Not Just a Horse Show, A Vacation Destination! 2014 “Summer Run” Begins This Weekend
Photos courtesy of Mark Harrell Horse Shows.
By: Brittany Bevis
On the list of the most popular vacation destinations you’re likely to find hot spots like Paris, Cancun, or Hawaii, probably not DuQuoin, Illinois. However, The Summer Run proves year after year that the event isn’t just a horse show, it’s a nine-day AQHA extravaganza that provides the opportunity for plenty of fun along the way.
That’s because exhibitors can take advantage of a well-appointed fairgrounds with plenty of camping spots, places to walk the dog, trail ride, hike, fish, or have a lakeside cookout at the end of a long day of horse showing. But this is a horse show after all, so show management has made sure the week will be jam-packed with plenty of opportunities for top notch competition and the chance to win added money and great prizes.
The circuit kicks off this weekend, and show management has confirmed that the fairgrounds is quickly filling up with a line of horse trailers hailing all the way from Connecticut to Arizona. The first portion of the show is the Mid Summer Fling that will take place June 14-17. Judges for the show will be Rhonda Replogle, Clint Fullerton, Brendan Brown, and Rob Meneely.
A whopping $12,000 in added money will be offered during the first part of the show with highlighted classes including the $2,500 NSBA Junior Green Trail and $2,500 NSBA Senior Green Trail. In addition, there is a total of $8,000 being offered in other NSBA futurity classes including…
- $1,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure
- $1,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure
- $1,000 NSBA All-Age Non Pro Western Pleasure
- $1,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Novice Horse Western Pleasure
- $500 NSBA All-Age Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle
- $500 NSBA 3 and 4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle
- $1,000 NSBA Non Pro Trail
- $1,000 NSBA Sr. Trail
But that’s not all! Like always, this show offers some of the best prizes on the AQHA circuit like a laptop, iPad, Beats by Dre headphones, and much more.
The second portion of the show is the IKI Summer Spectacular that will take place June 18-22. Judges for this show will be Charlene and Mike Carter, Brent Maxwell, Suzy Jeane, and Mark Russell.
A number of special events will take place during this show as well, including two memorial classes. The Bud Schlumpf Memorial Aged Mares class will have $100 in added money and will take place on June 21st. Senior Trail will be held in honor of longtime IKI show attendee, Phillip Williams, who passed away March 13th, 2012. Williams was a multiple Palomino World Champion in trail, an AQHA World Show top five recipient, and two-time Reserve Congress Champion. He rode horses like Chiefs Lady Dollie, Slipalong Bonnie, and Zippo Dee Bar Doc to multiple accolades. A longtime horse show enthusiast, Williams was buried in his favorite World Show outfit and belt buckle.
EquineChronicle.com will be posting results and photos from The Summer Run throughout next week. Stay tuned to keep up with all of the action!
We want to see your photos from the horse show too! All you have to do to share is e-mail b.bevis@equinechronicle.com or post on Facebook using #SummerRun.
Click here to view a showbill for both shows.
Click here to view a pattern book for the Mid Summer Fling
Click here to view the small fry pattern book for the Mid Summer Fling.
Click here to view a pattern book for the IKI Summer Spectacular.
Click here to view the small fry pattern book for the IKI Summer Spectacular.
