Mississippi Quarter Horse Association President Brooks Derryberry stated, “Although the day started with terrible weather, the evening brought out the stars in all our award winners for the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association Year End Awards Banquet. We are very proud of all the members who participate in our shows, and happy to present them with the awards for the 2019 show season.”
Two deserving individuals were inducted into the MQHA Hall of Fame.
Dot Cox was a very active member during her lifetime, but most of her time was spent behind the scenes. She was a do-er. If you needed something done, it went to Dot, and it got done. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Mississippi Junior Quarter Horse Association, now named Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association. She was also involved with the Mississippi High School Rodeo and was very active as these two state youth association evolved over the years.
As a parent and grandparent, Ms. Cox was very proud of four girls in her family, who were crowned Miss Mississippi High School Rodeo Queen. She celebrated her grandson Percy Quinn who was successful in the cutting at the American Junior Quarter Horse World Show. Dot and husband, Murray, were owners of Heavenly Hills Ranch in Madison, MS, where some of the largest MQHA shows in the ’60s and ’70s were held.
Dot and Murray Cox were co-owners of Cox-Jackson Quarter Horses, a top breeding and showing facility, that spread many Skipper W horses throughout the state. Ms. Cox’s family was present, and her daughter, Dorothy Cox Terry, accepted the award.
Barbara Rodriquez was the next inductee to our Hall of Fame. A lifetime member of MQHA, Ms. Rodriguez, follows in her family’s footsteps with this induction. Both her mother and father are members of the MQHA Hall of Fame.
Ms. Rodriguez served over 25 years on the MQHA Board of Directors and served two separate terms as President. She also served on the finance committee of the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show for two years.
Ms. Rodriquez and her family were instrumental in establishing the first “youth sponsored and produced” horse show for the Mississippi Junior Quarter Horse Association. This show was first held in Carthage, MS, and later moved to her hometown of Natchez, MS. Still today, the “youth show” is named in honor of her father, the Roland Stacey Memorial Horse Show. Ms. Rodriquez has made several contributions to MQHA activities.
Two contributions that stand out are the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show and the MQHA Scholarship program. Over years of successfully showing quarter horses, MS. Rodriquez”s family acquired an enormous number of trophies from the 1960s and 1970s.
After her father’s death, Ms. Rodriquez donated these trophies to the 50th Anniversary Dixie National Quarter Horse Show and Equestrian’s with Disability Shows. Given to class winners at the Dixie, these trophies retained their original plates, and a second plate was added for the 50th Anniversary Show.
Secondly, Ms. Rodriquez and family were also very good friends with Orrin Mixer, who is known for his western prints, one of which can be seen as “the official American Quarter Horse” image used by the American Quarter Horse Association.
Over many years, Ms. Rodriquez has donated numerous of Mr. Mixer’s prints for auction with thousands of dollars being raised for the Mississippi Quarter Horse Scholarship Fund. Ms. Rodriquez was present at the banquet and jubilantly accepted her award, surrounded by many friends and family.
The MQHA 2019 Volunteer of the Year was awarded to long-time member and parent, Herman Alford, for his dedicated service to the association.
Mr. Tom McBeath was honored with the MQHA 2019 Professional Horseman of the Year Award for his dedication and commitment to the association.
And the Year-End High Point award winners were:
YOUTH DIVISION
All-Around Youth – Hes For Certain – Hanna Hussey
Reserve All-Around Youth – Awarded Investments – Andrew Estess
All Around Level 1 (Novice) Youth – Awarded Investments Andrew Estess
Reserve All-Around Level 1 (Novice) Youth – Hes For Certain – Hanna Hussey
High Point Youth Speed Award – Peppy San Spirit – Annabella Chapman
Reserve High Point Youth Speed Award – None Qualified
AMATEUR DIVISION
All-Around Amateur – Suddensgotnosneakers – Sabrina Turner
Reserve All-Around Amateur – RL A Sudden Cover – Brooke Ware
High Point Level 1 (Novice) Amateur – Huntin Vital Signs – Rebecca Miller
Reserve High Point Level 1 (Novice) Amateur – Splash O Moonlite – Barbara Chambers
High Point Select Amateur – The Sheik – Denise Hoffman
Reserve High Point Select Amateur – Splash O Moonlite – Barbara Chambers
OPEN DIVISION
All Around Horse – RL A Sudden Cover – Bobbie Ware
Reserve All-Around Horse – Huntin Vital Signs – Rebecca Miller/Karen Phillips
Austin Moore High Point Halter Horse &
High Point Halter Gelding – Wyld Bill – Lynda Truesdale
D’Leese Williamson Memorial/High Point Halter Mare – Celebrate The Hour – Debra Cole
High Point Halter Stallion – None Qualified
High Point English Horse – None Qualified
2019 MQHYA LEADLINE PARTICIPATION AWARDS
Ann Rylee Bowlin, Brayden Bowlin, Kyle Harris, Embry McBeath & Lane Ware
Photo Credit to our friend Sally Blackwell, Sally Blackwell Photography
