By Patrick Kayser
Unseasonably warm weather greeted exhibitors at Murray State University’s Winter AQHA Circuit December 11-13, 2015 at the William Bill Cherry Ag Expo Center in Murray Kentucky. Entries were up 10% over last year. Exhibitors from Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and surrounding states competed over the three days.
Open Champion was Bradley Boyd and his mount My Barracuda. Bradley won the award competing mainly in the roping events. Competition was tough throughout the Open division, evident by the three-way tie for Reserve Champion between Bradley Boyd riding Boons Scarlet O Kara, Rumba Down ridden by Kim Blanton, and Jessica Moser on Five Oaks Timetospin. Jessica continued a strong showing in the amateur division, winning the Circuit Amateur All Around award. Rachel Bunner was Reserve Champion in the Amateur division and Champion in the Novice Amateur division. Martha Ryan, competing on Dontmissmycall, won the Circuit All Around in the Select Amateur all-around.
The youth division grew this year, too. Hannah Page, riding License to Smoke, won the Novice Youth division and tied for the Reserve Youth division with McKenzie Reagor on Answer to my Dreams. The Youth division All Around Horse was Diamond Swinging Pro.
“We are encouraged by the great turn out,” says Patrick Kayser, Show Manager. “We are dedicated to rebuilding these shows to where they were back in the ‘90s.” Several changes were made to this year’s show schedule to be more exhibitor-friendly. All Western classes were held on Saturday. The show concluded on Sunday with Halter, Showmanship, and English events. AQHA contest events were the final classes held on Sunday. Murray State University sponsored a separate 3D Barrel Race after the AQHA show on Sunday. Holding the AQHA classes just prior to the 3D open barrel race made it convenient for the exhibitors to show in both events.
The next AQHA circuit held at Murray State will be March 18-20, 2016. This set of shows were moved from January to March to take advantage of warmer weather.
