Competition continues today and Sunday in Lake St. Louis, Missouri during the 2014 March To The Arch AQHA Show circuit, which benefits the Children’s Hospital of St. Louis.

The day’s first class – Novice Amateur Showmanship drew 20 entries. Halter classes follow with performance events (Western Pleasure, Horsemanship and Trail) wrapping up today’s schedule.

The 2014 event got under way on Thursday with healthy entries in Western Pleasure (Amateur Select, 20; Amateur, 12; Senior, 18) and Trail (Green, 35). Pleasure Driving and Western Riding got things started on Friday morning and Good Mercedes won the NSBA 3&4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle with Keith Miller in the irons later in the day.

Friday evening activities included an exhibitors’ party, both live and silent auctions, a cancer survivor recognition ceremony and the annual “Ladies Showmanship.” Bill Newcomb (aka Brad Ost) captured Grand Champion honors showing Up The Assets.

Higganum, Connecticut trainer Whitney Lagace showed That’s A Wrap in the Green Trail for the first time today. It is her fifth year attending the March To The Arch.

“I love it,” she says. “Mark does an awesome job. Entries are good and it’s for a great cause.

Lagace says she keeps coming back because of the atmosphere and the amount of fun her all-around clients have at the show.

Founded by trainer Doug Landon in 2006 the show has raised over $345,000 for charitable organizations since its inception.

Judges for this year’s event include: Sissy Anderson, GiGi Bailey, John Briggs, Mike Carter, Clint Fullerton, Jennifer Leckey, Jonathan Meilleur, Tom Robertson, Cindy Rucker, Kelly Stone and Bruce Walquist.

Exhibitors and show managers are keeping a close eye on weather conditions as the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the St. Louis area, where snow, sleet and freezing rain is predicted on Sunday.

Unofficial results are being posted on the Mark Harrell Horse Shows Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Harrell-Horse-Shows/344208665812) as they happen.

Complete results and circuit champions will be posted on the Mark Harrell Horse Shows website at the conclusion of the show circuit. Visit http://www.markharrellhorseshows.com/calendar.html

Check out our candids from March To The Arch