2015 Iowa Show Circuit Is Underway and Racking up HUGE Numbers
Kelly and Klay McDowall put on a Horsemanship clinic during Sunday’s Novice show at the Iowa Show Circuit. Photo courtesy of Kris Moorman.
By: Brittany Bevis
The 2015 Iowa Show Circuit is now more than halfway complete at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa and preliminary entry numbers are set to put the event on track for being a Top 10 AQHA show once again this year. With over 600 stalls sold and huge class sizes, the show is living up to its reputation as one of the largest circuits in the northeast.
The circuit began on Sunday with a special Novice show that was judged by Leo Fourre. Novice High Point Champions were crowned including Novice Amateur High Point winner Marnie McDowall and Reserve Novice Amateur High Point winner Kristine Buhler. Winning the Novice Youth High Point was Ellie Schommer, and coming in Reserve was Victoria Hinton.
Also on Sunday, novice competitors were treated to a special clinic where Klay McDowall demonstrated his AQHYA World Championship Horsemanship pattern and Judge/Professional Horsemen Kelly McDowall spoke about what judges are looking for in this particular class.
The regular show began on June 1st with huge class sizes. On Tuesday alone, there were 154 Horsemanship runs. Trail classes also racked up big numbers like 60 entries in Senior, 40 in Green, 28 in Youth, and 20 in Junior.
Take a look at some of the largest class sizes at the show thus far:
- All Ages Novice Youth Western Pleasure- 23
- Amateur Horsemanship- 25
- All Age Novice Youth Showmanship- 25
- Senior Western Pleasure- 26
- 14-18 Showmanship- 27
- Green Western Pleasure- 27
- Amateur Performance Halter Geldings- 27
- Youth All Ages Trail- 28
- All Ages Amateur Western Pleasure- 30
- Green Trail -40
- Senior Trail- 60
Check out these great High Point saddles at the Iowa Show Circuit!
Judges for the first portion of the show were John Dean, Chris Thompson, Tom Robertson, Louis Hufnagel, Merle Arbo, and Glenn Wells. Judges for the remainder of the show are Tracy Willis, Clint Fullerton, Dan Trein, Scott Merritt, Cindy Chilton-Moore, and David Denniston.
Iowa Show Circuit Management Team: Robert Gilliam, Toni Albert, Paul Bunce, (AQHA’s Alex Ross,) Gene Murphy, Shirley Miller, Mary Moorman, and Bill Moorman. Photo courtesy of Don Trout.
On June 1st, AQHA Senior Director of Judges, Alex Ross, presented the Iowa Show Circuit with a special award recognizing the show growth and part in celebrating AQHA’s 75th anniversary.
“Celebrating 75 years of AQHA would not be complete without recognizing those who joined us along this journey. For many years, the Iowa Show Circuit and Iowa Quarter Horse Association have stood as great partners. To the members of both these groups, you have our most heartfelt gratitude for the important role you have played over AQHA’s seven and a half decades.”
“With American Quarter Horses residing in every state, Canadian province, and nearly 100 other international countries, we think they would be AQHA Proud – of the breed of horse that unequivocally reigns as the standard by which all others are measured. With heartfelt gratitude, we thank the Iowa Show Circuit and the Iowa Quarter Horse Association.”
– Alex Ross presenting on behalf of AQHA President Dr. Glenn Blodgett
Click on the links below to view results from the first three shows at the 2015 Iowa Show Circuit.
