The New Jersey Quarter Horse Association is getting its show season in the Garden State off to a strong start as it presents its Dream Show this weekend at the Gloucester County Dream Park in South Logan Township.

Show management is trying a new format this year with Halter being presented first thing Saturday morning before all four judges.

Show Manager Linda Ceresani says the innovative idea is an attempt to prevent an excessively long show day, as has happened in past years.

“We are trying this format to allow the Halter exhibitors an opportunity get in and show and wrap up the weekend in a day,” Ceresani says.

Halter exhibitor Pat Walsh, of Madison Township, Pennsylvania, says the idea of showing Halter all on one day is a good one.

“It’s good for this show. I have seen this format used at other shows and it seems to increase the number of entries and therefore increasing points earned,” he says.

The show got started on Thursday evening with Trail competition and continued Friday with Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship and Ranch Horse Pleasure.

Show secretary Linda Falls says the show is strong this year with total overall entries expected to be up over last year.

“All 238 stalls have been rented for this weekend,” Falls says. “As of Friday night entries are up to 426 but expected to rise on Saturday.

Following the Halter classes on Saturday morning classes will be offered in Showmanship, Pleasure Driving, Hunter Hack and Equitation.

14-18 Youth exhibitor Hallie Bubczyk, of Carroll County, Maryland has been attending shows at the Dream Park for the last three years. She is competing in all-around events with her 1999 bay gelding, Protect Your Goodies, a 1999 bay gelding by Protect Your Assets and out of Imprimis Joanna.

“I really like showing here,” she says. It’s a great place to show.”

Judges for this year’s show, which is sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Association as well as the NJQHA are John Boxell, Jennifer Goss, Randy Alderson and Curtis Reynolds.

14-18 Youth All Around exhibitor Hallie Bubczyk from Carroll County Maryland has been showing here at Dream Park for 3 years. Hallie says “I really like showing here” “it’s a great place to show”.

Some of today’s class entry numbers include: Novice Amateur Showmanship, 15; Select Amateur Showmanship, 10; Novice Youth Showmanship, 14; Youth 14-18 Showmanship, 13; Green Hunter Under Saddle, 11; Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, 11; Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, 12; Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle, 10; Green Trail, 5; Open Trail, 7; Green Western Pleasure, 11; Novice Youth Western Pleasure, 14; Amateur Western Pleasure, 9; Senior Western Pleasure, 11.

For more information on the show or the NJQHA visit www.njqha.com.

Check out some candids from the show here