The Iowa Quarter Horse Association, and their Mayflower IQHA State Show, hosted the Jim Cooper Memorial Western Pleasure class during their show in Des Moines, Iowa on May 2. Cooper, a long-time Iowa Quarter Horse Association and member, passed away in March and some of his friends came up with the class concept as a way to remember and honor him.

Jim Cooper was a big supporter of IQHA and quarter horse shows, He was a horse show husband and dad for several years. A former drag racer, “Coop” was the “Go-To-Guy” if you ever had a problem with your truck or trailer, or if you just wanted to pimp your ride with Dee Zee truck accessories. He appreciated fast cars and good horses.

Ron Shivers, owner of Dee Zee Manufacturing made the first financial contribution of $1,000 to create the cash purse to be paid to the class winner. Jim Cooper had worked for Dee Zee for several years. There are several Dee Zee metal boxes in tack rooms and trailers across the country as the company had supported many Iowa Futurities over the years.

Jim and Joni Roth, of Roth Show Equipment, donated a custom designed headstall created for the winner of this class. Cooper and Roth spent many hours sitting outside the Roth Show Equipment trailer at shows, swapping stories and jokes.

Also contributing to the $700 cash purse paid to second through fifth places were Kelly Cox of Rock Ridge Ranch and Mitch Adkins. Lee and Lori Robertson donated $100 paid to the highest placing non-pro rider in the class. InStride Edition and the Mayflower Show were contributing sponsors as well.

Guest judges for the open class were Brent Maxwell, Mitch Adkins and Jeff Allen. Nineteen entries rode into the pen Saturday evening, including Wayne Hembry, whose first customer as a horse trainer was Jim Cooper. Some rode for the competition; most rode for the memory of their old friend.

Winning the class on all three judges’ cards was Pass Code, owned by Jodi Siamis and shown by Erin Lieurance. Jim’s wife, Cindy, and her family came into the arena to make the awards presentation of the custom Roth headstall and the $1,000 cash prize.

Second place went to Shez A Homewrecker, shown by Lisa Hathaway, earning $280. Third place was Lotto Max, owned by Erin Larson Girolamo and shown by Eric Petersen for $210. The fourth place winner was Hott Wheelz, owned and shown by Connor Griggs, winning $140 plus the $100 bonus and the custom Mayflower branded cowhide as the highest placing non-pro rider. Jess Bergantzel rode Shez A Slow Breeze to fifth place and $70.

6th: Kiss Me In A Hot Rod owned by Craig Petermeier, shown by Danielle Burnight

7th: Who’s Cheating Who owned by Scott & Linda Berwick, shown by Linda Berwick

8th: Got The Lucky Touch owned by Anna Terry, shown by Jamie Zuidema

9th: Machine Image owned by Sara Beth Carr, shown by Cody Reed

10th: A Speed Demon owned by Gayle Scharf, shown by Micah Hansen
The Mayflower Committee donated $10 from each entry fee paid to Courage League Sports, a local charity close to Jim’s heart. The recreational adaptive sports facility, located in Urbandale, Iowa, is specifically designed for children not able to go “full speed” due to disability, illness, or emotional challenges. Their programs provide an opportunity to play in sports leagues, participate in group classes or play around during open gym night at everyone’s own skill level.

As they prepared to leave the arena, class winner Erin Lieurance and her partner, Jeff Cochran, announced they wished to donate the $1,000 she just won to the Courage League Sports as well. “I would have to win a lot of checks to ever begin to pay back what all that man did for me,” said Erin of Cooper. Jeff agreed, “that man did a lot for me over the years, this was a pretty neat deal.”

For more information on Courage League Sports, visit their website at www.courageleaguesports.com