The Wyoming Quarter Horse Association (WQHA) hosted another successful well-attended show, the Cowboy Summer Classic, July 12-16 in Douglas WY. Open, amateur and youth exhibitors from across Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming showed to six nationally known judges in a wide range of Quarter Horse and All-Breed classes. WQHA is especially grateful to AQHA judges Bruce Army, Cyndi Robbins, Lita Perrin (July 12-14), and Jan Larsen, Kathryn Kope, and Dave Denniston (July 14-16) for having made this show such a high-quality event.
A great venue on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds and fabulous prizes (including $500 for the top ranch/reining and all-around performance winners!) helped attract top professional and amateur exhibitors from the region. Show manager Lacy Cooper and show secretary Sherri Matuska ran the show beautifully, which contributed to a highly professional but still relaxed atmosphere. Last but not least, a pizza party sponsored by Smiley the French Bulldog and a corn hole tournament made for a fun time for all!
All in all, the show brought in more than 900 class entries at the open, amateur, novice amateur, rookie amateur, select amateur, youth, novice youth, and rookie youth levels. Classes included ranch horse (ranch riding, rail, and trail), reining, barrel racing and pole bending, halter and showmanship at halter, Western performance (western pleasure, western riding, horsemanship, and trail), and English performance (hunter under saddle and equitation). As in prior years, L1 (novice amateur and green horse) classes were particularly popular as the show has become a favorite regional venue for novice exhibitors to hone their show skills, and for open exhibitors to gain experience for their young and green horses. That said, there was plenty of good competition at the Amateur, Senior, and Junior horse levels. All breed, rookie, and walk-trot options for both English and Western classes boosted participation by both members and non-members. The largest classes (10 or more entries) included Senior Ranch Trail, Senior Ranch Riding, L1 Ranch Riding, Senior Trail, Amateur Trail, L1 Amateur Trail, and L1 Amateur Horsemanship.
The show’s AQHA youth champions were: Reese Barrett and No Doubt Im Spartacus (youth champion and L1 youth champion); Milana Rowe and AJ Shes Surely Foxy (L1 youth reserve champion and rookie youth reserve champion); and Giana LaReau and Im Zipped Good (rookie youth champion).
Note that Reese and Milana both went on to the AQHYA youth world show in Oklahoma City in August and had great shows!
The high-point AQHA amateur champions were: Kristina Rothers and The Bar Made Me Lazy (amateur champion and L1 amateur champion; Elizabeth Wilson and Schwagger (amateur reserve champion and L1 amateur reserve champion); Roxanne Doogan and Snapchat Diva (amateur select champion); Bruce Rice and Sweet Lil Oak (amateur select reserve champion); Pamela Kauffman and Immortal Conclusion (rookie amateur champion); and Erin Harding and Whooz Foolin Who (rookie amateur reserve champion).
AQHA high point horses were: Sweet Lil Oak and Bruce Rice (high point senior horse) and Snapchat Diva and Leslie Lange (reserve high point senior horse); The Witch Dr and Leslie Lange (high point junior horse and high point L1 horse); Platinum and Proud and Marvin Kapushion (reserve high point junior horse); and Playnchipsonthestrip and Suzanne Kapushion (reserve high point L1 horse)
All Breed champions were: Annabelle Hulbert and Figure on Fancy (All Breed youth champion), Caitlyn Kauffman and Look Here Im Hot (All Breed adult champion); and Randy Guggisberg and Winken Thunderstorm (All Breed adult reserve champion).
Huge congratulations go to Bruce Rice and Sweet Lil Oak, the winner of the Ranch Horse/Reining Spectacular and $500; and to Reese Barrett and No Doubt Im Spartacus, the winner of the All Around Performance Spectacular and $500!
Finally, congratulations to the many circuit and individual class winners, and to everyone who came and showed! The riders and the horses were all truly impressive. All results are posted at Sherri Matuska Show Management www.smshowmanagement.com.
WQHA wants to call attention to the many sponsors whose support resulted in great prizes for high point winners, circuit awards, and many lucky exhibitor cash awards. Platinum sponsors included MACKSTEEL Farm and Ranch Equipment. Gold sponsors included Equine Oasis, Grasslands Market, Kelley Simonsen, Leslie Lange Performance Horses, Logcrafters, and Smiley the French Bulldog from NYC. Silver-level sponsors included Cinch, Daurio Performance Horses, Douglas Feed, First Interstate Bank, Guynn Training Center, Kiyota Greenhouses, Nemmers Performance Horses, and Tom Balding Bits and Spurs. The show was also supported with a grant from the Converse County Tourism Board.
Last but not least, WQHA wants to encourage everyone to attend the upcoming WQHA-approved shows: AQHA Region 2 Championship, September 13-17, at the Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City, SD; and Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association’s Rocktoberfest show, October 12-15, at The Ranch in Loveland, CO. Points earned by WQHA members count toward 2024 year-end awards. For those points to count, however, exhibitors must be a 2024 WQHA member prior to the start of the show.
Nicole Ballenger
WQHA Secretary
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