Lexington, KY – Every horse show exhibitor has a competition they most look forward to each year. For some exhibitors, the anticipation is due to outstanding facilities, while for others it’s management going far beyond the call of duty to make the show a memorable and fun experience for all involved. Still others say it’s the excellent competition that draws them to a particular show. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt about it – there are some shows that rise above the rest and become exhibitor favorites. For the second year in a row, the United States Equestrian Federation has honored two favorite competitions chosen by the exhibitors in the 2010 Favorite Breed Competition Contest. This year, top honors went to the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show in Asheville, NC, and the Penn Marydel Welsh Show in Bel Air, MD.
The contest was created in 2009, providing a competitive outlet for exhibitors to rally in support of their favorite breed competitions across the country. The top vote earners for each of 11 breeds were recognized as individual winners, earning a plaque, and bragging rights to go with it. These “favorite” competitions were then entered into a drawing to determine the Grand and Reserve Prize winners.
The Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show, voted best amongst the competitions featuring American Saddlebreds, was drawn as the Grand Prize winner for 2010, and was awarded a pizza party for the competitors at this year’s show, featuring 65 large pizzas, plates full of brownies, and iced tea and lemonade to wash it down.
“Blue Ridge Classic is very exhibitor friendly,” said one competitor who voted for the show. “It has a wonderful staff and they are very thoughtful toward the exhibitor’s needs.”
The Penn Marydel Welsh Show, tied for the best with the Kelviden Classic amongst the Welsh shows, also had the luck of the draw on its side, and was awarded the Reserve Prize – and partied in style with chocolate, vanilla, mint chip, and strawberry ice cream, with at least 10 different toppings – everything from gummy bears to Oreo crumbs to fresh fruit.
“The Penn Marydel Welsh Show is always my favorite to attend. Everyone is so friendly and we have a great time together,” shared a happy competitor attending the social. “The ice cream social this year was the perfect touch.”
The other nine winning breed competitions for 2010 were:
• Rocky Mountain Iberian Horse Club Andalusian Show (tie – Andalusian/Lusitano)
• IALHA Region I Championship (tie – Andalusian/Lusitano)
• Region 4 All Arabian Championship (Arabian)
• West Coast Connemara Show (Connemara)
• IFSHA Friesian World & Grand National (Friesian)
• Midwest Charity (Hackney)
• Massachusetts Morgan (Morgan)
• NSHR National Championship Finals (National Show Horse)
• Piedmont Classic (Paso Fino)
• Missouri State Fair (Shetland)
• Kelviden Classic (tie – Welsh)
There’s still plenty of time to cast your votes in the 2011 USEF My Favorite Breed Competition Contest. Eleven competitions will be recognized (one per breed category), receiving a plaque as well as a mention in the USEF’s Week in Review e-newsletter. From these competitions, two will be selected from a random drawing to win the Grand and Reserve prizes. The Grand Prize winner will receive a pizza party for their exhibitors at the 2012 competition; the Reserve winner will receive an ice cream party for the exhibitors at the 2012 competition. To be eligible to claim their prize, the competitions must remain USEF-licensed for 2012.
All USEF members in good standing who have participated in a USEF-licensed breed competition as a competitor, trainer or owner, are encouraged to vote and share their feedback with the USEF.
The contest is underway and voting ends December 1, 2011. To cast your vote during this competition season, visit: https://www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/FavoriteBreed/default.aspx.
For more information, please contact Mary Vance, National Breed/Discipline Affiliates Representative, at (859) 225-6951 or via e-mail at mvance@usef.org.