Around the Rings at Georgia On My Mind
All photos courtesy of Lisa Lee.
By: Brittany Bevis
Easter weekend was the kickoff for the 2021 Georgia On My Mind horse show circuit that is now well underway in Conyers and will continue through this Sunday, April 11th. The eleven complete show event is the result of a joint effort between the Georgia Quarter Horse Association and the Horseman’s Quarter Horse Association of Georgia and includes the Stock Show and the Pro Am.
Judges include the following:
Stock Show Pool: Sissy Anderson, Robin Griggs, Bruce Walquist, Lori Gordon, Tracy Willis, Clay MacLeod, Shaun Gloude, Allen Mitchels, Kelley Stone-Wainscott, Chris Thompson, David Connors, and Woody Dykers.
Pro Am Pool: Robin Frid, Judd Paul, Holly Hover, Kelly McDowall, Sandy Jirkovsky, Brent Tincher, Chad Evans, Lisa Moden, Jeff Greaves, Danielle Burns, Garth Gooding and Charlene Carter.
There are several special events during the show. On Wednesday, there will be the NSBA $10,000 Kim Rich Memorial Green Western Pleasure Stakes Class with a Limited Rider Bonus of $1,000. A $2,500 bonus from Queen Wood Bedding will be presented to the winner, as well as one pallet of Airlite Equine Bedding. Those placing second through fifth will receive half of a pallet Airlite Equine Bedding.
Other NSBA futurities include $2,500 Green/Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle Stakes with a Limited Rider Bonus of $500, $1,000 Non Pro Limited Horse All Age Western Pleasure, $1,000 Non Pro Limited Horse All Age Hunter Under Saddle, and $1,000 3-year-old Non Pro Western Pleasure with $500 bonus to the highest placing Limited Non Pro Rider.
Another unique added money offering is the Georgia Gold program with a $36,000 total purse. In order to be eligible for the program, competitors must exhibit in all three circuits: the Stock Show, Pro Am, and Big A. Classes include the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure, 3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure, 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle with an additional $5,000 bonus in each class for the highest point earning horse at the Big A.
There are also plenty of fantastic random prizes to be awarded, including $750 from Queen Wood Bedding in 14-18 Horsemanship, $750 from Queen Wood Bedding in Amateur Trail, Kendall’s Western Hats in Ranch Riding, $500 gift certificates from D Designs, and Kelly Herd Gift certificates. Another fun competition is the Purina Amateur Team Challenge during the Pro Am, as well as the Triple Crown Youth Team Challenge.
On Thursday, there will be a Cake Pop Party, sponsored by All That Show Clothing and Dean Bogart Performance Horses. On Saturday, there will be a Taco Lunch, sponsored by Clint Ainsworth Show Horses.
Scroll below for more great photos from the show, courtesy of Lisa Lee. Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com for more fun photos throughout the week, as well as complete results coming at the show’s conclusion, courtesy of An Equine Production.
