Region 9 Championships by Kara Larson
Southern Hospitality At Its Finest
On the cusp of Texas summer, Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Tex., features one of the larger regional shows in the Arabian show industry. The Region 9 Championship Show enjoys a diverse and competitive depth and additionally, Region 9 Director Margo Shallcross was very pleased this year with how fluidly the show ran under the management of Steve Buddin and his staff. Margo shares, “The office was handled by Melanni Hershberger from Scottsdale, Ariz., whose calm manner is an asset to any show office. Our dressage and sport horse divisions were handled by Deborah Cinotto; she brings years of knowledge in smoothly running these disciplines. Edythe Snowden does a super job as our Barn Manager and, finally, Steve is backed up by his lovely wife Jean, who also handled our vendors. From gate to show office, our staff did a remarkable job.” With nearly 500 horses showing at the Region 9 Championships this year, the show is able to boast big numbers, but even more importantly, Shallcross maintains that the pride of Region 9 exists in the facility, the talent of the exhibitors, and the high energy of the show. “What sets this show apart from others is the depth in competition our horsemen and horsewomen have to offer in Region 9. We are gifted with many outstanding trainers, amateurs, and junior riders in our region. If you can place in Region 9, you have a great chance to also do well at the various national shows AHA offers.” When Region 9’s staff comes together, working tirelessly to bring the show to a new level, all the while aspiring to be a catalyst for innovation, Shallcross is bound to receive a great deal of praise and compliments on its behalf. “At the end of the show, I was at the out-gate, and many large and small barns came by to thank everyone for a great show,” Shallcross says. “They were truly happy with the running of the championships and the judges we had this year. Dede Bisch, Scott Brumfield, and Joseph Polo were in the main ring, Leon Mathias judged working western, and Gail Hoff-Carmona, dressage and sport horse classes. Our main ring panel has to keep the show moving as we have a very full schedule and they did just that.” Thinking ahead to next year, Shallcross looks forward to making the show even bigger and more successful. “Next year, we are going to do a different trophy for our open classes and hold a big welcome party for our exhibitors. We hope to attract new exhibitors by offering two dual qualifying shows in Region 12 (Florida and Alabama), and a dual qualifier in Louisiana with Region 12 and in Texas with Region 13. The Reichert Celebration in September will also be one of the dual qualifying shows in our region.” She adds, “You will not find a better place to show and Will Rogers Memorial Center is always improving its show grounds.” As Shallcross extends an invitation for all to attend the 2015 Region 9 Championships, she offers, “For people who come and are looking to do something outside the show arena, we sit in an ideal location with several world-class museums, the zoo, and botanical garden adjacent to the show grounds. We are also fortunate to have lovely hotels and restaurants in the vicinity along with three air-conditioned arenas, and excellent stalling that connects through tunnels to all the arenas. The outside temperature may be hot, but our arenas are very cool. If you have not shown or visited our Region 9 Championship show, I encourage you to put it on your calendar for May 27-30, 2015. We offer southern hospitality at its finest!” Volume 45, No. 3 |
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