Shane Dowdy may be an AQHA World Champion Western Pleasure trainer, but the western riding class is usually left to his wife, Jamie Dowdy. At this year’s AQHA World Show, the couple decided that they both wanted to show, Its A Southern Thing (Moonpie) in the Junior Western Riding.
Saturday afternoon Shane showed Moonpie in the Level 2 Western Riding and scored an impressive 226 and ended up reserve champions, while Jamie made it back into the Level Three finals with a score of 224.
“Shane has never shown in any class besides the western pleasure at the AQHA World Show,” Amy Gumz, owner of Its A Southern Thing, told GoHorseShow. “Shane said he wasn’t sure what to do since the announcer wasn’t telling him what to do like they do in the western pleasure classes,” Amy says laughing. “He also had only shown Moonpie in the western riding one other time before showing in Oklahoma City, and he hasn’t shown in the western riding but a few times in his show career.”
Gumz adds, “They both had great rides and their very high scores represented that,” Gumz says. “Shane won’t admit it, but he is excited and he’s a proud peacock. The stands were lined with colleagues watching and cheering him on. Since he scored two points higher than his wife, he is of course rubbing it in, saying that he should take her spot in the Level 3 finals.”
All kidding aside, we would like to congratulate Shane and Moonpie on their great ride and reserve championship. We also wish Jamie and Its A Southern Thing the best of luck in the Level 3 finals on Monday evening.
