Every year, the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show in Jackson, Mississippi, is a special attraction. But for 2015, the event featured a whole lot more hoopla and fanfare – and for good reason. AQHA exhibitors, Quarter Horse fans and even the governor of Mississippi, Phil Bryant, toasted the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association February 16-22 at the 50th anniversary of the Dixie National.

The Dixie National Equestrians with Disabilities showkicked off the festivities February 10-11 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds with 484 entries. It was AQHA cutting and National Cutting Horse Association classes that got the Dixie National further underway February 16, with a special appearance from legendary cutter Jimmy Orrell, who won the senior cutting at the very first Dixie National riding the world champion mare Marbo McCue. The show marched on February 17 with a double-judged, double-pointed AQHA special event roping, with even more AQHA roping classes February 18. The top open finishers Tuesday and Wednesday were invited back Wednesday evening for the Roping Night Challenge, featuring $2,000 added per class, and top-finishing amateurs were qualified for the Amateur Fast Five, with $500 added for each class. 

In addition to working cow horse, reining, halter, all-around and over-fences classes, the #Dixie50, as the event was dubbed, featured a $10,000-added freestyle reining competition, the Southern Classic Horse Sale and a Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association alumni dinner February 21. All said, the event offered $100,000 in prizes and added money. 

Journal Coverage of the 2015 Dixie National

• February 23 – Look through all-around, halter, cutting, roping and ranch riding photos from the 50th Dixie National Quarter Horse Show.
• February 17 – Cutting classes got the #Dixie50 rolling February 16, and ropers went for points and cash during a special-event roping shootout.
• February 13 – Equestrians With Disabilities AQHA Equestrian with Disabilities classes kicked off the 50th anniversary of the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show.