Valley of the Sun Arabian Horse Assoc. Mini Circuit Show July 13th

The Dixon Chicks with Aladdin & Prince Phillip getting ready for the leadline class

by Leslie Wells

The next show will be on Saturday July 13th at Horse Lovers Park starting with registration at 5 p.m. and the show at 6 p.m. Remember the summer heat is here and in July the humidity will be joining the heat, so prepare with lots of water and electrolytes for you and your horse. See you on July 13th.

A warm desert wind was blowing and the dust was flying and so were the horses and riders at the Mini Circuit Show on Saturday evening June 8th at Horse Lovers Park. Despite the summer heat the show had a great turnout with 45 horses and 161 entries. There was a nice representation of several breeds performing in various divisions from Halter, Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, Show Hack, Driving, and Reining. Four youngsters in the leadline class all had a great ride with each winning a blue ribbon. The Walk/Trot classes were again a big hit. The show added a Stock Seat Equitation 17 & under class and a Hunter Pleasure Equitation 17 & under class. Both classes were tough competition for the riders. These two classes will be included in the schedule for the July, August, and September shows.

Congratulations to the following High Point Riders: The Champion English Pleasure Walk/Trot High Point Rider was Ellie Craig with Aristo; the Reserve Champion English Pleasure Walk/Trot High Point Rider was Becky Lee with Ibby; the Champion English Pleasure High Point Rider was Taylor Matusz with J.K. Chancellor; the Reserve Champion English Pleasure High Point Rider was Alex Gorman with Vagabonds If Only; the Champion Western Pleasure Walk/Trot High Point Rider was Emily Ford with Flame of Mecca; the Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Walk/Trot High Point Rider was Randy Foster with Freckles Budweiser; The Champion Western Pleasure High Point Rider was Ashley Szczepaniec with Lujzon; the Reserve Champion Western Pleasure High Point Rider was Kim Foster with Freckles Budweiser.

At this show the two horses that caught my eye were the Shetland/Welsh ponies Prince Phillip and Aladdin. These ponies are owned and shown by the Dixon girls - Becky (mom) and her two daughters Shelby and Hannah. The girls call themselves the 'Dixon Chicks' after their favorite singers the 'Dixie Chicks'.

Shelby is six years old and her pony Prince Phillip is fourteen. Hannah is five years old and her pony Aladdin is ten. Both girls and horses look like matched sets showing in halter, showmanship, and leadline. Becky and Hannah also showed Prince Phillip in the driving class. The 'Dixon Chicks' had a great time showing and won several blue ribbons which they proudly exhibited on the back of their jeans throughout the rest of the night.

The Dixon Chicks' proud grandparents, Linda and Harold Brecht, most likely have influenced the girl's passion for horses. They raised and raced Standardbreds in Michigan for some thirty years. In retirement five years ago the Bechts moved to New River and the Dixon Chicks to Desert Hills The girls started riding on their mom's older horse and then got their ponies about two years ago. It looks like the girls will follow in their grandparent's and mother's footsteps and have a life long involvement with horses.

An added attraction to the show was the presence of a very personable four-year-old miniature burro, 'Nacho'. Nacho came to the show to give comfort and support to his favorite companion, Nicely Spotted, a nine-year-old Pinto Arabian Saddlebred mare owned by Lori Wirth. At home in Gold Canyon (at the base of the Superstitions) Nacho is also a playmate for Slick City Blues, a nine-year-old Quarter Horse gelding owned by Lori's mother Donna Klopping. Nacho is quite a comedian, always entertaining the family and the horses by tossing his football around the yard and playing tug-of-war with his hula hoop. Nacho certainly loved all the attention he received from both horses and riders. He knew he was the center of attention.

Lori and her husband and her parents all moved here from Iowa in 1997. Lori got her first horse at the age of fifteen. She showed her Quarter Horse in Western Pleasure throughout high school and college. After moving to Arizona, Lori bought Nicely Spotted in 1998 and is showing her in Hunter Pleasure this year. About eighteen months ago, Lori got her mother involved in the horses when she surprised her with Slick City Blues for a birthday present. Donna is having fun showing her Quarter Horse gelding in halter. This is their first time showing at a VSAHA Mini Circuit Show and they plan to be back again as they all had a good time and everyone was so friendly.

This is what makes the Mini Circuit Show a great success - everyone enjoying themselves, having fun with friends, family, other riders and their horses, and most of all helping one another. As I stroll around taking photos I see the behind the scenes activities of all the team work that goes on to get each horse and rider into the arena. I would like to commend all those individuals that help these riders make their show a success. I am also impressed with the camaraderie and the compassion that many riders have for one another. Even though these riders are competing against one another, I see them congratulating one another for a good ride and a win and also consoling and comforting one another when the ride didn't go so well.

A special thanks goes to Bill Flood for judging the show and all the hardworking volunteers who put the show together and work the gates, announce, and do all the entries and recordkeeping for the High Point Awards. Thank you exhibitors for coming out and showing you beautiful horses and making the show a great success!!!!!