Around the Rings – The 2024 SOQHA Challenge
All photos by Ryan Geiger Photography
The 2024 Challenge, presented by SOQHYA, just wrapped up the February 23-25 event at Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio. Judges were Kristy Starnes, Mike Rapley, and Shannon Walker.
Kathy Avolt of An Equine Production reports there were more than 1000 AQHA entries per judge, more than 360 NSBA entries and 218 horses shown. “The last number is quite impressive as there are only 318 stalls available. The youth numbers were phenomenal. Even the last class of the show was a 4 point youth equitation at 8 P.M.,” she says.
Thank you to Ryan Geiger Photography for the fantastic gallery! Find your images here: 02/23/24 – 02/25/24 The Challenge – Show Galleries – Ryan Geiger Photography LTD (rg.photography)
The Show High Points and the Challenge High Points are below:
Download/view the PDF: 2024+Challenge+High+Points
Speaking of youth numbers, The Challenge awards more than $10,000 in scholarship funds just by entering, she adds. They can’t forget to add some fun amidst the competition, however, as evidenced in just one of the fun events at the show, the Equine Chronicle Catalog Race. In this particular horse show catalog race, the youth were given their page number from the Equine Chronicle, and they had to race down the arena to find their page, and run back!
Check out the Facebook video from Sunday:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1416466792638546
Find complete results for the show here: 2024+SOQHA+Challenge
In only the way Kathy Avolt can write it, the summary of the show with horse names is the final summary! Enjoy:
Mother Nature has gone from sunny & warm to snowing. We were trying to tell Mother Nature that Adoubleshot Ofcrown would fix her mood. It was a Clutchh situation trying to get to the grounds this morning though. In our youth pattern classes, it was The Whos Who of youth exhibitors. The Crimefighter and The Hitt Mann were battling for dominance in Gotham City. No one was Afraid Inthedark Too. Of course, it is a Firstimeforevrything when Batmans Got Da Goods.
