Letter from MSQHA President Eileen Simpson

Well, here we are more than halfway through 2010! Just this past month the Youth sponsored an all Novice show at the Howard County Fairgrounds. The show was well run and the participants had a great time. There was an excellent trail clinic with Marjorie thor Straten, who recently gave up her amateur status to become a Professional Horseman with AQHA. MSQHYA worked very hard to put on a nice horse show. There were good quality horses and many good novice riders.

MSQHA developed a survey last year, and it was clear from the responses we received that our membership was interested in having more AQHA horse shows in Maryland. MSQHA board members listened! The Youth had a Novice show on June 26, 2010, and there are two shows coming up in August, a one-day AQHA show at the Howard County Fair on August 13, 2010, and an introductory “Blue and White” show on Sunday, August 22, 2010. The “Blue and White” show is called that because exhibitors can wear blue jeans and a white shirt (no chaps required) to show their western horses and can go without jackets for the English classes. The August 22nd show will have some open classes as well for any breed of horse. There will be official AQHA classes as well. This is a great opportunity to show at an AQHA show without having stall and hotel expenses.

Labor Day weekend brings our Black-Eyed Susan State Show to Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia, on September 4 and 5, 2010.  There is also an Old Dominion Series Show on Monday, September 6, following our state show. Our state show is a split-combined format on Saturday and Sunday. The Old Dominion Show is a one-day introductory show on Monday.

We are looking forward to these new opportunities and hope to see you at the shows. Have a great and safe summer!