$2,000 Harris Challenge Coming to 2016 SOQHA Madness

By: Brittany Bevis

In addition to the $15,000 check that will be presented to the winner of The Equine Chronicle 3-Year-Old and Over Novice Horse Western Pleasure Futurity at the SOQHA Madness, competitors will have the opportunity to earn an additional $2,000 if they win while riding in a Harris saddle!

The same also applies for the winner of the inaugural Coughlin Automotive 3-Year-Old and Over Maiden Horse Western Pleasure. The winner of this class will also receive a $15,000 winner’s check, and an additional $2,000 is up for grabs, if he or she wins while riding in a Harris saddle.

The generosity from the folks at Harris Leather and Silverworks doesn’t stop there. The Limited Champion in both classes will receive their own Harris saddle!

Other awards include $500 for the Reserve Limited rider in both classes, $1,500 for the Intermediate Champion in both classes, and $500 for the Reserve Intermediate rider in both classes.

The Equine Chronicle Novice Horse Three-Year-Old and Over Western Pleasure Slot class will take place at the SOQHA Madness Show, April 6-10 at Roberts Arena in Wilmington, Ohio. The futurity will be held Friday, April 8th, following the lunch break and Halter classes. Then, the brand new Coughlin Automotive Maiden 3 and Over Western Pleasure Slot class will be held on Saturday.

If you’re hoping to have a chance at the big bucks, the $1,500 entry fee for both classes is due by March 22, 2016. Horses may be entered at the show, by noon, the day before each class; however, the entry fee will jump to $2,500. In order to compete in the novice class, a horse may not have won more than $2,500 or earned more than 25 points. In order to compete in the maiden class, the horse may not have competed prior to the event.

Check out the projected payout for both classes:

Judges for the 2016 SOQHA Madness will be Jonathan Meilleur, Jon Barry, Mike Hawkins, Karen Graham, Robin Frid, Scott Neuman, and Dean Bogart.

Other exciting prizes at the show include eight Harris work saddles that will be awarded to All-Around winners in Small Fry, Novice Youth, 13 and Under, 14-18, Novice Amateur, Amateur, Select, and Open divisions. Also, special High Point awards will be presented in the L1 Youth and Amateur Walk-Trot divisions. Other great prizes including tablets, TV’s, and much more.

Click here for the 2016 SOQHA Madness showbill, courtesy of Mark Harrell Horse Shows.

For more information about the SOQHA, visit www.soqha.com or SOQHA on Facebook.

For sponsor information contact Judd Paul at 614-205-8056.

For stalls/RV information contact Janet Ferguson at 937-416-0294.