Remembering Region Three

It was an experience and so much more.

By Tina Bothum
Special to The American Quarter Horse Journal
January 31, 2011

It might be called the AQHA Region Three Championship, but it is so much more than that: It is an experience that you will never forget!

The Region Three Championship was July 14-18, 2010, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St Paul, Minnesota, and was organized by the Region Three affiliates: Illinois, Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. 
 
Upon arriving at the show grounds July 15, I located my stall and got my horse settled. Next, I checked in at the office. I can’t express enough how thankful I was for the helpful and organized office staff. If you pre-registered, the staff already had a copy of all of your paperwork along with classes that you had registered for, and you got to enter the first-time exhibitor classes. Once you checked in, you received your back number, pins to secure it to your clothing or saddle pad, patterns and a Region Three Championship T-shirt. I also had the opportunity to sign up for a drawing and to sign up for a chance to work with a Professional Horseman.

At the barn, I filled out a form with my name, the class I wanted help with and my phone number. I was introduced to AQHA Professional Horseman Jennie Griese, and we exchanged phone numbers, and discussed a possible location and time to meet on Friday morning.
 
Next, I decided go watch some of the classes in the coliseum. This is when I realized how much different this show was compared to any other show I have ever attended.

Each exhibitor entered down the center of the arena at a trot as her name and her horse’s name, was announced. Then they would be directed by one of the ring stewards to which side of the arena they would proceed to line up on the rail. This was quite a unique feature of this show as each exhibitor and horse was recognized. In each class, the top 15 horses were recognized for their placing.
 
On the 16th, it was time to work with Jennie on my showmanship for the next day. It certainly was nice to have the opportunity to work with someone who has never seen my horse and me as a team in showmanship. Jennie took the time to let me run through all three of my showmanship classes – first-time exhibitor, novice amateur and amateur – and provided loads of encouragement and excellent pointers.
 
That day, I also had time to do a little shopping at the trade show. If you forgot something, you had a place to purchase it.

That night was the exhibitors’ party and the silent auction. The affiliates did an awesome job of not only organizing a full slate of classes, they also offered an ice cream social sponsored by Districts 5 and 6 of the Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association; a watermelon feed sponsored by AgStar; Quarter Horse racing at Canterbury Downs sponsored by the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association; and an exhibitors’ party.

After the party, it was time to practice more, this time with AQHA Professional Horseman Dana N. Panella. I have had the opportunity to show under Dana, and she provided excellent tips. In addition, she had me watch another exhibitor execute certain parts of each pattern.

On July 17, the morning brought more practice and time in the arena. I certainly did not want to do too much as my horse, Divine Perfection, aka “Diva,” seemed to be pretty dead, and I wanted to make sure I had enough horse left for my classes. 
 
The show started at 7 a.m., and before I knew, it was time to get ready! Dana was super in coming over to my stall and putting my hair up for me to make sure everything was perfect. I went into my first class – adult first-time exhibitor for showmanship. What was unique about this class is that it was open to anyone who had never shown at an AQHA show in this event. The awards were different than the novice amateur and amateur classes but were equally as nice. 
 
As each exhibitor started the pattern, the exhibitor’s and horse’s names were announced. As I started to execute my pattern, much to my surprise, Diva woke up and it was like she was saying, “It is show time, Mom!” I remember telling her to slow down as we were trotting around the cone.
 
My first class complete, it was time to stand and wait anxiously for the results. The class was announced from 12th place to first place. When they got to sixth place and I was not announced, I thought, “OK, I got fifth. That is pretty good.” Well, that was not my number. Then it was fourth place, and I thought, “OK, I will take fourth,” but my number was not called. So, now we were down to third, and I was thinking I would be thrilled with third place, but my number was not called.

So, we were down to second and first place. I decided to move down toward the other person left in the arena as we both waited patiently for the announcement of who was going to be called for second place. Well, much to my surprise, I ended up winning my first-time exhibitors class. I started to cry with tears of happiness and joy, as well as shock. I was presented with a blue ribbon, an embroidered cap and a certificate for a bridle/halter bag.

As I exited the arena, I was overwhelmed by people I knew coming up to me, giving me hugs and congratulating me on my win. This also meant getting my picture taken, as this was a moment worth having in pictures. Bar H Photography, the official photographer of Region Three, had a backdrop set up in another area of the complex where you could display your awards along with having you and your horse in the photo. What a wonderful opportunity to be able to treasure this moment by capturing it in a photograph.
 
My next classes were novice amateur with 45 exhibitors and amateur with 31 exhibitors. We did not place in either class, but we definitely had a good run in novice amateur. I had plenty of opportunity to watch both the novice amateur and amateur classes to see where I need to improve.
 
What the AQHA Region Three Championship provided to me was an opportunity to see that I can compete in showmanship at the AQHA level and that it is time for me to set my goals higher for myself and my horse, as well as an experience that I will never forget!

If someone asked me if going to the AQHA Region Three show is worth it, I would say, “Without a doubt!” The experience is really like no other experience you will have if you want to start out showing at the Quarter Horse level. I personally can’t wait to go back!