The 2014 AQHA Novice East Championships conclude today at the Middle Tennessee State University Equine Center in Murfreesboro.

This year AQHA added the Rookie classes to the Novice World Show schedule in the Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Trail, Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation.

The rookie classes are for horse and rider teams that have earned fewer than 10 lifetime points in any division. With 453 rookie entries and 2,273 Level 1 entries makes the Novice East Championship the largest to date.

The first champion at the AQHA Novice East Championships on Tuesday Sept. 30 was Erin Fleckenstein riding Blazin In Blue of Wilmington, Ohio, in the Rookie Youth Hunter Under Saddle.

‘It was truly a dream come true and an experience I will never forget.” Fleckenstein says. Tuesday night Nutrena sponsored an exhibitors’ party with food and drinks. It was chance for exhibitors to get together and relax after a long day of showing.

Hez Dun Zippin won the The Level 1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle on Wednesday with Katie Samuelson, Neenah, Wisconsin in the irons. Surely A Natural and Alyssa Beardsley Silver Springs, New York captured the top honors in Youth Hunter Under Saddle.

Trail started bright and early Thursday morning with the arena split in half and two trail classes working at once made for a very long Trail day. The Trail course was designed by Tim Kimura and was full of upward and downward transitions that definitely kept the exhibitors thinking and on their toes through out the whole pattern. Kimura actually designed the trail pattern for the West and East Novice World Shows and as soon as the last trail team finished their pattern in Tennessee Tim was on a plane headed for Las Vegas.

The Western Pleasure drew 123 entries and featured six splits a semi-final and the finals. A Good N Hot Machine, owned and shown by Earnest Branson of Springtown, Texas, captured the top spot while Reserve Champion honors went to Itsthemoonshinetalkin and Denise Hawkins, Canton, Georgia.

Throughout the week at the Novice East Championship AQHA has offered Ride the Pattern Clinics for all exhibitors to attend. The clinics give all exhibitors the chance to listen to and share the expertise from an AQHA Professional Horseman in Trail, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Ranch Pleasure, Equation, Working Hunter and Equation Over Fences.

Judges for the week include Michael Jung, Robin Jung, Michelle Tidwell, Charlene Carter, Casey Divitt and April Divitt.

AQHA Novice East Championship has a little something to offer everyone whether you came to show your horse or watch a class or two, the show staff goes above and beyond to make sure every exhibitor and spectator are happy.

Complete Novice Championships results can be found here: http://aqha.com/novicechampionships