PQHA Nittany Classic and Futurity Concludes With 30% Entry Increase, Trophy Winners, and a Surprise Marriage Proposal!

By: Rita McMullen

“PQHA would like to thank everyone for attending our PQHA Nittany Classic and Futurity Show this past weekend” says PQHA President, Carla Weaver. “We greatly appreciate the support of all the exhibitors and sponsors throughout our entire 2015 show season. We’re so pleased to be able to offer our exhibitors such a wonderful show facility at the Centre County Grange Equine Park in Centre Hall, PA. Thanks to the Grange’s continued efforts and their commitment, which included a new 150 stall barn, it makes this facility one of the best show facilities in Pennsylvania.”

“We have also seen a nice increase in our Futurity in numbers and payouts of over $7,300, which is a 30% increase from 2014. We hope that our exhibitors will continue to support our shows in 2016, and we will post our dates once we have them confirmed.”

A first for PQHA this year was the addition of the PQHA Ranch Riding Series Championship, which was the idea of sponsors, Joe and Julie Tylka. Joe Tylka says, “I have a passion for Ranch Riding classes, and I wanted to promote the relatively new AQHA discipline at our shows in Pennsylvania.”

Tylka provided three cash awards in the Open, Amateur, and Youth Ranch Riding divisions. In order for exhibitors to be eligible for the award, points were tallied on one horse/one rider and exhibitors had to show at all three PQHA circuit shows held in May, July, and September. The award was presented by Tylka at the PQHA Nittany Classic show following the conclusion of the Ranch Riding classes on Saturday evening. In addition to the cash award, the Series Champions were presented with a trophy for the Open Division and engraved picture frames for the Amateur and Youth Divisions. The idea was a success for both PQHA and exhibitors and attracted over 40 exhibitors in the thrtee divisions at the circuits.

Winners were:

Open Ranch Riding Series Champion – Kim Myers, Felton, PA riding Sleeping Around, owned by Stacey Minoglio.

Amateur Ranch Riding Series Champion – Kit Gildein, Shickshinny, PA riding Tiny Thumbalina.

Youth Ranch Riding Series Champion – Parker Scott, Lewisburg, PA riding All Tell Zipper.

The idea of a discipline-specific series received more attention at the May show, and PQHA was approached by Greg and Shari Duncan-Sharpe, owners of Surpassing Image, an AQHA Stallion by Barpassers Image and out of Scarlets Impressive. They sponsored a cash award for the 2015 PQHA Junior Western Pleasure Series Champion. Exhibitors were required to show at the remaining two PQHA circuit shows in July and September. A cash award, trophy, and engraved picture frame were presented for Champion and Reserve at the PQHA Nittany Classic show at the conclusion of the Jr. Western Pleasure class on Saturday evening.

Winners:

Champion Junior Western Pleasure Series – Ray Carmean, Orangeville, PA riding A Ladies Dream, owned by Christa Sherwood.

Reserve Champion Junior Western Pleasure Series – Jim Chafin, Jr, Jackson Center, PA riding Best To Be Cool, owned by Susan Grabski.

PQHA is proud to be able to present these two awards and also proud to boast that the winners were also PA residents, even though the competition was not limited to PQHA members and/or residents.

“PQHA is very excited by the increase in entries at all three PQHA show circuits in 2015,” says Brenda Campbell, PQHA Points Chairman. Campbell also serves as a PQHA Board member and assists in the PQHA Show office. “The May circuit had a 30% increase, the July Novice Show had a 45% increase, July Midsummer Madness circuit had a 15% increase, and the Nittany Classic show had over 718 entries, which was an increase of 10% from 2014. I believe we will continue to increase our numbers in 2016 due to the fabulous facility and continued improvements. Our exhibitors love the new barn and the comments we hear in the office are all positive. PQHA loves the facility and really appreciates the Grange facility management and the hard work provided by the maintenance crews.”

Penn State University’s Equine program continues to support the PQHA Futurity. “We are fortunate that our Equine program is only 20 minutes from the PQHA show and provides our students and our horses the opportunity to showcase our Equine program,” says Chris Grant, Assistant Manager, PSU Equine. “We had two yearling longe-line entries and four weanling entries, and we appreciate that PQHA offers futurities. Our students and horses did a good job, especially in a very tough class of 13 longe line entries.” Penn State is also proud of the offspring that have been raised, sold, and continue to show in the 2 & 3 Year-Old futurities as well as other classes at the PQHA shows.

