Fenland Quarter Horse Shows

78 registered horses with their owners spent a relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable weekend at Horse Creek Farm in March for the inaugural Fenland Quarter Horse Show on 5th-7th June.

The staff at Horse Creek Farm had been busy prior to theshow with a four day turnaround after the extremely successful and well supported Westernscene Camp and SQH/TX Show, needless to say the venue looked great and all was ready for the Show Team of Show Manager Iain McIntyre, the unflappable Show Secretary, Steph Hurst with her Assistant Rachel Howsam?sarrival on Thursday afternoon.

The Show organisers had taken into careful consideration comments made by competitors at the end of 2008 and had invited two AmericanJudges over to the UK to oversee proceedings along with Ring Steward Mick Carder, Collecting Ring Steward Helen Payne and the dulcet tones of Megan Roughley as announcer.

Judges Mike and Charlene Carter last made the trip tothe UK together 14 years ago, although Charlene has Judged here more recently. Both were impressed with how the standards of both horses and riding had improved. They were also very complimentary about the surface at Horse Creek Farm, saying it was probably the best they'd ever seen anywhere in the world.

Good entries saw fierce competition, with a number of generously sponsored circuit awards for competitors to work towards winning. Adrian Brazier's elegant mare Whatta Fancy Blaze had a great show taking the Open Grand Champion Mare under both Judges, as well as winning Junior Trail, Junior HuS and Junior Western Pleasure under Mike Carter. Fancy must surely be on her way to winning earning her AQHA Champion Award if not this year, then perhaps next! JackieTeideman and Jays Dene took the Amateur Grand Champion Mare in Show One, and Mike Adams with Miss Olivias Remedy gaining Amateur Grand Champion Mare in Show Two under Charlene Carter. Photographer Nathan Haynes was on hand to catch on film wife Tracy's first Amateur Reserve Grand Champion Award with the two year old mare, JaysCentrefold.

Both the Amateur and Open Gelding Grand Champion Awards under both Judges went to Jane Wallace's Mai Guy Zip who is just in the lead in both the Open and Amateur Halter Circuit Award High Point.

The Novice Amateurs were competing for a Westernscene sponsored Montana Belt Buckle in Show 1, with Cheryl Hewson and Absolutely Addicting winning the buckle from Henrietta Campbell and Best Chex Yet. Show Two saw another Montana Buckle up for grabs for the Nov Am HighPoint, and after the last class, Cheryl and Karen Shaw with Glad Shesa Dunit tied, with Karen winning the buckle on the tie break.

The Fenland team worked hard to make the show an enjoyable and relaxed event, with a Strawberries and Champagne evening on the Saturday towhich all competitors were invited. Judging by the feedback from the competitors on the show, which afterall is the benchmark by all shows should be measured, they achieved their aim.

The next show is 31st July - 2nd August, make a note in your diaries, and join the team for some more Fenland Frolics!!

Go to the results page for full results