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Mane Event Adds Classes, Subtracts Sunspots



Six classes have been added and arena sunspots have been removed for the Mid-America Mane Event Show, October 23-26 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.  The added classes are:

#1A Thursday Afternoon: Open Equitation Prospect – Each rider to bring a “pocket workout” (opportunity to practice in a Finals condition)

#17 Thursday Evening: Open Western Pleasure

#53A Friday Evening: Saddle Seat Equitation – Rider 13 Years & Under; any suitable horse

#64A Friday Evening: Open Pleasure Driving – any suitable horse or pony

#69 Saturday Afternoon: Show Pleasure Driving, Junior Exhibitor

#85A Saturday Evening: Open Pleasure Driving Jackpot (no qualification required) – any suitable horse or pony

Regular class entry fees apply to added classes; no post entry fee will be charged. 

Though not listed as such in the prize list, the Park Three Gaited Stake (class #83 on Saturday afternoon) is a “jackpot” class that requires no qualification.

Undoubtedly, sunspots on the arena floor have been part of showing in the Coliseum since it was built in 1901. Many horsemen consider the Coliseum’s  ideally-sized and banked oval arena with its excellent footing to be the best show ring in the country….but then there are those famous – or infamous -- sunspots!

Some exhibitors claim to enjoy the challenge presented by the sunspots, while others say it’s fun watching riders and drivers navigate around them. Now, however, exhibitors will no longer have to try to ride through sunspots as the Coliseum’s south side upper windows have been covered to eliminate them.

With or without sunspots, Mane Event offers an expansive class list with excellent options for amateurs showing performance and pleasure Saddlebreds and Hackneys, and boasts ideal facilities for showing young horses and ponies. Returning for the sixth year is the NHS “Good Hands” Finals, with The National Horseman as official sponsor.  For the past three years, the “Good Hands” has been the largest final of the saddle seat equitation triple crown. 

Rob Byers, Adam Clauson and Marsha Shepard will judge all Mane Event classes.

To reserve stalls for Mane Event, contact Joy Meierhans, show managaer, at 630/557-2575 or email [email protected].  For a revised class schedule or prize list, visit: www.MidAmericaHorseShow.org.

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