***NJC Staff Report***
Northeastern Junior College is proud to present the first annual NJC Showdown. The Showdown is a versatility ranch horse competition and show approved by the American Stock Horse Association (ASHA) as well as the Region 5 affiliate of the ASHA, CoWN (Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska). The show will take place at the Logan County Fairgrounds/NJC Equine Facility this Saturday and Sunday, April 2nd and 3rd.
In this particular versatility ranch horse competition, horse and rider team up to compete in three events: 1) Ranch Riding, sometimes called the pleasure class or horsemanship. 2) Working Ranch Horse which actually consists of 2 classes, the reining and the working cowhorse. The reining consists of a pattern of specific athletic maneuvers performed by the horse and rider and the working cowhorse shows off the horses’ ability to hold and work a cow. 3)Ranch Trail, while performed in an arena, will try to highlight the horses ability to maneuver through a set of trail obstacles. Some examples of obstacles will include crossing a bridge, dragging a log and crossing over logs. This show will have classes for the professional trainer as well several levels of amateur or non-professional exhibitors.
The versatility ranch horse has gained popularity by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years across the country. Many horse enthusiasts embrace the event due to the challenge of competing in multiple events on one horse. There are currently a handful of associations that sanction versatility ranch horse competitions across the country. The ASHA is the association most conducive to collegiate competitions for a couple of reasons. First they allow students, and any competitors, to show any breed of horse. Secondly, they permit students to show a horse that does not belong to them which allows a student to borrow or lease a horse if they do not own one. The ASHA is also very beginner friendly with their novice class and promoting less experienced riders and less experienced, or green horses an avenue to begin showing. The ASHA also sanctions a national collegiate competition each year which gives students a great year end goal and show experience on a larger scale. Students must qualify by showing in a qualifying ASHA event which includes the NJC Showdown. In 2010 NJC had two students compete in the national show and this year we hope to send four students.
NJC has had a versatility ranch horse class and team since 2005. The opportunities for showing were much more limited in the beginning. The team was forced to travel to Texas or further to compete. With the inception of teams at Colorado State and Laramie County Community College (Wyoming) we were able to start having local competitions. The team has already travelled to CSU in the fall as well as this spring and LCCC this spring. At CSU the NJC team had the high individual and runner up in the limited non professional collegiate category. NJC has hosted versatility shows in the past, however, they were unapproved collegiate competitions only. This is the first time to host a show with an approved association and open to the general public in addition to collegiate competitors.
Prizes will be awarded to the overall collegiate team champion as well as individual honors for each collegiate division which includes the Non Professional, Limited Non Professional and Novice. And awards or paybacks will be earned in the other divisions as well. Good weather permitting, the Showdown will run two arenas. The reining and working cowhorse will run in the indoor arena and will be judged by Mark Guynn of Berthoud. The trail and ranch riding will take place outside and will be judged by Rob Quint of Sterling. The non Pro, Open and Green Horse class will be on Saturday and the Limited Non Pro, Novice and Youth classes will be on Sunday. Saturday morning will also feature a clinic by Cole Briggs, NJC Equine Management Instructor. The ASHA requests a clinic be offered at every show to promote education of the sport. The clinic/demonstration will be at 8:00 on Saturday and the show will start at 10:00 am. The show will start at 8:00 am on Sunday.
“NJC is excited to host this first annual event,” notes Briggs. “ We are expecting over 100 entries and college teams from three states. Admission is free to the public and concessions will be available. Please come out and support the students and local competitors.”
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