2014 WSQHA Trophy Circuit- Largest Show in Eight Years
All photos courtesy of Linsey O’Donnell.
By: Brittany Bevis
The Washington State Quarter Horse Association puts on some of the largest Quarter Horse shows in the Northwest. Over Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, WSQHA hosted the Trophy Circuit in Monroe, WA. Judges for the show were Doug Huls, John Boxell, Lisa Moden, Gary Reynolds, Dana English, and Steve Heckaman.
According to WSQHA representative, Linsey O’Donnell, the show topped out at just over 600 entries, which made for a 10% increase over the previous year. As a result, this was the largest WSQHA circuit held in the past eight years.
“It was a very successful show,” O’Donnell says. “Our revised schedule helped the show flow and balanced the length of each day. Showmanship and horsemanship classes were the largest, but the western riding and hunt seat equitation divisions saw the greatest increase from previous years. Trail numbers were strong including 22 in open trail.”
By far, the largest classes were those separated by AQHA Leveling, including the newly split L1 Amateur and L1 Select Amateur classes. O’Donnell credits the huge increase in participation to a significant number of competitors that are trying to qualify for this year’s AQHA Novice Championships.
Some of the largest classes included Open Trail with 22, L1 Youth Showmanship with 18, L1 Amateur Showmanship with 18, L1 Amateur Western Pleasure with 14, and L1 Youth Western Horsemanship with 17.
Like other WSQHA events, the Trophy Circuit was filled with plenty of social activities and hospitality bonuses. Pilchuck Veterinary was the sponsor of a daily hospitality tent that provided coffee and donuts for exhibitors. McCann Performance Horses sponsored a Bunkhouse BBQ dinner on Friday evening. Paige Stroud Performance Horses, Cascade Meadows, and Evergreen Equine sponsored the “I Love My American Quarter Horse” dinner on Saturday. Also, copies of the latest issue of the Equine Chronicle were distributed to exhibitors for “Free Read Friday!”
Sunday evening concluded with a hilarious performance in the Trainer’s Showmanship class, which saw many colorful characters like Edward Higbee (as Kristy McCann), Paige Stroud, and Splendora Huizenga. Huizenga was the grand prize winner of the jackpot and a $100 gift certificate to Avila’s Pro Shop.
Splendora Huizenga.
“WSQHA would like to thank the excellent show staff, trainers, vendors, exhibitors and spectators who made this the best Trophy Circuit to date!” O’Donnell says.
Click on the links below to view results from the horse show.
Trophy Circuit All Around winners:
Walk Trot 10 and Under – Playboys Poco Bert & Ava Dees
Open – Some Thing Radical & Mark Jensen
Novice Youth Champion – One Hot Date & Ashley Laird
Novice Youth Reserve – Unchipped & Erin McNab
Youth 13 and Under Champion – Chips Heart & Lily Richardson
Youth 13 and Under Reserve – Made Me Intangible & Elsie Naruszewicz
Youth 14-18 Champion – One Hot Loper & Aspen Crew
Youth 14-18 Reserve – Whos All Invited & Charlotte Selby
Novice Am Champion – Talk About Royal & Cassie Chriest
Novice Am Reserve – Buster Browns A Star & Rachel Mundell
Amateur Champion – A Natural Dancer & Becky Moe Moore
Amateur Reserve – Hotroddin Ona Harley & Laura Benjamin
Select Champion – Versionaire & Cindy Nakahara
Select Reserve – A Certain Melody & Lorie Johnson
Click here to view around the ring photos from the show, courtesy of Magic Look Photography.
Scroll below to view more candid photos courtesy of Linsey O’Donnell.
