The Dixie National Quarter Horse Show was held February 15th through the 19th in Jackson, Mississippi. This top show in the nation featured southern hospitality at its best with excellent sized classes, great prizes, amazing show management and wonderful volunteers who helped run the show. Also known as The Southern Classic, the show offered over $100,000 in awards and added money, two days of EWD shows, as well as a special roping event.
“The weather was great, and the people were so friendly. True southern hospitality,” says Indiana trainer, Carli Pitts, who was kind enough to take candids for us at the show. “Tim Kimura was here to run the Trail and he kept it running smoothly as two arenas were showing at once. There were a lot of vendors in the expo center including Harris Leather and Silverworks and Kendalls Western Hats. It was great because they gave Dixie Dollars out in each class to spend anywhere on the grounds.”
The Dixie Nationals has been a family friendly horse show for many years, none more evident than by the outpouring of support for the Mississippi Quarter Horse family in the form of the Andrew McBeath Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, with the backing of so many, raised over $55,000.
“It means so much to not only those who knew Andrew well but will allow us to remember him for years to come with the scholarship,” trainer Shon Gage told us.
As part of a fundraiser, several trainers rode inflatable bounce horses to race during the Freestyle Reining intermission. Eleven jockeys rode in the race where Ty Cornelius was victorious, who was purchased by the Wheat family in the Calcutta auction. Elite Saddlery from Tioga, Texas donated a saddle to the high point cow horse in the open division in memory of Andrew. Chris Littlefield won the saddle but gave it to the McBeath Family.
“It means a lot to win it and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity, but it needs to stay in Mississippi,” Littlefield told the crowd.
The Mississippi Quarter Horse Association truly appreciated all who helped with the scholarship and everyone who came to the show. One show volunteer stated, “I wasn’t raised in the horse community, but Lord I wish I had been. I may never be an excellent rider, however, seeing the love and sense of family of this group makes me smile that I got here at last. You are an amazing group.”
The show also had over $18,000 added in the roping events, $10,000 added in the Freestyle Reining and the annual Southern Classic Horse Sale.
CLICK HERE to view the candids kindly taken by Carli Pitts and Shon Gage and sponsored by The Rock Stallion.
