By: Brittany Bevis
The 2014 International Horse Show took place over Easter weekend and saw a huge boost in entries thanks to a revamped show schedule and picture perfect horse show weather. In the past, snow, sleet, thunderstorms, hail, and even tornados have put a damper on the festivities. While some like to say, “April showers bring May flowers.” In this case, sunny weather brings horse show friends together!
Taking place April 17-19 in Springfield, Illinois, the newly revamped schedule provided six judges over the course of the three-day event, which meant that exhibitors were able to return home just in time for Easter. Judges for the first split/combined show were Bruce Walquist, Allen Mitchels, and John Briggs. Judges for the second split/combined show were Charlene Carter, Darren Wright, and Shawn Hays.
Show management recorded that participation was up considerably over last year by nearly 900 entries across all divisions. That brought the grand total to approximately 4,000 entries in all divisions for 2014.
Classes of note included Senior Trail with 16, Performance Halter Mares with 16, Performance Halter Geldings with 21, L1 Youth Showmanship with 17, L1 Amateur Western Pleasure with 15, and a three-point Ranch Horse Pleasure class won on all cards by Kerry Hansen.
As a special surprise, High Point competitors received full page ads in The Equine Chronicle as their awards! Congratulations to all of the winners, including Small Fry Champion Evelyn Doles with her appropriately named horse, Easter Tillie.
High Point winners:
Novice Youth – Miss Potential To Do & Payton Boutelle
13 & under – Red Hot Blazing Iron & Nya Kearns
14-18 – TH Its Only Money & Lexi Kim
Novice Amateur – Annie Thing Natural & Laramie Weiss
Amateur – The Perfect Kryme & Nicole Barnes
Select – Zip Me Plenty Good & Jennifer Henry
Open – Snap Krackle Pop – Twylla Brown owner
Click here to view complete results from S/C 1.
Click here for complete results from S/C 2.
Click here to view Circuit Champions for each class.
Scroll below to view more fun photos courtesy of Jeana Kim.