WOW! What a day it was at the Region One Experience. It was all about speed, precision, spins and down-in-the-dirt sliding stops with reining all day in the arena. There were so many reining exhibitors, it took six hours for all of them to show. There were three clinics, all providing valuable information for exhibitors. AQHA Pro Horseman Melissa Sexton helped a large crowd learn the ins and outs of trail while amateur Candice Grossaint gave tips on perfecting a showmanship pattern. AQHA Pro Horseman Jack Brizendine closed out the day with a clinic on showing and fitting halter horses. Then with the sun setting in the Idaho western sky, it was time for the fun to begin. The Equine Extravaganza had something for everybody from freestyle reining to musical dressage to bridleless western pleasure. Got a story idea on an exhibitor at Region One? E-mail tonyag@aqha.org.
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| Jerry Baber of Meridian, Idaho, and Renne Rooster come in for a sliding stop in the novice amateur reining. | Joyce Powers of Meridian, Idaho, and Doctor Shine compete in the select amateur reining. |
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| AQHA Pro Horseman Melissa Sexton gave a clinic on trail. | While Candice Grossaint talked about showmanship. |
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| Ina Ginsberg of Cave Creek, Arizona, was on hand to help Jack Brizendine with his halter clinic. | AQHA Pro Horseman Jack Brizendine gave a clinic on properly fitting and showing a halter horse. |
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| Josephine Mootz of Cottage Grove, Oregon, and Kings Amber Ale ride through the practice trail course. | A pickup truck made the trip from Washington state, letting everyone know where they were heading. |
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| AQHA Customer Service Manager Wendy Kite gives Marilyn Farley of Boise, Idaho, the Montana Silversmith belt buckle she won in novice amateur reining. | AQHA Professional Horseman Lynn Palm borrowed Katia and Dan Gillis' Irresistible Bett for her dressage demonstration during the Friday Night Equine Extravaganza. |
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| AQHA Pro Horseman Bob Avila and Chics Magic Potion face the flag for the National Anthem, which was played at the start of the Equine Extravaganza. | Children were encouraged to come down from the stands into the arena for a chance to pat Chics Magic Potion. The stallion seemed to enjoy the attention. |
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| Idaho Director Emeritus Earl Lily loves to support the youth. He gave away this Quarter Horse mare to one lucky kid drawn from the audience at the Extravaganza. | It was western pleasure up against hunter under saddle in the Champion of Champions Youth Equitation contest during the Equine Extravaganza. |
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| The 18 original riders were narrowed down to nine. To make the competition tougher, the hunt seat riders were told to cross their irons across the top of the saddle... | ...while the western riders were asked to drop their stirrups. The riders then rode through all the gaits before the contestants were then culled to five. |
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| Kennedy Zema of Colville, Washington, sported University of Texas burnt orange and white as well as the traditional longhorn. | Graysen Stroud of Snohomish, Washington, and Phat Asset take their victory lap after being named the Youth Champion of Champions. |
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| Paxton Deal of Nampa, Idaho, and SS June Bug performed to The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" in the freestyle reining. | Carolyn Lincoln of Caldwell, Idaho, and Docs Ted Tucker had a little help for her freestyle reining to "Dueling Banjos." |
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| Jason Richards of Rigby, Idaho, shows off his "Brand New Girlfriend" in his freestyle reining. | Jim Simpson and Rond Boo Boo put on a patriotic theme with "I'm Proud to be an American." |
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| Molly Blemler of Eagle, Idaho, and Miss Cowboy Que went with a biker theme in their freestyle. | Dee Craig of Star, Idaho, and Boonlight Sundancer went bridleless to win the freestyle. |
