The March To The Arch, Loping and Leading For A Cure, held March 5-8 in beautiful Lake St. Louis, Missouri, is a spectacular AQHA horse show put on by Doug Landon and managed by Mark Harrell Horse Shows. In 2008, the show raised over $55,000 to benefit The Shirley Bowman Nutritional Clinic at OU Cancer Institute. This year it will also be the venue for the 1st Annual Jerry Wells Memorial Halter Futurity.
The idea for the futurity came from show chairman, Doug Landon. He wanted to commemorate the legendary horseman and 60-time AQHA World Champion, Jerry Wells, who passed away in May, 2008 from cancer.
The format for the futurity divides the competition into six different divisions – Amateur Yearling Mares, Geldings and Stallions and Open Yearling Mares, Geldings and Stallions. On both Thursday and Saturday of the show, for a $250 entry fee, these horses will compete in their respective AQHA class and show to a total of four judges. The four judge’s cards will be averaged and a winner will be crowned in each division.
A traveling trophy from Jerry’s personal collection has been donated by Jerry’s widow, Betty Wells. This special award will be presented by Betty and daughter Nancy Wells-Barr, to the overall winner of the Open division in a head-to-head finals competition between the three sexes. Be sure not to miss this monumental event!
Click here for the 2009 March To The Arch showbill.
Click here to read Troy Compton’s interview with Betty Wells.
