Brand New Fall Harvest Championship Offers Congress Warmup and Layover Option Beginning Tomorrow
By: Brittany Bevis
The Equine Chronicle is proud to be the sponsor of a brand new AQHA event this year dubbed the Fall Harvest Championship. The event kicks off tomorrow, October 5th, at the Jacobson Center in Des Moines, Iowa and will continue through the 8th.
With an innovative format that combines a five judge AQHA show with a four judge ABRA show, the Fall Harvest Championship will feature a number of classes that span all breeds.
In addition to being AQHA and IQHA approved, it’s also MQHA NQHA, IaBHA, and ABRA approved. “We’re pleased to announce the inclusion of the Missouri Quarter Horse Association, Nebraska Quarter Horse Association, American Buckskin Horse Association and the Iowa Buckskin Horse Association to the show roster of state approvals as well as the Iowa Quarter Horse Association,” says Show Manager Jennifer Sheriff. “The goal is to benefit wide range of exhibitors, both within the state of Iowa and outside the state. The ABRA Classes will be held concurrently with the AQHA classes. The response so far has been overwhelming. I have wanted to try this format for quite awhile, and it finally fell into place this for this show.”
All Breed Futurity classes will include the following:
- All Age All Breed Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Futurity
- All Age All Breed Hunter Under Saddle Futurity
- All Breed Non Pro Yearling Longe Line
- All Breed 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure
- All Breed 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure
- All Breed Open Yearling Longe Line
- All Breed 2-Year-Old Non Pro Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure
- All Breed 3-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure
In addition to a full slate of futurity classes, there will be a special All Breed Ranch Horse Showdown, which has already seen a generous pre-entry response with 15 teams and more expected to sign up at the show. There will also be an All Breed Non Pro Versatility Challenge. Competitors can simply pay $50 at the show and compete in Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Reining, and Barrels for the chance to win added money! Additional money will also be up for grabs in Green Trail, Junior Trail, Amateur Trail, and Senior Trail. Tim Kimura Trail and Ranch Riding patterns will be used.
“We have approximately 235 stalls currently, and we’re still receiving calls daily as lots of folks were not aware of this new show,” Sheriff says. “For this show, we’ve also offered a 24-hour, on call veterinarian service to benefit our exhibitors and have the best care for our equine friends. We thank all of our sponsors, owners, and trainers for their support for our first year. We have some exciting prizes and awards!”
The creation of the Fall Harvest Championship Youth Scholarship Fund will ensure that 10% of all sponsorship monies go to the fund, and scholarship winners will be announced at the show this year. “Our youth are vital part of the equine industry, and we need to support and encourage their participation,” Sheriff says.
The timing and location of this new event was coordinated with the upcoming All American Quarter Horse Congress in mind, providing a great place for a last minute tune up that doubles as a layover location. “I felt there was a demand for this type of event in the fall that would also offer a great place to warm up or layover for The All American Quarter Horse Congress folks heading to Ohio. Kathy Avolt and her team of Mark Harrell Horse Shows are on board for this spectacular event.”
Judges for the show will be Holly Hover, Debbie Kail, Larry Hansch, Nancy Sue Ryan, and Michael Edwards.
Click here for the pattern book.
Click here for the walk/jog pattern book.
Click here for the showbill.
For more information visit MarkHarrellHorseShows.com or FallHarvestChampionship.com.
Stay tuned to www.EquineChronicle.com for results and photos from this inaugural event.
