2015 Big Country/Texas Amateur State Championship Expecting HUGE Crowd This Week
The Equine Chronicle is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Texas Amateur State Championship Show!
By: Brittany Bevis
With over 500 stalls rented at the Extraco Center in Waco, TX, the Texas Amateur State Championship and Big Country Quarter Horse Association Show is expecting a HUGE crowd this week. The stall reservation list isn’t restricted to Texas alone. Stall Manager Donna Arnett says AQHA competitors are heading to Waco from all across the country.
“We have people coming from nationwide,” she says. “There are people coming from all over Texas, California, New Mexico, and the northern states like North Carolina. A lot of the big trainers, who are coming in from other states, have customers who live right here in Texas.”
The show kicked off on Wednesday with a Special Event Trail Show that was run in three blocks. Classes included Level 1 (Novice), Level 2 (Progressive), and Level 3 (Open). Following Trail, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship classes were held for the Special Event Show with Terry Thompson and Dolly Chayer judging. Thus far, the entry counts are outstanding. There were 45 in Green Trail, 18 in Junior Western Pleasure, and 26 in Amateur Horsemanship, and that’s just for the Special Event show. Additional entries are expected to roll in today and over the weekend for the two triple-judged events. Judges will be Steve Meadows, Pierre Briere, Doug Huls, Clint Fullerton, Scott Neuman, and Kelly Boles Chapman.
Because the show is celebrating their 30th anniversary, there are several fun parties planned. On Thursday evening, Butch and Patty Campbell will be hosting a Dessert Party. On Friday evening, Tate and Jamie Oakley are sponsoring an Exhibitors’ Dinner where Mexican food will be on the menu. On Saturday evening, the Big Country Quarter Horse Association is hosting another Exhibitors’ Dinner where Italian food will be served.
We spoke with Jamie Oakley, who has been part of the Texas Amateur Quarter Horse Association for the past four years, to find out what she thinks contributes to consistent growth of this event.
“We’re always packed, as far as the number of stalls,” she says. “We can’t really accommodate any more exhibitors than we already have. We’re close to selling out every year.”
“I think this is one of the nicest facilities we get to show at in Texas that has enough pens for everyone to be able to ride. Also, we have changed things a little bit so we try to do an all-day fee, which helps to keep costs down for exhibitors. We really emphasize amateurs at this horse show, and we try to promote growth of the amateur association. Pat Clements and Georgianna Busboom are always a big driving force behind this horse show.”
One of the ways this show caters to amateur competitors is by offering outstanding all-around prizes. This year, six Golden West pads, courtesy of Lori Heckaman, will be awarded to the winners of the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity, 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Futurity, and as All-Around awards for Amateur, Novice Amateur, Select, and Youth. Logan Boots has generously donated Reserve All-Around awards.
Action will continue today with Trail classes in blocks on Thursday and Saturday mornings in the Coliseum. Over in the Pavilion, Showmanship, Halter, and Western Riding will take place. Classes for Friday and Sunday include Over Fences, Equitation, and Hunter Under Saddle in the Coliseum and Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Ranch Horse Riding, and Reining in the Pavilion.
There are several special events scheduled for Friday including National Quarter Horse League Huntfield classes like $500 Hunter Derbies and a $1,000 Trail Derby. The best part is the low entry fee and the big added money! The entry fee for the Hunter Derbies is just $35, and the entry fee for the Trail Derby is $50.
- $500 Huntfield Low Hunter Derby- Pro
- $500 Huntfield Low Hunter Derby- Non-Pro
- $500 Huntfield High Hunter Derby- Pro
- $500 Huntfield High Hunter Derby- Non-Pro
Also on Friday, the finest young Western Pleasure prospects in the country will gather for the NSBA 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Futurity. The NSBA 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Futurity will take place on Sunday in addition to a NSBA Non-Pro Maturity.
If you’re interested in getting some extra practice on the courses, Over Fence warm-ups will take place from 6:00 – 7:45 AM on Thursday and Saturday mornings for $5 per horse, per show. Trail warm-ups will take place Wednesday and Friday night for $5 per horse, per show.
Stay tuned for results and EC Around The Ring photos coming soon right here on EquineChronicle.com!
