Tampa, FL – December 5, 2013 – For
10 consecutive years The Collection Hunter Classic and The Collection
Non-Pro Hunter Classic have been highlight events during the Florida
Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit. Now in their 11th year, The Collection
Hunter Classics will be back and better than ever at this year’s
Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit, running December 27 – 31,
2013, at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa, FL.
Presented
by The Collection, a niche clothing company serving hunter seat riders
of all disciplines and all breeds, the $1,000 Collection Hunter Classic
and the $1,000 Collection Non-Pro Hunter Classic will be held under the
lights on December 30, 2013. The two $1,000 classes will showcase the
talent of the country’s top Quarter Horse hunters over a traditional
hunter course.
“The Classics are a blast. With one of them being an open and one of them being non-pro, it gives the trainers a chance to ride the horses and then the non-pros (both youth and amateur), get to come in, ride and enjoy it as well,” explained The Collection owner and Classic sponsor Robin Petix.
“Last
year, for the first time, we made it an evening class, and it was so
well received. We’re very happy to be doing that again this year,” Petix
said. “There’ll be hot hors d’oeuvres and a party to go along with the class. Riders dress formally, and we give great gifts and prizes. It’s an all around really fun event for everyone.”
In
addition to The Collection Hunter Classics, the Florida Gold Coast
Quarter Horse Circuit features six full American Quarter Horse
Association (AQHA) shows and five days of events including hunters,
equitation, AQHA reining, western pleasure, trail riding, driving,
showmanship, halter classes, roping and the newest event, ranch
pleasure. With the horse show ending on December 31, the circuit’s six
shows provide an ideal opportunity for exhibitors to accumulate final
year-end AQHA points.
In
the week following the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit,
Quarter Horse competition continues with the Florida Gulf Coast Quarter
Horse Circuit, to be held January 1 – 6, 2014. The HUNTER CLASSICS will
return during the second week of shows, but this time riders will be
returning in pairs.
“It’s
going to be a Pairs Stake Classic,” explained Petix. “Everyone will
compete over an individual course, and they’ll have already chosen their
riding partner. After the individual course, each obstacle
is widened and for the callback each pair of riders ride the course
jumping each fence as a pair…very exciting!”
The
new $1,000 Gulf Coast Hunter Pairs Classic is sponsored by David
Connors and Bill Ellis, Chuck Briggs, Elise and Richard Cognetti, Mona’s
and The Collection. Vendors will provide all Pairs exhibitors with gifts and prizes as well as stakes monies, allowing non-pro riders to compete for impressive awards.
“The Quarter Horse
people truly had the largest part in building The Collection over the
years. Supporting these events is a thank you to my customers and to the
trainers and people around the shows who have supported our business
for years and years,” Petix said.
To learn more about The Collection, visit http://www.thecollectiononlinestore.com.
For more information about the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show, please visit www.flgoldcoastcircuit.com.
The schedule and stall reservation form are now available for download.
For regular updates about the competition, please find us on Facebook
by searching “Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit.”
