FALL CHAMPIONSHIP: ARIZONA QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION PULLS OUT THE STOPS

Photos Don Trout

The Arizona Quarter Horse Association hosted its Fall Championship Show Circuit Sept. 21 to 25, at the West World Equestrian Complex in Scottsdale.

The show features a wide array of leveled classes including Ranch, English, Western, Trail, Cutting, Reining and Cow Horse.

Ranch Riding exhibitors competed for added money events. The Farnam $5,000 Added L1 Open Ranch Stakes drew green Ranch horses in Level 1 Ranch Riding, Ranch on the Rail and Ranch Trail along with a Halter class. Ryan Kail rode Charleston LK to championship honors winning $2,000 and the prize buckle. That same team also won the $5,000 Added Ranch Riding Derby with 20 entries for horses 5 and Under, sponsored by Markel Insurance, collecting another $3,040.

Ranch Riding and Trail exhibitors earned hundreds, and even thousands of dollars in the 2D and 3D Jackpots which featured a total of $32,000 in added money. Jackpots were concurrent with the regular AQHA classes, and with two or three payout tiers, exhibitors could win money without winning the class.

Best of Show Awards acknowledged high point winners in All Around and Ranch, Reining and Cattle divisions. Champions won a pair of Rod Patrick Ostrich boots and a Cinch Jeans and Shirts certificate. Ciera Bennett claimed the Amateur All Around Best of Show award. Andrea Kail showed Made Four Lopin to earn the Best of Show All Around Level 1/Green horse title and a new pair of boots. The All Around Open exhibitor was Bob Stubbs. Kim Gutowski picked up another title in the All Around Select Amateur division. Sydney Swallom won the All Around Division Youth 18 & Under and the Level s1 All Around Youth was Ruby Gunderson.

National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) futurity classes were also popular. Iron Lion Zion, owned by Richard and Betty Car, of Bremen, Indiana, won the 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle with Stacy Huls in the irons. Kaci Rodriguez rode her horse Rock It Man Rockn to a win the 3- Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

The NSBA 3 Year Old Open Western Pleasure winner was Cant By Me Love owned by Ron & Linda Coakley and shown by Kip Larson. Cant By Me Love also won the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure with Linda in the saddle. Andrea Kail scored another win in the NSBA 3 Year-Old Open Trail with Titos On The Rocks owned by Amanda Kemling.

For more information on the Arizona Fall Championship, including complete results visit www.azqha.org.