Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show Circuit Wrap Up: December 27-31, 2012

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Photos By: Shane Rux

Tampa, FL – January 3, 2013 – The Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show was a huge success, welcoming top riders from across the country as they competed for the winning honors.  Held December 27-31, 2012, at the Florida State Fairgrounds’ Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa, FL, the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show featured five full days of events including Hunters, Equitation, Reining, Western Pleasure, Trail Riding, Driving, Showmanship and Halter classes. The show ended on the 31st to help exhibitors take advantage of the six shows needed to accumulate points before the end of the year for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).

Tommy Sheets, one of the AQHA’s leading trainers, was thrilled to compete at this year’s event. “The Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show provides us with a great facility to come show our horses in multiple arenas with multiple judges at one time,” he commented. “They always hire expert judges for this show. This is one of the most prestigious horse shows in our industry; the level of horses is the upper end of the show horses. With AQHA starting a new progressive program and intermediate program, it has also encouraged all levels of horses to come to this show. The weather has been wonderful here. We’ve had multiple circuit champions in the Trail and Western Riding events. The office staff has also been very accommodating to meeting the trainers’ and exhibitors’ needs.”

This week, the 2012 High Point Youth or Amateur Award, featuring the “Inside the Reining Horse World” experience, was presented to Alexis Parisek with Slow n Natural at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show. The award included: airfare for two to Dallas, Texas, a trip to the ranch of World Champion Tom McCutcheon, a private lesson on school master reiner, a tour of the ranch and breeding facility, as well as a meeting and tour of Tim McQuay’s training and breeding facility, and dinner at the Famous Pappa’s Brother Steakhouse. Parisek earned the prestigious honor after toping the Youth Equitation Over Fences and the Youth Working Hunters. The pair also claimed the All Around Youth High Point Award for their efforts.

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Exhibitors participated in Halter and Showmanship classes.

There were nine Gold Coast High Point Awards given out this year. The first went to Laura Te Grotenhuis’ Un Forgettable, who led the Open English Horse. Un Forgettable was ridden by Bill Ellis in the Junior Hunters and Equitation, and also won the Performance Halter Stallions.  The Open Western Horse High Point Award was presented to MWS Sevens Are Hot for the second year in a row. Sarah Maggert of Paris, IL, rode the talented mount in the Amateur Trail and Western Riding classes, while Ryan Cottingim competed in the Senior Western Riding and Trail classes.

Natoshia Kelly and Spacious Skies won the All Around Amateur High Point Award after leading the Amateur Hunter and Equitation clases. The Select Amateur High Point Award went to So Good Im Indecent and Barabara Nagle. The pair took home top honors in the Amateur Hunters Under Saddle and the Amateur Showmanship events.

The Novice Youth High Point Award was presented to Jessica McAllister and Vinny’s Poco Sam. The pair won classes in the Novice Western Horsemanship and Novice Trail, as well as earning top placing in the Novice Showmanship events.

Jaye Cooke and Envious Invitation took home the Novice Amateur High Point Award for a second year after solid performances in the Novice Amateur Hunters and the Novice Amateur Horsemanship. The week wrapped up with the 10 and Under High Point Award, which was earned Sydney Ochs and Zippos Hot Jet. They received the top call in the Youth Ten & Under Walk/Jog Horsemanship and Showmanship classes.

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The Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show welcomed the country's top horse and rider combinations.

Highlight events also include The Collection Open Working Hunter Classic and The Collection Non Pro Working Hunter Classic. Linda Crothers swept the Open Working Hunter Classic claiming all three of the top spots. She took home the blue ribbon with April Speyer’s Deep Blue Skys, while the second place honors went to Its my Lucky Detail, owned by Madison Eichstadt. Rounding out the top three was Go Big Sky, owned by Rodger Call.

During the Non Pro Working Hunter Classic, Hannah Elizabeth Bedwell stepped up for the winning prize after a beautiful round with Regal To A Te. Alexis Parisek and Slow N Natural picked up the second place award, while Kristin Hull and Into The Blue placed third.

The Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show was thrilled to have top competitors and judges at this year’s event and enjoyed a lovely week at the Florida State Fairgrounds showcasing the best Quarter Horses in the country. The Florida Winter Quarter Horse Circuit is continuing this week with the Florida Gulf Coast Quarter Horse Show at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa, FL.

For more information about the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show, please visit http://fqha.net/. For regular updates about the competition, please visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Gold-Coast-Quarter-Horse-Circuit/179375865501193.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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