy Johnson, Makayla Wilson.
Junior exhibitor three-gaited — 1. Unforgettable Kiss, Bill Lenberger, Shelby Eriksen.
ASB country pleasure driving — 1. Chosen Man, SGF Winning Ways Farm Ltd., Sheri Frankel; 2. Bungalow Bill, Jane Steinkamp, Molly Steinkamp; 3. I Pod, Edmund Perwien.
Roadster to wagon — 1. The Last Call, Judy McNeish; 2. Matt T Tup, David Crockett, Shelby Young; 3. Skatman Do, Steve Crabtree.
Ladies five-gaited — 1. New Yorker’s Special Gift, Mary Jane Glasscock-Kirkpatrick; 2. Left You Speechless, Coe & Bill London, Kelly Lockhart; 3. Pass With Care, Kathy Bagdasarian, Kristen Bagdasarian.
