2024 APHA Western National Championship Show Hits the Jackpot in Las Vegas

By Jessica Hein, PHJ News:

The 2024 APHA Western National Championship Show, October 3–6, returned to Las Vegas with a bang. Like its Eastern counterpart, the Western National Championship Show saw significant increases, including growth of 71.9 percent in total horses and nearly doubling the number of entries over 2023 numbers.

This year’s event took place at South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, which will host the Western National Show through 2026. It featured 137 Western National Championship classes and 20 all-around awards, attracting 294 horses and nearly 1,450 entries. International Ranch Horse Association classes paid out nearly $8,000 during the show, as well. Unofficially, the show welcomed more than 90 first-time Western National Show attendees.

“The Western National Championship Show was certainly one for the books,” Director of Incentive Programs Matt Arias said. “We had a great turnout of exhibitors and horses from all over the Western United States and Canada. Fun activities for exhibitors helped make the show extra fun. We are already looking forward to 2025.”

In addition to competing for national championships and prizes, exhibitors and fans also participated in a Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen Clinic, Ride the Pattern, equine bingo, costume challenge, boot scramble and more. Special thanks to Kimes Ranch, who generously sponsored all Novice Youth and Youth Walk-Trot entry fees, and the California Paint Horse Association, who provided complimentary trailer unloading assistance.

Full results will be posted at apha.com/western-national-show.

Future Western National Championship Show Dates

• October 30–November 2, 2025
• October 29–November 1, 2026

 

All-Around Champions: 2024 Western National Championship Show

Open Ranch

Smokin Jeans, owned by Harry Stoddart III, Princeton, Oregon

Open Solid Paint-Bred Ranch

A Lot Like Diamonds, owned by Laura Hoelscher, Kerrville, Texas

Amateur Ranch

Freckles Nu Lil Gun & Kathleen Roach, Spanish Fork, Utah

Novice Amateur Ranch

Hot Lil Appointment & Angela Tamburello, Harper, Texas

Open Show Horse

Ima Lopin Sensation, leased by Kelli Foster, Washington, Utah

Open Solid Paint-Bred Show Horse

PS BlondHairDontCare, owned by Chelsea Bagby, Boise, Idaho

Amateur

Lucky In Luv & Shannon Yeaton, Whitesboro, Texas

Masters Amateur

Mr Verifiable & Julie Nelson, North Logan, Utah

Novice Amateur

Ima Hugable Impulse & Celeste Berger, Magnolia, Texas

Amateur Walk-Trot

Hesa Vision & Wendy Brown, Scottsdale, Arizona

Youth 13 & Under

A Sultry Playboy & Alyssa Bass, Newport Beach, California

Youth 18 & Under

Especially Lazy & Angelica Zizza, Saugus, Massachusetts

Novice Youth

Shesa Hot Suggestion & Faith Perrine, Tacoma, Washington

Youth Walk-Trot 5–10

Im Good With It & Avery Hallett, Tenino, Washington

Youth Walk-Trot 11–18

Letsgetreadytoparte & Gracie Tonkin, Boise, Idaho

 

Photography by Ruehle Photographix.