AQHA - REGION FOUR EXPERIENCE PHOTOS

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REGION FOUR EXPERIENCE

DAY TWO, JULY 18, 2008

BY HOLLY CLANAHAN

Halter and English flat classes dominated the schedule on Friday. The World Conformation Horse Association, www.conformationhorse.com, presented a clinic on halter presentation and grooming, and also hosted classes offering $250 to the winners, as well as cash prizes for second and third places. Saturday looks to be a busy day, with more halter classes, trail, speed events, equitation, western riding, western pleasure and western horsemanship classes -- plus a clinic from Curt Pate.

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Sierras Gray Pride, owned and shown by Tammy Meeks of Butler, Ohio, towered over the competition. The 16.2-hand gelding won his amateur aged geldings halter class Friday morning.	Renee Crouse and her husband, Dale, make sure no flies will bug Limited Edition Art during her pleasure driving classes. Renee and "Angel" won three reserve regional championships, and Renee says she loves showing at the "nice and relaxed" Regional Experience with the mare she's had since birth. They hail from Groveport, Ohio.

Christina Wenger of Warren, Ohio, is all smiles leaving the arena, as she and Sahara Sky won championship buckles in novice amateur pleasure driving, amateur pleasure driving and senior pleasure driving. "She was awesome," Christina said of the mare she has had less than a year. The pair train with Julie O'Brien of Southington, Ohio.	Lauren Tracy and her mom, Erin Tracy-Ackerer, enjoy some time in the trade show. Lauren, of Delaware, Ohio, had just taken Treacherous Blue Sky into the show pen for the first time in green hunter under saddle. Although they didn't place, the youngster "went around really well. She didn't make any mistakes," Erin says. "We consider it a success."

Nikki Payne of Newark, Ohio, takes Hesa Tivito around the warmup pen before novice amateur reining. "He's my buddy," Nikki says. Her trainer, Steve Siadik won senior reining with "Tigger" at last year's Regional Experience. "He's a terrific example of the Quarter Horse," Nikki says. "He does it for the professional, and he does it for me, the beginner." Nikki and Tigger placed fifth in their novice amateur class.	Casey Warner and Dr Wenloch practice their circles before the novice youth reining class.

There are great prizes at AQHA Regional Experiences. First through 10th places earn medallions. Additional prizes include: fifth place, an American Quarter Horse Journal hay bag; fourth place, a Farnam Vetrolin gift pack; third place, a Weatherbeeta blanket; second place, a Professional's Choice saddle pad; and first place, a Montana Silversmiths custom buckle.	Marina Angotti of Bridgeport, West Virginia, and Got My Socks On take a break before their 14-18 hunter under saddle class. Strawberry smoothie and lemonade stands helped slake thirsts in the summer heat.

And now Marina's horse, "Socks," wants his turn at the smoothie. Mom Vicki Angotti says her daughter has been showing since she was 4; she's 14 now.	The Angottis' Yorkie, Rico, is "the guard dog of the grooming bag," Vicki jokes. "We keep him clipped short so he doesn't drag shavings."

Trainer Matt Claypool, with Justin Bisel in the background, presented a halter presentation and grooming clinic on behalf of the World Conformation Horse Association.	WCHA director Greg Holden says the best grooming tool you can have is a rubber curry. "It's very important to put that elbow grease on them" when you're trying to get a shiny coat, he says.

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