The winner of the Non-Pro Weanling Filly Futurity and the winner of the Okie Wyatt Memorial Trophy was an unnamed filly owned by Potomac State College. The exhibitor was a freshman student, Sydney Ibarra, from Cumberland, Maryland. This same filly was also the winner of the Open Weanling Filly Futurity and the winner of the Vicki Zipperlein Memorial Trophy. The exhibitor was Jared Miller. Miller is the Equine Program Coordinator for the Potomac State College, located in Keyser, WV. Miller made the 2.5 hour drive to the PQHA Futurity for the filly’s maiden show.

“Sydney and her family have shown at the PQHA facility before and encouraged me to enter the futurity” Miller says. Potomac State College is a two-year division of the West Virginia University and has offered their equine program since 2003. “Thanks to a generous donation of horses to the college, we produced this filly and are excited to show her at PQHA. We’re very proud of her dual wins in these filly futurities. We also plan to show her at the West Virginia Breeders Futurity and the Quarter Horse Congress in October.”

Daniel Carlson, exhibitor, and his trainer Geno Spagnola from Harwinton, CT made the seven hour trip to the PQHA Nittany Classic. Carlson is currently leading the Amateur Showmanship in the nation with his mare, Are You Charlie. He also brought his other show partner, Made By Charlie, to the show. “We heard what a great facility PQHA has and they always draw good numbers in their classes offered. We are getting ready for our fall shows, which include the Congress and the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City. PQHA’s staff and volunteers have all been very friendly, and so far we have over 40 points, which has made the trip very worthwhile. We want to return.” Carlson was also the PQHA Amateur All Around winner with Are You Charlie.

Show Manager Ed Campbell says, “2015 was a great show season for PQHA. All three circuits have grown in size. The new barn at this facility provides exhibitors with convenient stabling next to the indoor arena. Thanks to the Centre County Grange maintenance crew for keeping the grounds clean and the arenas in great shape. They are always ready to assist us. All of these things combine to make Centre County Grange Equine Park one of the best show facilities in the state of Pennsylvania. I am proud to have the opportunity to help PQHA with their shows in 2015. Exhibitors, if you have not attended a PQHA show, you need to add these shows to your 2016 calendar.”

PQHA offered a Free Exhibitor’s dinner on Saturday evening to show their support for our exhibitors and sponsors throughout the year. PQHA is proud to announce that during their three circuits in 2015, the Quarter Horse equine industry brought over $1.5 million dollars into the Centre County community. This includes expenditures for hotels, food, fuel, horse expenses, and miscellaneous items.

On a fun note, another PQHA first was a surprise wedding proposal at the show. Amateur Exhibitor, Nicole Lynn, from Smock, PA competes with her two horses, Don’t Teez the Kat and Kelleys Escape. She trains with Alexandra and Eddie Falk. On Sunday, when Nicole returned to her stall to get her horse ready for a class, she was surprised to find her boyfriend of two years, Dustin Lerda (who was supposed to be working) in the stall on one knee. He asked her to marry him, and she said YES! It was a very teary-eyed moment for all involved. PQHA wants to wish the happy couple many years of happiness and hope they will continue to show with us.

Complete show results can be found on the website at www.pqha.org. The next event for PQHA will be the annual meetings and Year-End Awards Banquet in State College, PA on December 4 & 5th. Details will be available on the website and 2016 show dates will be posted as soon as they are confirmed.

High Point Champions and All Around Champions:

Small Fry – Tayler Elchynski and Sheza Shy Chex Novice

Youth – Mariah Pensyl and Ebony Only

Novice Amateur – Emily Marschand and Bettin On Me

13 and Under Youth – Violet Shetler and Mister Awetabulous

14 – 18 Youth – Natalie Alcorn and Chocolates Hot Asset

Amateur – Dan Carlson and Are You Charlie

Select Amateur – Karen Thomas and A Little Blu

Open All Around – To Sleepy To Flash