David and Kim Goodrum celebrate “A Kiss Goodbye’s”​ first place finish in Louisville this summer.

By Dave Vieser. “A Kiss Goodbye,” a four-year​-old Northern Kiss Mare Saddlebred owned by Kim and David Goodrum, was the unanimous winner of the Junior Five Gaited Title at this summer’s World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville Kentucky. Burt Honaker piloted the talented horse in her debut performance, and the Goodrums were understandably thrilled.

“We’ve been working with horses for decades, and “A Kiss Goodbye”​ was the best one we’ve ever had,” said Kim Goodrum, who lives with husband and family on Nantz Road.

Five-gaited horses are known for their ability to perform five different horse gaits instead of just three: the walk, trot, canter, the rack, and the slow gait. Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship is considered the high point of the show. The Goodrum’s found their horse during a trip to Virginia where a good friend is a breeder.

The World’s Championship Horse Show, recognized as the world’s richest and most prestigious horse shows, attracts spectators and competitors from across the world and includes over 2,000 horses competing for more than $1 million in awards.

The show is held every summer in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair and crowns world champion Saddlebreds in different divisions including Three-Gaited, Five-Gaited, Fine Harness, Saddlebred Pleasure, Saddle Seat Equitation, Hackney/Harness Ponies, Roadster, In-Hand and American Saddlebred.