With nine AQHA judges over nine days, free horse show entries, charity events and more, OQHA’s Little Buckeye and OAQHA/BWHA’s Buckeye Classic shows are shaping up to be the events of the summer in Ohio. Both shows will be held at Eden Park Equestrian Center, just outside Sunbury.

The Not-So-Little Buckeye
July 20-21, the Little Buckeye will host three judges at a weekend show in which all Youth and Novice Youth entries will be free, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Coughlin Automotive. In addition, random drawings among exhibitors will result in a $150 credit on the exhibitor’s tab through the Tabbed Out By Trainers program. All Youth and Novice Youth exhibitors who compete at the Little Buckeye will receive a free t-shirt.

“There aren’t many AQHA shows where a youth can pay their stall, drug fee and office fees and show for just over $100 for the weekend, and that’s who the Little Buckeye is geared toward,” said Kristin Martin, OAQHA director. Judging the Little Buckeye will be Jennifer Thompson, Leslie Lange, and Nancy Alto Renfro.

Youth/Amateur Team Tournament
OAQHA is also coordinating a Team Tournament that will award $4,500 in Rod’s gift cards to the top five placing teams. “Each team will be randomly drawn, must show at both shows, and will have at least one amateur and one youth per team,” Martin said.

“Each team member will name three classes that will count toward their team points, so they’re not obligated to show in a bunch of classes. The winning team members will each receive a $500 Rod’s gift certificate, with the second place team receiving $400 certificates and so on down to fifth place team with $100 certificates. We will also be giving special “spirit” awards such as ‘Most Valuable Player’ and a Sportsmanship award,” she said.

Also look for a special hospitality tent that will offer goodies throughout the show, sponsored by Instride Edition and Take The Lead magazines. Random drawings for gas cards and restaurants will also take place.

Buckeye Open Golf Outing
Monday, July 22, a benefit golf outing will be held to benefit the OQHYA and their Scholarship Fund. The Buckeye Open will begin with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. at Bent Tree Golf Course in Sunbury. The format will be a four-person scramble, and prizes will be awarded for longest drive, closest to the pin, longest putt and 50/50 skins pot.

The cost, which includes green fee, cart fee, two drink tickets and post round buffet, is $80 per single player or $300 per four-person team. For more information about the Buckeye Open, contact Elizabeth Gorski (419) 494-1611 or Kelli Diaz (740) 404-7930.

Buckeye Classic
The second part of the Buckeye nine-day event will be the Buckeye Classic, which will be held July 25-28. The show will offer six sets of AQHA points, and all Amateur, Select Amateur and Novice Amateur entries will be free. The free entries are courtesy of corporate partners Bailey Farm (home of One Hot Krymsun), Fritz and Carole Leeman/Leeman Farm, the Martz Family and Pine Meadow Quarter Horses (home of Strutin On The Range and Hotroddin Zippo).

In addition to NSBA dual-approved classes, the Buckeye Classic will also feature seven $1000 added NSBA events, including a Two Year Old Open Western Pleasure, Three Year Old Open Western Pleasure, Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure, Two Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle and a Three & Four Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

The Buckeye Classic is being co-sponsored by OAQHA and Buckeye Western Horse Association. The show will also feature custom JR Wenger saddles for all around winners, custom sheets from Rods.com for each class circuit champion, three-foot tall teddy bears for all Lead-Line entries on Saturday and trophy cups filled with candy for all Small Fry circuit winners.

Show management will try to keep exhibitors who show at both Buckeye shows in the same stalls from one weekend to the next so that they don’t have to repurchase savings and move tack, Martin said. Amateur, Select Amateur and Novice Amateur exhibitors who participate in the show will each receive a free t-shirt.

The hospitality tent will continue at the Buckeye Classic thanks to the support of the Equine Chronicle. Popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy and much more will be available to all exhibitors throughout the circuit.

Improve Your Karma at Charity Events
Exhibitors will also have an opportunity to participate in several charitable events OAQHA supports throughout the Buckeye Classic. “On Friday, we’re doing a 50/50 raffle for New Vocations Horse Rescue, and on Saturday, our vendors are donating items for a silent auction to benefit Toys For Tots,” Martin said. “On Sunday, exhibitors can put $1 on their tab to donate to Flying Horse Farm, a camp here in Ohio for terminally ill children.”

In addition, a portion of the office fees collected will be divided equally and submitted to a charity of each judge’s choice, Martin noted. Judges for the Buckeye Classic include Thursday and Friday Doug Huls and Liz Haynes; special event Special Event Showmanship, Horsemanship, Equitation, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and Pleasure Driving judge Bruce Walquist; and Saturday and Sunday Karen Graham, Scott Neuman, and Rob Meneely.

So far, OAQHA has more than 500 stalls reserved for the Buckeye Classic, with about 125 stalls left.

For additional information about the Little Buckeye and the Buckeye Classic, or to view show bills for either show, please visit www.freeamateurentries.com.