Sold-Out Keystone Showdown Delivers Another Impressive Novice Show

By: Brittany Bevis

What does the #1 AQHA Novice Show in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 do for an encore? They pull out all the stops to make sure the 2018 event is the best yet!

Starting off with an all Novice/Rookie show on June 20th with judges, Amy Watkins and Shane Young, the show offered class awards in every event, as well as All-Around Novice Youth and Amateur Champion awards and Reserve Champion awards. Rookie classes ran concurrently with Novice classes, and Rookie Champion and Reserve Champion awards were presented as well.

Judges for the AQHA Show on June 2oth-24 were Christa Baldwin, Leonard Berryhill, Larry Hansch, Nancy Sue Ryan, and Glenn Wells. Show highlights included Money Bag classes in Amateur and Open Performance Halter Mares and Amateur and Open Performance Halter Geldings. What was in the money bag? For one, $2,000 worth of Kelly Herd gift cards! Two Blue Ribbon headstalls, donated by Colton LaSusa and Blue Ribbon Tack, were presented by random draw in Amateur Trail and 14-18 Trail. Just Peachy awarded a number of beautiful show pads in numerous classes. 20X felt hats were donated by Billie Hats and presented to the High Point Novice Youth and High Point Novice Amateur.

Fun events included the Mike Whitmore Memorial Non-Pro Walk Trot Western Pleasure with a random drawing for a Skeeter Saddle. Winning the 38 entry class was Tyler Brooks. Another fun class was the Drag Bridleless Western Pleasure to benefit the scholarship fund as well as the Hoedown at the Showdown Party on Friday evening with food, fun, and entertainment.

Congratulations to the following High Point Champions from the Novice Show.

 

Small Fry
Champion: Hes A Perfect Hotrod and Alyssa Klandy
Reserve: Certain To Be Good and Karissa King

Amateur Rookie
Champion: Shez Willy Cool and Taylor Lewis
Reserve: Dawn Clayton

Novice Amateur
Champion: Best Game In Town and Christine Pope
Reserve: Chevroleaguer and Amanda Lubich

Novice Youth
Champion: Raise Yur Glass and Brynn Hillard
Reserve: Certain To Be Good and Khylee Lynn Maglione

Rookie Youth
Champion: Dangerously Famous and Tyler Brooks
Reserve: Certain To Be Good and Khylee Lynn Maglione

Scroll below for more great photos, courtesy of Lane Grant Photography and the Keystone Showdown.