Emily Barnes Memorial Non Pro Western Pleasure Returns to PQHA Mid Summer Madness
The Emily Barnes Memorial Non Pro Western Pleasure at the PQHA Mid-Summer Madness is back for the 3rd year.
“Last year we raised $8400 to donate to St Jude Childrens Hospital, and $4200 was paid out to the class along with amazing prizes that were donated from Emily’s friends at the horse show. It would not have been possible for us to have held this class without the help of our amazing friends, sponsors, and donors,” explains Michelle Sipiorski.
If you would like to help out this year, please contact Michelle Sipiorski or Donnie Recchiuti or message the Emily Barnes Memorial Facebook page “Let’s keep this special memorial going to celebrate our friend Emily,” says Michelle.
All new for this year:
Listen up, Novice Riders!!
Here is your chance to win an extra $100!!
Thank You to Shawn Alter Quarter Horses and his family, the highest placing Novice Amateur and Novice Youth will receive a $100 bonus!!
Shawn and Emily were good friends from the beginning, and Emily will always hold a special place in his heart ❤️. Thank you for always being a wonderful friend to Emily and supporting our cause to help the families at St Jude Children’s Hospital!!
Don’t forget this class will be held Thursday after the pleasure classes at the PQHA Mid Summer Madness in Centre Hall, PA.
Don’t forget to get your stalls! The link is below.
About the Emily Barnes Memorial
Emily Barnes, a client of Donnie Recchiuti’s, passed away in December of 2020 when she was only 35 years old after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer.
“Taken way too soon,” says Michelle Sipiorski, an organizer of the annual fundraiser. “Emily was always happy and loved to show in the Western Pleasure,” she explains.
After her passing, Emily’s parents, George and Mindy Barnes, continued to carry on their family hobby by coming to the shows and owning horses.
All those factors inspired Donnie and Michelle to keep Emily’s love, passion and memory alive by holding a Non Pro Western Pleasure class in her name. “Kathy Avolt of An Equine Production also wanted to be involved as Emily showed at so many of her shows. We thought it would be best to hold it in their home state of Pennsylvania at the PQHA Mid Summer Madness,” Michelle says.
They began by raising $4200 toward paying out the class and then they asked our friends, family, and fellow showmen to match that, and that portion would go to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. “Emily loved children, and her mother, Mindy, thought that would be the best place for the money,” Michelle explains. “In 2021, we started the class and raised over $4200 to donate to St Jude. In 2022, we doubled that with a total of $8402!!”
“We are so excited to hold this again in Emily’s name!” says Michelle. “We want everyone to know about Emily’s memorial.”
The showbill, stall form, and more are here: https://www.anequineproduction.com/pqha-mid-summer-madness-1
PQHA was recently in the Equine Chronicle news on our website and social media! See why by clicking the link:
