The 2017 Corporate Challenge celebrated 20 years of AQHA show circuits this weekend at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.

The Corporate Challenge is managed by Mark Harrell Horse Shows and although it’s been a hot weekend of competition turnout was strong.

“We’re very happy with this year’s attendance,” said manager Rachel Nissen.

Judges included Daren Wright, Lori Gordon, Jeff Mellott, Sandy Jirkovsky, Gigi Bailey and Suzy Jeane.
This year’s event featured four $500 added National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) classes.

Strutin By Nature won the 3&4-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle with Kerry Hansen in the irons.

The 2014 red roan gelding, sired by Strutin On The Range and out of Blue By Nature, was bred and raised by Pine Meadow Quarter Horses, and is currently in training at Kim Kuehne Performance Horses in Luxembourg, Wisconsin.

“I’m very excited about our win,” Hansen said.

Rhonda Spratto piloted Moxie Machine to victory in the eight-entry 3&4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle for owner Andrea Kengis Foss.

Susan Knapp won the 3&4-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure aboard Platinum Dot Com and My Chips Are Hott, owned by Richard and Debra Donnelly bested seven other entries to capture the top spot in the 3&4-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure with Erin Lieurance in the saddle.

Some of the biggest classes of the weekend included Senior Trail with 32 entries and L1 Amateur Showmanship with 39 and Senior Western Pleasure with 22.

One of the show’s most popular attractions was the Bridleless Trail class, which drew a total of 12 entries on Saturday evening. When all the patterns had been scored, Blake Weiss and Snap Krackle Pop collected the top award for owner Twylla Brown of Perry, Missouri.

High Point Champions included:
Trail – Lil Boss Man and Kacy Philpot,
Small Fry – Im Invited Too and Paisley Anderson,
L1 Youth Walk-Trot – Invest In A Sign and Lexi Hansen
L1 Amateur Walk-Trot – Chip Moves Me and Lori Hulbert
High Point English – Naturally Smokin and Angela Gruber
Open Horse –Lazy Lookin Lady and Brickman Quarter Horses
Rookie Amateur – Pure Poison and Amanda Marthaler
Rookie Youth –Huntin For Faith and Erica Melhaus
Novice Amateur – HP Ima Foxy Dreamer and Brooke Ingstad
14-18 Youth – Machine Power and Kathryn Bunting
13 & Under Youth – Principal Decision and Mallory Fricke
Novice Youth – Principal Decision and Mallory Fricke
Amateur – Krymsun Kroptonite and Johnna Letchworth
Select – Hot Lil Assets and Sharon Forbes-Hanks
Western Horse – Principal Decision and Susan Wilcox

For complete results from the show click here: http://www.markharrellhorseshows.com/calendar.html