Christine Hamilton, editor of The Quarter Horse Journal reports from the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City, South Dakota, home of the 2009 AQHA Region Two Experience. The show runs from September 24 to 27.
- Friday, September 25, began with practice trail outside in the Bray Arena and western riding in the indoor Coliseum Arena. Then trail and reining dominated the rest of the day: Trail had approximately 145 entries, and the reining had about 95.
- Rapid City home gal Kerry Papendick stopped by the show grounds to watch the trail; she’s fresh off a Select reserve world championship in western riding with Harley D Zip at the 2009 Bayer Select World Championship Show in Amarillo.
- According to Kari Williams of Quarter Time Management, the show has 1,169 pre-entries as of end-of-day September 24, and more are expected. Ranch sorting, roping and working cow horse filled the first competition day.
- The Region is also coming up different ways to raise money. There’s a consignment booth in the trade show to raise money for it, selling everything from little-worn show outfits to saddles. Class sponsorships sell for $50 and class sponsors are entered into a drawing for trade show giveaways. And there’s a plan in the works to make a Region Two calendar of show candids and fun shots.
-
Thursday evening featured a hunter under saddle clinic given by Team Wrangler member and world champion trainer Vicky Holt of Argyle, Texas. Her original flight was canceled so the clinic was pushed to the evening hours, but that didn’t dampen any enthusiasm for it. Fourteen riders spent three hours with Vicky; she went through different exercises to use with the horses to correct different problems, working riders on the rail and individually in the middle of the arena. “It’s not the biggest horse that wins the class,” Vicky said, “it’s the most consistent and steady horse.”
Click here for complete coverage from the 2009 AQHA Region Two Experience including a slide show with photos by American Quarter Horse Journal.
