The Little River Circuit Show

A Story That Started in the Sandhills

by Ray Owen

of Adrian de Pasquale and his wife, Roisin O’Rahilly. A multi-faceted facility, the farm was a top-notch Standardbred training center and a host venue for pro-rodeo events, multiple U.S. Olympic training clinics and trials, and an annual American Quarter Horse Show, originally called Little River Farm Circuit.

Carolina Sandhills. Two miles of paved roads encompassed the farm set among rolling pastures where in addition to boarding and training horses they raised Black Angus cattle. Crowning the central hill was that family home that commanded a view of the surrounding countryside.

“Our Quarter Horse show was quite amazing,” says O’Rahilly. “We had five to six hundred horses, put on 57 classes a day and they’d go until two or three in the morning. We had a secretary who took all the entries.

When you went up to enter your first class, you had to give her a blank check. Every time you entered in a class, she would add that to your tab. At the end of the show, you sat down with her and went over everything. If you didn’t show up, she had your blank check.”

“That’s basically how it ran. We had to advertise quite a bit and make a lot of preparations. But there wasn’t a whole lot of personnel required to run the show. You had to have a ringmaster, judges and have course, our secretary. There was a caterer on the farm who did all the food service. We had parking spots for 30 or 40 large motor homes around the main ring and they sort of lived there for the week. They were all on the rail and the ring was fairly large.”

“The key was the date,” explains O’Rahilly. “Everybody wants the good date. Our show ran for six days and our very first show was June 4th through the 10th. What’s extraordinary, the entry fee was seven dollars a class and four dollars for a youth class. Your stall for the entire week was $30.” The show attracted competitors from all 50 states and ran for seven years before Little River Farm was sold in the 1980’s.

The Little River Circuit was held at several different places before landing at Williamston in the 1980’s, changing from an outdoor venue to indoors, and scaling back to a three-day event run by the NCQHA District IV.” NCQHA is separated into five districts,” says Susan Daniels. “District IV has around 100 members and spans the entire southeastern section of North Carolina.”

NCQHA, an affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association, has over 500 members statewide who breed, raise, train, and show Quarter Horses. Established in 1963, NCQHA stimulates interest and regulates matters pertaining to the breeding, exhibition, sale, racing or improvement of the breed.

“People are very supportive on one another and cheer each other on. The potlucks are neat because everybody brings something and then you sit down and enjoy a meal together at the barn.” The Little River Circuit primarily attracts people from North Carolina and Virginia. “We’ve had a few folks come up from South Carolina,” says Daniels. “The show we do in April, the Martinganza, draws people from as far away as Sweden, Australia and Canada. They usually fly in, show their horse and leave. It’s one of the largest shows on the East Coast. The 2023 Martinganza, held March 30 - April 2, had more than 7,000 entries.”

NCQHA District IV hosts three shows annually, along with an awards banquet to honor those who have supported them throughout the year. Familyfriendly, their offerings are designed to appeal to a wide range of participants from beginner to advanced. “We have potlucks and exhibitor dinners,” says Daniels, describing her organization.

The Little River Circuit primarily attracts people from North Carolina and Virginia.

According to Daniels, the best riders are dedicated with self-discipline. “You have to study and do your homework,” she adds. “A lot of people ride horses but they don’t know how to ride, if you know what I mean. A good rider would have communication with the horse. That goes for any breed. Discipline, across the board and appreciation of their mount.”

“I just love them,” says Daniels, reflecting on her passion for Quarter Horses. “They can do just about anything and are the most versatile of horses. Some people might debate that but I think they are. The ones we have will do anything I ask them to and that’s important. You can show a Quarter Horse over fences, all the Western classes, cattle classes – it’s one breed that does it all.”

“I call it a blood transfusion,” she says with a smile. “If you ever love them, they stay in your system. I do the horse shows to stay involved and to see everybody. I call it my family because they are family to me. It just gets in your blood and you can’t get rid of it.”

Want to go to the 2023 Little River Circuit Show?

The show will be held July 28-30 at the Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, 2900 NC Highway 125 South, Williamston, NC 27892.

For fees and information, contact Susan Daniels: (919) 894-0600, email: showsec@embarqmail.com.