The Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association held their Memorial Day Celebration show this past weekend in Harlansburg, Pennsylvania. AQHYA President and GoHorseShow columnist Dakota Diamond Griffith was at the show and gave us the scoop of how the show went.
Dakota Diamond Griffith Reports: A week of rain prior to the show set-up couldn’t dampen the spirits of exhibitors who flocked to Harlansburg, PA for their annual four judged event. With approximately 700 stalls sold, the hospitality of the Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association continues to lure both loyal locals and competitors from across the east coast who have come to appreciate the outstanding show numbers.
Gaining a reputation for exceptional class numbers, including halter, this weekend did not disappoint. With performance geldings at seven point open classes, and very similarly large classes for mares, the riding classes enjoyed numbers as large as 25. One trainer was overheard in the show office expressing concerns about
the mud and water, but both the clouds and his spirits were lifted when
his group of horses earned over 120 points during the weekend!
Who would have thought that in a small, quaint distant suburb of Pittsburgh that both our AQHYA and AQHA Presidents would be in attendance? Well, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend, as did the Peter Cofrancesco clan! Although P-3 as I like to call him was doing a great job visiting with youth, ammy and open exhibitors alike, his beautiful wife Carmen was making sure that the smallest details did not go unchecked as she got the family ready to show! Looking pretty in pink, Mrs. C. and daughter Emma were pretty spectacular in the lead line class, while P-4 brought back memories of his father showing in youth, by exhibiting his youth halter mare like a pro! The best thing about Harlansburg is that it really promotes a family atmosphere, and togetherness. The quaint county fairground type atmosphere provides a refreshing change to the imposing mega-show facilities we are becoming accustomed to today.
With numerous graduations and year-end school functions taking place, the youth class numbers held up surprisingly well, while the ammy and open numbers were strong. Training barns included Treins, Maxwells, Pipers, Bakers, Rhonda Replogle, Jeffrey Pait and Chris Thompson, Gino Spagnola, Tommy Sheets, the Beckers, Kenny and Ashley Lakins, Judd Paul, Donnie Recchiutti/Liz Flohr, Scott Kaufmann, Bill Coffman, Greg Holden, among many, many more! Top amateurs included Sue Kaplow, last year’s all-around champion Lindsey Stevenson, Marissa and Brianna Dalton, Denise Folck, halter exhibitors Marcy Walker and Congress Champion, Dee Staley, Katie Grossnickle, and dozens of others. Congress hotties, Brian Cox, Maggie Kerola, and Joey Wenger were also on hand, along with a great representation of youth!
Hot topics definitely centered around concerns over the recent EHV-1 outbreaks, along with the resignation of Ohio State Buckeye football coach, Jim Tressel. I won’t go there… Vendor sales appeared brisk as the weather improved to a balmy 90 degrees. Joey Wenger commented that his stores sales were “extremely” strong which will hopefully translate into a gradual improvement in the economy, right?
Show judges included Michael Colvin (GA), Chris Kozlowski (CA), Liz Haynes (FL), and Tony Burris (NC). Don’t miss the next great event to be held from June 27 – July 3rd at Harlansburg. Visit wpqha.com for a showbill and more details!
Thanks to Katie Grossnickle of Puttin On The Glitz for providing the candids from Harlansburg.
Click here to view the candids sponsored by The Krymsun Kruzer.
