Exhibitors across the country are celebrating the return of the horse show.

Following a lengthy delay due to restrictions put on gatherings of large numbers of people and on travel across the United States and in Canada due to the Covid-19 pandemic, shows are opening across the United States to some very enthusiastic competitors.

The Georgia Quarter Horse Association’s Summer Kickoff show, which opened on Friday and runs through Sunday, at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia, is enjoying a massive jump in the number of stalls rented and entries this year. 

Christian Jauntig, a member of the show staff for the An Equine Production management team there is happy to see the jump in numbers.

“Every show that is moving forward has seen an increase in stalls.” Jauntig said. “The GQHA Summer Kickoff had approximately 80-100 stalls in 2019 and this year has around 570. Other shows are seeing bigger numbers all around too. Waiting lists are deep into the hundreds for most of our shows. Here at the Summer Kickoff we are limiting the amount of people allowed in the office. We are also using the CINCH Horse Show Tracker for online entries to also help limit traffic in the office. The show office has plexiglass between exhibitors and show staff. Most shows are encouraging exhibitors and staff to wear masks. Exhibitors also need to be prepared for upcoming shows that are enforcing everyone to wear masks.”

Numbers are also impressive at the Redbud Spectacular, presented by the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association in Oklahoma City where class numbers were strong – from 29 in Level 3 Junior Western Pleasure to 27 in Level 1 Amateur Horsemanship and 21 in Open Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle to 58 in Level 3 Youth Showmanship 14-18. 

Kent Ray Taylor traveled from Arizona to compete with his horses, Don’t Think Twice and Snap It Send It.

“I am very excited to see my horse show friends and be able to show,” he said. “It’s been way too long (since the last horse show) and this self-quarantine time sure has given me a new perspective on what we, as world citizens, take for granted.”

Taylor had plenty of praise for the Redbud’s show management team and especially for Show Coordinator Jackie Krshka.

“They have ensured that things are clean, organized and meeting the state of Oklahoma’s guidelines when we all need a good horse experience to get our hopes up and move forward with the rest of the horse show season,” he said. “I feel like other horse shows should reach out to Jackie to find out what she did to make it so awesome for us as exhibitors to make us feel safe and supported and follow all the necessary guidelines. I truly love showing and it’s a privilege to be able to be back at it.”

Richard and Betty Carr, of Bremen, Indiana, have not been to a horse show since the Fox Lea Farm Winter Quarter Horse Circuit and Fun In The Sun Futurity in Venice, Florida in January. That long stretch has been especially frustrating for them since it was there that they purchased the AQHA mare Knockin It Out (Pippa) to show in Amateur Select Western Pleasure and Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturities and for their trainer, Gil Galyean to show in Junior Western Pleasure and Open Maturities.

“It’s been a long wait and we are excited to finally be at a show and to watch our new horse show,” Betty Carr said. “The weather is great and we couldn’t have picked a better place to come. People are trying their best to adhere by the rules so we have a good result and shows can keep happening.”

Galyean won the Level 3 Junior Western Pleasure on two judges’ cards at the Redbud on Friday and placed second on the other.

“We were thrilled with how she looked. You are always apprehensive watching a new horse transition to a new program but it was a good picture in the pen and we are happy and excited about her future,” Betty Carr said. “And, I’m and I’ve been getting in some valuable practice sessions in on Pippa too.” 

Bobby Smith, of Fort Worth Texas, is attending the Redbud as a vendor with Rod Patrick Boots. He said the show is phenomenal this year.

“People are excited and happy to be back at a horse show,” he said. “The enthusiasm is at a pitch I’ve never seen before. Kudos to the show staff for doing such a great job and to the horse community. They are resilient.”

In Georgia, exhibitors traveled from all over to compete and they were thrilled to be back at a show.

“I came all the way from Connecticut,” said Lisa Benson who will be competing with her horse Sneak Me An Invite in Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle, while her trainer will show him in Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle and Senior Hunter Under Saddle. 

“I’m happy to adhere to COVID-19 regulations if it means we can be back doing what we love…horse showing with our show family,” she said. “Things are opened up a lot more down here in Georgia compared to Connecticut. It’s so refreshing to be out and about. Back in Connecticut I literally hadn’t been off my farm for over two and a half months. Personally, I am keeping distance outside my group, and of course wearing a mask in stores and while flying. I’m hoping that states like Ohio and Pennsylvania allow shows soon, but I’m concerned about whether Congress will happen this year. I’m also disappointed that my horse will not have his ‘big’ green year, but right now, I’m beyond happy to be doing what I love.”

Jenell Pogue, who operates Jenell Pogue Performance Horses, traveled 12 hours from Indiana to attend the Georgia show and said it feels good to be outside enjoying her passion again.

 “I hauled five horses down for one of my amateurs and two youth 13 and under kids,” she said.

Vanessa Froman and her son, Collin, also traveled 14 hours from Illinois with three show horses and a 2-year-old who needs to gain experience and get some professional photographs done. She said she made the trip to “help heal our souls.”

“I packed all our supplements and vitamins plus cleaning supplies for the Airbnb home we are all staying in,” she explained. “We all have multiple masks for when we have had to go to a store or gas station. Being here hasn’t been much different for us than being at home. We still order take-out food and go to grocery stores. The show is so spacious and everyone is being very respectful of personal space. It’s been great. I was nervous, because I’m a mom and I always worry, but after we got here I felt relieved to be in our happy place. The Georgia International Horse Park is a wonderful facility and perfect for easing back into horse shows. We are so happy we decided to come here and start living again.”

Chris Jones, a professional trainer from Reelsville, Indiana hauled five horses to Georgia to compete. He is showing in Western Pleasure and Trail and his clients are competing in all-around events.

“I’m glad to be showing again,” he said. “Associations or others that put the shows on are going to have to have some guidelines in place and everyone needs to do their best to abide by them. We all have to work together on this and hopefully in the future it will all seem like a bad dream.”

Emma Brown, of Ohio, is part of the Irongate show team competing at the Summer Kickoff Show Circuit. She is competing in Horsemanship and Trail and said the most important thing to remember is to be respectful of others.

“Not everyone has the same view and understanding when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “I could not be more excited to be back in my element at a horse show, it feels amazing and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”

Check out our candids from the Georgia Summer Kickoff, courtesy of official show photographer, Cody Parmenter: https://instrideedition.com/gqha-summer-kickoff/

* Megan Hawkins also contributed to this report

* Photos by Cody Parmenter, Mallory Beinborn and Courtney Hall