Article & photos by LaCresha Kolba
The Volunteer Ranch Horse Association (VolRHA) closed out their 2015 show season November 6-7, 2015 at the Miller Coliseum, in Murfreesboro, TN. Competitors came in from Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi, making this their largest show with over 500 competitors each day. Judges for the weekend were Bill Springer and Billy Springer from Georgia; the Trail class judges were: Ernie Dowell & Weldon Towery.
This show served as a fundraiser for the Volunteer Ranch Horse Youth Association, with a silent auction, Freestyle Reining, and Reverse Lead Line class, with all the proceeds going towards the youth fund. The youth fund helps support the Volunteer Ranch Horse Youth Team for the American Ranch Horse Association World Show in July in Cloverdale, Indiana. The Reverse Lead line class was an incredible hit this year. This class consists of young kids leading the horses with adults as the rider, and two side walkers. This event was a crowd favorite especially when one of the trainers came out as one of the adults being led, while wearing a T-shirt with the word “stupid” on the back. Each of his side walkers wore with matching T-shirts that said “I’m With Stupid.” The playful banter of the participants made the class entertaining for all involved.
Kim Smith is the Youth Advisor for 2015 for the VolRHA. She grew up showing horses, and her best friends were horse show kids. Once she had her son, she got him involved with showing in his first lead line class at the Volunteer Ranch Horse Association show in 2006. Kim emphasized the impressive growth of their association in 2015, with around 200 attendees during their show in February to the larger number of competitors this weekend.
The VolRHA show offered classes in Ranch Riding, Trail, Horsemanship, Ranch Roping, Cow horse, Boxing, Sorting, Showmanship, Ranch Reining and Ranch Cutting and Conformation classes. In the Conformation classes, the rules state that the horse is judged by “objective evaluation of the following five traits: balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics, with emphasis on correct manner of travel, degree of muscling and agility. Of the five, balance is the single most important and refers to the structural and aesthetic blending of body parts. Balance is influenced by skeletal structure.”
The Volunteer Ranch Horse Association is a charter affiliate of the American Ranch Horse Association. To get involved, check out their 2016 show schedule, or contact them find information on their website: www.volrha.com
Volunteer Ranch Horse Association Reins In with Fall Show
