ShoMe Hosts Inaugural Championship Show
Photos courtesy of KRC Photography and ShoMe Horse Shows
This past Sunday, seventeen exhibitors were awarded the title of ShoMe Champion at ShoMe Horse Shows’ inaugural Championship Sho. The event, which was held October 17-20, 2024, at the Midland County Fairgrounds was the first of its kind for ShoMe Horse Shows, an open show circuit based in Michigan and known for doing things differently.
“We wanted to give our exhibitors the opportunity to experience the prestige and recognition of a Championship event at the open show level,” says series producer Liz Gear. “This is a vision we’ve been wanting to bring to fruition for a few years now. Everything finally aligned and we’re happy to say our exhibitors LOVED it!
We took our time with our Championship events on Sunday of the show, recognizing individual placings under each of our three judges: Kathy Boggetta, Gayle Ledwidge, and Sally Jo Bucholtz. Winning exhibitors were then trotted out of line to accept their Top 8 neck ribbons before being invited to our Championship Prize booth. The Top 2 received custom award jackets, with 3rd through 5th taking home a Top 5 halter.”
Exhibitors who competed in Sunday’s event worked hard to qualify by placing in the Top 2 in their class at one of ShoMe’s previous 2024 events: the Spring ShoCase (April, MSU), the Summer ShoStopper (July, Midland), or during the first three days of The Championship Sho. ShoMe wraps up their season with the Holiday ShoDown this December at MSU’s Agricultural Pavilion. The show is an exhibitor favorite, with stalls selling out within literal minutes the last few years.
“For those exhibitors who choose to show with us all year long, we offer an option we call Season Pass. This locks in an exhibitor’s stall(s) for all our yearly events and also gives them priority stalling and back number selection. It’s their ticket to everything ShoMe and alleviates the stress of grabbing stalls when our standard reservations open. Three of our four events this year have been sell outs, which is great for us, but can pose a problem when exhibitors who show with us regularly can’t get in. Season Pass has been a great option for those individuals.”
The Championship Sho also featured ShoMe’s signature special events, including a Top Farm Hand competition held Thursday evening in which competitors faced off in a hay bale toss, weighted wheelbarrow race, and speed stall mucking. When the last bale fell, Dalton Sabo came out on top, with Dave Lane and Chad Pierce earning 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Friday’s schedule wrapped up with Buddy Barrels, a piggyback style barrel race. Fisher Mayes and his partner, Gemma Bontrager, took home the honors.
SHOME CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Ranch Versatility Championship
GRAND: Jeanne Hugo & Baylie Jac
RESERVE: Kaitlin Sanger & Dry Whiskey Whiz
Championship Walk Trot Halter
GRAND: JR Covell & Heza Lopin Investment
RESERVE: Nicole Helfrich & Only Invites
Championship Halter
GRAND: JR Covell & Made For Surprises
RESERVE: Abbi Hill & Willy Willy Sleepy
Championship Walk Trot Showmanship
GRAND: Olivia Phillips & Tee Coolest Affair
RESERVE: Tammy Slott & Smokin Hot Vitals
Championship Showmanship
GRAND: Kenedee Beyer & NoDoubtImALooker
RESERVE: Morgan Watts & Simply Ziggy
Championship Walk Trot English Pleasure
GRAND: Payton Anema & Ditty Up
RESERVE: Claire Fabus & Lopin For Margaritas
Championship English Pleasure
GRAND: Kaitlyn Ripley & Kissin My Invitation
RESERVE: Katie Main & Blazing Potential
Championship Walk Trot English Disciplined Rail
GRAND: Payton Anema & Ditty Up
RESERVE: Rosalie Shelle & The Best of Sonny
Championship English Disciplined Rail
GRAND: Kaitlyn Ripley & Kissin My Invitation
RESERVE: Layla Wood & Pink Invitations
Championship Walk Trot English Equitation
GRAND: Samantha Jubik & Friends N High Places
RESERVE: Courtney Sabo & Face It Im Invested
Championship English Equitation
GRAND: Kaitlyn Ripley & Kissin My Invitation
RESERVE: Rachel Longhi & Heavenly Chocolate
Championship Walk Trot Western Pleasure
GRAND: Olivia Phillips & Tee Coolest Affair
RESERVE: Diana Stewart & BMQ Tuxedo Affair
Championship Western Pleasure
GRAND: Kaitlyn Ripley & Kissin My Invitation
RESERVE: Jenna Morse & I Know I Am Invited
Championship Walk Trot Western Disciplined Rail
GRAND: Diana Stewart & BMQ Tuxedo Affair
RESERVE: Claire Fabus & Lopin For Margaritas
Championship Western Disciplined Rail
GRAND: Katie Main & Blazing Potential
RESERVE: Kasey McKay & Special Kinda Lazy
Championship Walk Trot Horsemanship
GRAND: Olivia Phillips & Tee Coolest Affair
RESERVE: Ellie Closurdo & Wheres My Invite
Championship Horsemanship
GRAND: Fisher Mayes & Chex My Pulse
RESERVE: Kaylee Almazan & Ms Principle Zippo
Thank you to KRC Photography for an amazing gallery of candid photos! Find the show album here:
