By Christine HamiltonThe American Quarter Horse JournalFebruary 21, 2012
In the 2012 Prairie Classic show office, AQHA staff set up a computer where exhibitors could test-drive AQHA's online leveling look-up system. (Journal photo)
The big story coming out of the 2012 Kansas Quarter Horse Association Prairie Classic, February 15-19, in Oklahoma City, is the pilot testing of AQHA’s new leveling program.
And few people were more thrilled with how it turned out than AQHA Professional Horseman Jackie Krshka of Yukon, Oklahoma, show manager.
“It was a great team effort – I’m really pleased with how it came off,” she told The Journal. “I’m glad that we did it.”
She said that having AQHA staff on hand to help with setup, implementation and answering questions was a huge help. Staff in attendance included Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity; Patti Carter-Pratt, AQHA executive director of shows; Alex Ross, AQHA senior director of judges; and Tim Callahan, AQHA IT director of systems support.
“So many people came to understand what leveling was about,” Jackie said. “Through the course of the show, we saw how impactful it can be (for the Progressive level horse and Intermediate rider).
"This show has gotten a lot of the people here excited, which means they’re going to tell a lot of other people about it.”
Jackie said that there were definitely challenges through the week, but management, AQHA Blue-Ribbon Task Force members on-site and AQHA staff, “quickly resolved little glitches that would come up.”
She added: “We had a great set of judges, and Alex (Ross) took a lot of time doing educational sessions ahead of time to prepare them for what they were about to embark on.”
Want to read more about the Prairie Classic? Check out "AQHA Leveling Program Debuts" on aqha.com/showing, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal.
In other show news, the Prairie Classic did not hold roping or speed events this year, Jackie says, but offered more exposure to all-around classes.
“Our roping was in competition with the Dixie National (in Jackson, Mississippi),” she explains, “So we tried to be fair to that stock show. A lot of our ropers went there.
“From the events we held, (our final entry numbers will) be about the same. Our stall numbers are up about 25 if you take the roping stalls out of there.”
She adds: “The Huntfield (AQHA) Derby was new, and the Southern Belle added a little bit of money to their classes. With the one special event and the two split-combined shows, we did (National Snaffle Bit Association)-approve all five, and that was a difference.”
Second Time Around
The new Huntfield AQHA Derby Series held the second in its derby series February 19, almost doubling its numbers from the first event held at the Fox Lea Farm Circuit in January (see the February Journal Plus).
Twenty-two horses and riders competed in the first round, with 15 called back for the “handy” round. For more information and to find a Huntfield AQHA Derby near you, check out the Huntfield AQHA Derby Series Facebook page, and to find the Huntfield AQHA Derby Series results from the Prairie Classic, be sure to read the March Journal Plus.
For more photos and coverage from the 2012 Prairie Classic, check out Christine Hamilton's story "Big Show on the Prairie" in the March Journal Plus , a digital supplement to The American Quarter Horse Journal, free to Journal subscribers.