Arkansas Quarter Horse Association’s Memorial Day Circuit and 13th Stanford Happening in Tunica, Mississippi was a great success this past weekend. There was an increase in entries from 2014. The storms did not stop this year’s show but did manage to delay it a little on Sunday night. Wind and rain blew through the facility watering the arenas, causing some flooding, and putting the show in the dark for a few minutes during the speed classes.
A potluck was held Friday night. Meat was provided, and exhibitors brought sides and desserts. Afterwards, a karaoke machine was going for those who wanted to sing and a blackjack table was set up with benefits given to Doug Smith and his family. Everyone was ecstatic to have Doug back at the show with us.
With the aid of many great sponsors numerous prizes were offered throughout the weekend. There was $500 added to Non-Pro All Age Western Pleasure and $500 added to Open Ranch Riding and buckles were awarded to the champion and reserve champion in each class. The highest placing non-pro in the Open Ranch Riding received $100. Equine Omega Complete donated Stanford Happening buckles for the Novice Youth, Youth, Novice Amateur, Amateur, Select Amateur, and Non-Pro Western Pleasure, Open Ranch Riding, and 11 and Over Walk-Trot classes.
The Stanford Happening 11 and Over Walk-Trot champion was awarded a work saddle donated by Ferguson Tack. Circuit champions were awarded 8×10 photos taken by Pearson Photography. Every speed entry was entered into a drawing for a speed saddle, and Maggie Smith was the lucky exhibitor who went home with the saddle. Quillin Leather Halters given to the High Point Trail Horse Rageous Blaze with Lacee Keller and High Point English Horse Zips RV Radical with Allison Board were donated by Despino Performance Horses and Kyle Simmons Performance Horses.
A long time sponsor, Trailer Country, donated a 10 foot utility trailer for the youth to raffle off. They also donated $700 in cash and $1300 gift certificates as prizes in a raffle drawing. Ten names were drawn each day during the four day show, and fifteen names were drawn from the forty. The fifteen finalists were split into three teams and pitted against each other in an alfalfa cube toss on Monday morning. The person from each team with the most alfalfa cubes thrown into the bucket after 30 seconds was put into the finals. The top three then battled it out. Eddie Gurley placed first receiving $500 cash; Matt Sumler placed second receiving $200 cash; and Keith Mathis placed third receiving a $100 gift certificate to Trailer Country along with the other twelve finalists.
Many exhibitors took advantage of the $200 all-inclusive fee entering multiple classes. The largest classes were Open Ranch Riding with 20 entries and Open Trail with 20 entries. Judges for the show were Steve Heckaman, Don McDuffee, Beckey Schooler, and Brent Maxwell. Countless exhibitors plan on attending again next year; the show staff expects continuous growth from the show.
Stanford Happening winners included:
• Open Ranch Riding – Champion Tim Laws and FS Blazen Chick ($440 and buckle), reserve Kyle Sanders and Heza MG Kinda Guy ($330, $100 for Non-Pro, and buckle), third Clay Cavinder and TAMU Moonlight Acre ($220), and forth Quincee Clark and Little Miss Einstein ($110)
• 11 and Over Walk-Trot – Champion Vicki Strickland and Impulse Of Hope ($180 and saddle), reserve Claudia Peeler and KM Bos Country Girl ($135 and buckle), third Jerry Bunn and Best Tobe Alazyloper ($90), and forth Nicole Lewis and Too Shy To Chip ($45)
• Non-Pro All Age Western Pleasure – Champion Chance Keith and Tony Hock ($390 and buckle) and reserve Alicia Kappelman and Vested In Sweet Talk ($260 and buckle).
Thanks to Shelby Lane Ridgeway on the great rundown and candids
CLICK HERE to view the candids sponsored by Prince Farm, LLC
