The 11th Annual Mid-America Signature Show has a new home just over the
Illinois state line at Silverwood Farm in Camp Lake, Wisconsin, a few minutes
north of Richmond and Wilmot. The new location is a lovely country setting
about half-way for exhibitors from Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison. It has
six all-weather competition rings and all stabling is in permanent buildings.
Silverwood Farm hosts more than 12 equestrian competitions annually, and is a throwback to the days when shows were held on private facilities rather than at state and county fairgrounds. Instead of concrete and sterile buildings, Silverwood's facilities were designed with the horse in mind. When stabling is filled, however, no tents and temporary stalls will be added, so exhibitors are encouraged to get entries in early.
Melissa Moore will judge all classes.
The Signature Show offers full divisions for Saddlebred performance and
pleasure and all the young horse classes including four UPHA Classics. It
also offers all the equitation qualifiers including the NHS "Good Hands"
class. There are two Grand National Classes (Five Gaited Amateur
Championship and Show Pleasure Driving Championship this year), Youth Driving
Challenge classes, road horse and pony classes plus hackney and harness pony
classes.
Last year, Signature's first $2,000-Added Professional Trainers Equitation Championship had the rail packed with enthusiastic exhibitor-spectators cheering (and jeering) as nine trainers concentrated on "heads up and heals down." The turnabout enjoyed by everyone, and the class is being held again this year.
Although Silverwood has no lights for night-time competition, show manager Joy Meierhans doesn't consider this a negative. "We adapted the schedule to end by 8pm each night at Lamplight and will just continue that at Silverwood. Ending early allows us to have parties each night for the exhibitors, and trainers love this schedule because it’s so easy on their help," she explained.
Signature qualifies for points toward the ASHA's "CH" ranking system, is
rated A with USA Equestrian, and also belongs to the regional circuits of
MAHSA, IASPHA, ASAW and IHPBEA. It is sponsored by Mid-America Horse Show
Association, one of the largest ASHA charter clubs in the country with close
to 500 members.
For a copy of the prize list, contact Joy Meierhans, show manager, at 43W734 Old Midlothian Tpke., Elburn, IL 60119; phone 630/557-2575 or email
[email protected] (put Signature Show in subject window). Or print out the
Signature prize list and entry blank from www.equestrian.org.