The Tar Heel Triple Classic Quarter Horse Circuit began today between cloudbursts at the James B. Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Nearly 800 stalls have been rented and competitors have traveled from as far away as Oklahoma, Iowa, Connecticut and Canada.

Presented by the North Carolina Quarter Horse Youth Association competition got under way with Halter, Showmanship, Lead Line and Small Fry classes before moving on to Western Pleasure, where numbers were so large (24 in Green, 26 in Junior and 26 in the Senior) that many were run in splits. Horsemanship, Reining and Ranch Horse wrapped up the day. Those classes will be repeated on Saturday.

“Good numbers since some kids are not yet out of school,” said Gale Little, NCQHA Vice President of Shows. “We couldn’t be more pleased.

The show day will start bright and early on Friday with Over Fences classes, followed by Pleasure Driving, Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation. That schedule will be repeated on Sunday, along with Trail and Western Riding.

Judges for the Tar Heel Classic are: Tim Finkenbinder, Jeff Allen, Michael Jung, Brett Clark, Louise Stewart Keen, Bob Mowery and Benham Stewart.

A Little Futurity takes center stage on Monday and Tuesday with a full slate of Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes.

With the addition of slot classes five years ago, the payouts have continued to grow as well as interest from trainers all over the country, according to founder Larry Little.

This year the futurity has a $25,000 added 3 & 4-year-old $1,000 Novice Horse Western Pleasure on Monday evening following an exhibitor dinner, sponsored by InStride Edition and a $20,000 added Non-Pro Maturity $7,500 Limited Horse Western Pleasure Slot class On Tuesday.

Little says his family is truly appreciative of Ceclia Hylton and Peek and Virginia Owen for their generous sponsorships for the Slot classes as well as the many, many generous donations they receive like from the Winehurst Family for their sponsorship of the NSBA $10,000 Ltd. Horse Western Pleasure class, the Harris Family for donating a work saddle for the random drawing, Jeff Long for belt buckle sets, and Betsy Tuckey and Jean’s Custom Show Clothes for chaps.

“We are so truly grateful to all our sponsors on all levels who help make this show a very special show,” Little says. “There are just too many to name them all but we appreciate everyone’s support!”

Judges for A Little Futurity are: Milt Alderman, Brett Clark, John Dean and Betsy Tuckey.

AQHA competition continues Wednesday, June 18 through Saturday, June 21 with the NCQHA Jamboree. Judging the Jamboree will be Betsy Tuckey, Tracy Willis, Holly Hoover, Sissy Anderson, John Lawrence and Andrea Simons.

For candids from this year’s Tar Heel Classic click here

For more information on A Little Futurity click here: http://www.littlefuturity.com 

For more information on the Tar Heel Classic and Jamboree click here: http://www.ncqha.com/index.php?mod=Calendar&event_id=352