As the AQHA Amateur World Championship week came to a close and the open week of competition kicked off, AQHA World Show spectators, exhibitors, and enthusiasts alike joined for a fun night of celebration with the AQHA Super Horse contenders’ parade and entertainment provided by Denny Strickland.
Although Strickland, 23 of Nashville, Tennessee, has always had an interest in music, he moved to Nashville two years ago to pursue a career in the music business. His family has had a long history with AQHA and Denny had a very successful AQHA youth career winning the 2007 AQHYA World Show in Western Pleasure aboard Hope By Invitation as well the Quarter Horse Congress in Youth Western Pleasure. At this year’s World Show, his mother Vickie, finished a finalist in Amateur Western Pleasure aboard Hope By Blaze, a homebred bay mare by Blazing Hot out of Hope By Invitation.
“I started in music in the fifthgrade in the band. I started by playing piano back in 1996 and split my time between music and sports in school but music was always an interest. It was always there,” he said.
With Strickland’s prior involvement in AQHA as well as the continued support of his family, it seemed fitting for him to play a show in tribute to the AQHA World Show. The performance began and ended with Strickland’s debut single, “Honkytonk Highway” which is set to release on radio on December 14th and on XM Radio Jan. 6. Fans will be able to preview the single on iTunes as well as buy six songs available by Strickland.
“I am meeting with my publicist next week to get the release of the new single out. Our goal is to get it out on the highway,” he said.
Wanting to include some of the older and newer stuff in his show, Strickland’s music ranged from classic rock ballads to modern country hits. Strickland rocked his show by including classic numbers by some of his mentors like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and George Strait.
Besides the live entertainment, AQHA enthusiasts were free to view a parade of horses eligible for the prestigious AQHA Superhorse title. Competition taking place during this week at the AQHA World Championship Show will tally to determine a winner for the title.
Amateur competition came to a close with the All- around Amateur title going to Meghan O’ Malley of Suffolk, Virginia and her horse, A Chance of Blue Skies. The pair won world championship titles in amateur equitation over fences, amateur hunter hack, and amateur working hunter to secure the top award. Whitney Walquist-Vicars of Cleburne, Texas and her homebred gelding, Southwestern Gunman earned the Reserve All-Around title with a win in amateur performance halter geldings, a reserve world title in amateur horsemanship, and top-ten placing in amateur western riding and hunt seat equitation.
The AQHA World Championship open exhibitors will be competing for the entire rest of the week thru Nov. 23.
For more information stay tuned at www.aqha.com/worldshow
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