Some do it for the love the horse, some for the money and other for the fun, but deep down all competitors enter shows for the win–a moment of accomplishment and glory that brings about a sense of satisfaction after a long journey of hard work.
Mantles of trophies and medals and walls of ribbons and plaques serve as tokens that harken back to our winning moments. This year at the AQHA World Championship Show, top ten finishers received medallions in a commemorative wooden box versus the traditional multi-colored ribbons to celebrate their placings.
So now that exhibitors have returned home and started to display their winnings, we wondered how competitors felt about the change.
2013 AQHA World Champion and Top Ten receiver Tina Freeland posted her feelings on Facebook saying, “Personally I prefer the ribbons for a few reasons. First, the boxes do not photograph well in the win pictures. You can’t tell what place anyone got unless you look at the signs. Next, I always enjoyed seeing everyone hang up his or her ribbons on their stall curtains. The boxes are hard to display on stall fronts. Lastly, the boxes are very nicely done and pretty, but they are just so small.”
Freeland continues, “To me an award won at the world should be larger or at least more visually impressive. When displaying these boxes on a shelf in your home or office they will not easily stand out as a high level award. I know the ribbons were just ribbons, but they were of good quality and large enough that they were definitely noticed. I would love it if they brought the ribbons back or at least did something more visually impressive. A Top Ten at world is a huge accomplishment and I’m sure most people like to proudly display these awards. I know I do.”
Two-time AQHA Select World Champion, Kirsten Farris who is a regular contributor to GoHorseShow and reported for us this year at the Select World, agrees. “I personally miss the beautiful rosette ribbons that went to the top-ten places in each class. Maybe it is because I still remember my first ribbon in walk-jog classes, but I much prefer a ribbon over a medallion in a box,” Farris stated in her article earlier this year. “I don’t know if somebody just forgot to order them, or if it is a ‘cost cutting’ measure, but when I did some research with Hodges Badge Company who makes the ribbons, they are not super expensive, and heck, they are even on sale!”
However, AQHA Executive Director of Competition, Tom Persechino shared, “AQHA received such overwhelmingly positive feedback during the tenth Select World Show, when we debuted the boxes (at that time a special commemorative medallion box) that we opted to continue them for that show. Many people thought they would display better at home on shelves, on desks and in trophy cabinets, versus the traditional ribbons with medallions. So armed with that information, we went to the Executive Committee who approved the change for the World Show. It was done in an effort to do something more creative and meaningful for exhibitors.”
Select Exhibitor Dee Ann Staley-Best received the medallions at the AQHA Select World Show. “They are easier for me to display, and I am happy with any placing at the world level.”
Amateur exhibitor Sarah Elder Chabot agrees with Best, “I like the medallions– they compliment other trophies in my case, where I always felt like my ribbons weren’t as easy to display. Traditions are never easy to break, but I like this one!”
So GoHorseShow.com wants to know what are your favorite ways to commemorate your accomplishments? Ribbons? Trophies? Photos? Medallions? Cash?
