Ohio Amateur Quarter Horse Association
The Ohio Amateur Quarter Horse Association is deep into the planning stages for our 2023 “not-so” Little Buckeye Horse Show. Once again, we’ll be hosting the show at Garwood Arena in Columbiana, Ohio. So far, we have over $60,000 in food, cash, and prizes to hand out to exhibitors, compliments of our generous sponsors. We’ll be awarding prizes for 1st-6th place in every class, as well as High Point, Reserve High Point, and Bronze High Point across several divisions. New this year, there will be several jackpot classes with big checks for a couple lucky winners and overall class circuit awards!
In addition to being a competitive show with a slew of classes, we also have social activities planned with daily food, tons of shopping with quality vendors, a movie night, and you can’t forget the free exhibitor photos by Corrin Hunt Photography, sponsored by Lakota of Ohio! Each exhibitor will also receive a bag full of items, including our infamous collectible t-shirts.
At the OQHA Annual Banquet in February, we launched our Amateur Engagement Stipend. We encourage any Ohio amateur member to visit our website OAQHA.com or our Facebook page for more details on this and our horse show!
Congress Futurity & Stakes Book Released
The All American Quarter Horse Congress Futurity and Stakes program features 8 futurity classes and 36 stakes classes, totaling $1.7 million in prize money. Futurity nominations are due online by April 1.
In February, the OQHA Annual Meetings and Awards Banquet was held at the newly renovated Hilton Downtown Columbus, now the largest hotel in Ohio.
The Ohio Quarter Horse Association Board of Directors and members met for their annual meeting to recap the 2022 year and install the newly elected and appointed directors. During the meeting, Missy Thyfault was presented with the AQHA Most Valuable Professional award, voted on by her OQHA peers. The Ohio Quarter Horse Youth Association and the Ohio Amateur Quarter Horse Association also met and presented their plans for the 2023 year.
The youth did a community service project at our February meeting for Way to Battle with our very own OQHA family - the Martins.
The youth helped stuff bags and put collars on the “battle pups” that Brady hands out. We were also able to donate $1,000 to their charity from the proceeds of our 2022 fundraiser events.
We also plan to start our 2024 fundraiser by the beginning of The Madness!
Updates provided by OAQHA & OQHYA Representatives
Following the conclusion of the annual meetings, the Ohio affiliates sponsored a hospitality room to present awards and provide hors d’oeuvres prior to the awards banquet.
The plated dinner banquet boasted the largest attendance numbers in OQHA history, with over 500 OQHA members and guests present.
We celebrated our member’s many achievements from 2022 by awarding nearly $100,000 in prizes!
During the awards portion of the night, 2022 OQHA President Greg Tordoff was recognized for his service to the association. Directors Cindy Morehead and Jeff Gore were also presented with the President’s Award for outstanding service.
Thank you all for a great year, we look forward to following your accomplishments in 2023!
Southern Ohio Quarter Horse Assocation
We just wrapped up The Challenge; giving away $11,000 in scholarship money! This is in addition to the all around winners. To compete in the Scholarship Challenge, youth chose 3 classes, which could include a daily fun class.
Bella D’Onofrio rocked it, competing on two different horses and winning both the 14-18 Champion $1,500 and Reserve Champion $1,000 scholarships.
Weston McColley, who only shows in the Small Fry Showmanship, added the 3-legged race and the boot race to win the Reserve Small Fry Scholarship $500. Sidney Hawk was the crowd favorite in the Egg & Spoon on her ranch rider!
Ryan Geiger Photography was also there this year, providing images to exhibitors at a flat rate! Up almost 200 entries from last year, The Challenge is always a fun show to kick off the year!
2023 is the 10 year anniversary of The Madness, May 5-24. It is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! To celebrate its anniversary, circuit champion buckles are on the way, along with the Harris All Around saddles and other exciting awards. At the Sunday night exhibitor party, SOQHA will crown the 2023 Queen. We look forward to seeing you all there!
For showbills, results, scholarships, and winners, along with the queen application, please visit SOQHA.com.
OQHA Queen - Ashton Snow
Growing up showing horses has offered me many incredible and an endless amount of opportunities. Representing the Ohio Quarter Horse Association as the 2023 Queen is another opportunity I’m excited to partake in. In my early showing years, I was very involved in 4H and open shows including the All American Youth Show and Ohio State Fair. As I got older, I started to branch out and joined IEA and started showing at OQHA shows. Now that I have graduated, I have started showing NRHA and am also on the Bowling Green State University IHSA team. As the 2023 OQHA Queen, I hope to be a role model for all the youth and dedicate my time to give back to the horse community in any way possible. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and opportunities as the 2023 Ohio Quarter Horse Queen. I wish everyone the best of luck on their 2023 show season!
Northern Ohio Quarter Horse Association
Happy Spring to all!
NOQHA is looking forward to another successful show season, our Spring Extravaganza and Summer Six Pack are already sold out of stalls with a waiting list. An exhibitor’s party, taco party, pizza bash, and ice cream social are just some of the things planned! Member and open circuit awards, along with all around awards for each class will be given at the Six Pack.
Congratulations to our 2023 NOQHA Queen, Jessica Pickersgill!
The youth are also hard at work planning fundraising activities. Anyone interested in more youth information about NYATT or how to get involved, please contact Aubrey Braham at 724-967-4003.
Our adult and youth meetings are the second Wednesday of the month by conference call or Zoom. Everyone is welcome, and we are always looking for new directors.
Buckeye Reining Series
The Buckeye Reining Spectacular is scheduled for May 25-28 at the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio!
Find more information about stall reservations, camping, and entry instructions, including this year’s showbill, by visiting buckeyereiningseries.com.
Premier Mount N Trail
Come join us for a fun-filled summer competing in mountain trail! Earn year-end high point awards through PMT and OQHA, along with each of the 4 different parks, during our 22 events. Each division also awards overall belt buckles!
Become a confident rider, along with increasing your horse’s confidence in any situation. Mountain trail helps you and your horse be able to master anything that comes along.
All ages are welcome (horse or rider), and those starting out can come in with confidence in the Rookie or Green class, which is all at a walk. Level 1 is next, still working at a walk with a few more obstacles to master. Level 2 is trotting and walking between obstacles and some turns within the obstacle pattern. Level 3 is cantering, trotting, walking, and turns. Level 4 is for our masters with cantering, mostly trotting, and maneuvers on most obstacles, which can include 180, 270, and 360 degree turns, back ups, side passing, and more. All levels offer In Hand classes first, then riding classes with the same patterns.
So, whether you enjoy riding or just leading your horse, you can compete! In Hand classes gives value to those horses who may not be able to be ridden, but can be led just fine. Earn OQHA year-end awards in Levels 1-4. There is tough competition, but everyone feels like family and helps each other out. Very fun, relaxing, and friendly environment!
Each park also offers open days where you can practice before the shows. There are even lessons and clinics available at some of the parks to help you conquer these obstacles. All horses and riding disciplines are welcome. Check out the PMT website for information on all of the different parks and how to earn year-end awards! Rules can also be found on our website, creeksidehorsepark.com/mt-trail-challenges.
Reminder that the scholarship deadline is June 1. For more information, please visit our website at NOQHA.com.