Duck Dynasty, Sonny and Cher, and Kermit Make an Appearance at 2013 Oregon Summer Classic
By: Kili and Keaton Crawford
For everyone involved in the American Quarter Horse Association there is that one show that just sticks out in your mind. It’s the one show that you love the most. For many, that show is the Oregon Summer Classic. The Summer Classic runs a total of seven days. This year, it started Monday, June 24th and went through Sunday, June 30th. The show is organized so you show Monday through Thursday, and then you get Friday off to go rafting, golfing, swimming, or even jet-boating down the Rogue River. Then, the show starts back up on Saturday and finishes off on Sunday. The show office helps to set up many of the off-day activities and puts as many of the horse show people together as they can.
With two arenas running concurrently and a total of eight judges, you’re sure to get some points. The stakes are high though, because the All-Around High Point horses win saddles and the High Point Trail Horse also wins a saddle. The circuit class winners receive belt buckles, and they give prizes for placing first through sixth. Meanwhile in the other arena, reining, ranch horse pleasure, barrels, poles, and roping take place.
It’s truly a diverse show with so many talented horses in one area. Sometimes we let our competitive sides take over, but the Summer Classic is a great reminder that we do this because it’s fun and we love it. It’s not always about winning, although most of us would agree that’s pretty fun too.
With fun and entertaining classes that most shows don’t offer, it’s enjoyable for not only the competitors but also for the spectators. The fun classes include the Youth Champion of Champions, which consists of all the youth equitation and horsemanship exhibitors who placed first or second in the first two days of competition. They all enter the arena at the same time, and they are asked to perform different maneuvers such as counter canter, spins, and lead changes. It’s super important to not only trust your horse but to believe in yourself. The crowd is always loudly cheering for their favorites. Starting with 18 this year, they quickly narrowed the competition down to seven and then three. The top seven included one equitation rider and six horsemanship riders, and the top three were all horsemanship riders.
They also had the Trainers’ Challenge where two trainers paired up to compete in showmanship, horsemanship, equitation, and barrels. Each trainer had to compete in two events. They were out to find the true all-around horses and trainers, but in a fun and goofy way. Everyone dressed up to encourage applause, laughter, and fun. There was Kermit the frog, Miss Piggy, the Duck Dynasty boys, Toy Story characters, Sonny and Cher, and Zorro all competing for the title. Everyone got many cheers and had some great laughs, but there could be only one winner, Sonny and Cher, aka David Busick and Nancy Alto-Renfro. They rode their hearts out and won the prize. Also that night, they had a Bridleless Western Pleasure.
The final fun event for the show was for anyone who wanted to ride their horse to some fun music and make up their own freestyle western riding or reining pattern. Three reiners and two western riding teams squared off for the freestyle buckle. There was a tussle in the dirt between a convict and a cop. The Duck Dynasty men attempted to shoot a dancing duck. An 80s girl spun to a track from “Footloose.” A buckskin slid to “Barbie Girl.” Last but not least, the final reining team looked fly in their aviators.
There were some crowd favorites, but it was all up to the judges. The Duck Dynasty men shot it right in the head for the win. Taylor Searles, Trent Searles, and Jeff Johns brought home the freestyle buckle.
The 2013 Oregon Summer Classic was the place to be for points, fun, and laughs all week long.
