Walking On Volume 6, Issue 9, September 2019 | Page 6
Bits & Pieces
The Maiden: the Making of an Event
Well, after The International
things have settled down a bit,
however Mother Nature is trying
to convince us to be good as she
shows us in this life just how hot
it might get at a later date. Hotter
than four kinds of hades and dry,
dry dry!
Good horses that I saw at the
International are still walking thru
my mind and bringing back the
excitement of the show. One of the
most exciting things (at least to
me) at the International was the
Maiden Class. A new adventure,
it was a smashing success and the
talk of the show. Modeled after the
extremely successful the AQHA
Master’s Class, it was an open Trail
Pleasure class for two year olds that
had NEVER been shown under
saddle.
This new incentive class was the
brainchild of Kyle Elliott and Jessica
Hlebak. Both of these WHOA
Directors met often in the winter
months to discuss the novel idea of
a class for unshown two year olds.
After working thru some of the de-
tails they approached Tommy Hall
with this new incentive class and it
was a go.
The Maiden Class was an open
6 • Walking On
class for two-year-old Trail Plea-
sure horses that had never been in
a show ring under saddle. It was
held on Wednesday night of the
show thus giving the horses entered
in the Maiden a chance to show in
other classes later in the week
An inaugural entry fee of
$250.00 for 2019 was selected. A
deadline for entries was set and
entries not received prior to July
2nd were not accepted. Entries were
non-refundable and non-trans-
ferrable from horse to horse, but
did follow a transfer of ownership.
Two year old’s previously shown In
Hand were eligible for “The Maid-
en”. However, two year old’s pre-
viously shown under saddle were
not eligible for this class. Fourteen
outstanding two year olds lived up
to the hype and excitement that had
preceded their entry into the show
ring.
Entry fees and other added
monies were deposited into a
jackpot which paid out 100% with
50% to the owners and 50% to the
trainers of each placing horse.
$7,200 was the total payback,
with $2,400 going to first place
winner, 24 Carrots ML and $1,400
going to the reserve winner, BP’s
Captain Jack Sparrow. Payback
was given to all 10 placing entries.
Each and every entry received “gift
bags” crammed to overflowing
with great equine items as well
as Vivere Chocolate (ok I sorta
snitched one itty bitty piece of the
chocolate YUM!!!). The class was
sponsored by American National
Insurance, Roger Baskin & Autumn
Crest Farm in memory of Out On
Parole, NC/VA Regional Champi-
onship Show, Kala, Bryce, Bristol
and Barrett Burgett, The Spinelli
Family, Jim Potter Stables, Cosmic
Candy Company, Brandi Adkins,
and Bill & Kara Williams. 1st place
winner received a 90 Day Supply
of Dinovite, 2nd thru 10th place
winners received a 30 day supply of
Dinovite. The gorgeous Belt Buckle
was sponsored by Kyler Elliott. The
lovely floral horseshoe was spon-
sored by Tristan and Dakota Hodg-
son in loving emory of the Father,
U.S.Army Sergeant First Class
David J. Hodgson.
This thrilling class was initially
made possible by the sponsorship
of American National Insurance
under the tutelage of Dean Craw-
ford. Dean was instrumental in
securing American National Insur-
ance as the naming sponsor for this
wonderful addition to The Interna-
tional
The Maiden was a class that was
the subject of lively conversation
prior to the show and lived up to
its expectations in every way. I am
positive that the 2020 Maiden will
be even more spectacular!!!!!
–Sis Osborne