Quarter Horse show comes to Calsonic Arena

The Spring Classic, a quarter horse show sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Association, will be held Friday through Sunday in Calsonic Arena. Action begins at 9 a.m. each day, and there's no charge for spectator admission.

AQHA shows test horses' abilities in competitive events. Some of those, as described by the AQHA web site, include:

* Jumping is a true test of a horse's athletic ability to perform over fences. Jumping consists of at least four obstacles and a minimum of eight jumps. Scores are based on time and penalty faults. Faults are assessed when a horse refuses to jump, knocks down an obstacle, or causes an obstacle to be knocked down. Horses completing the course without faults return to compete in a timed "jump-off" to determine final placings.

* Reining: Horses are judged on movements, mastery of prescribed maneuver and attitude as they are guided through one of 11 AQHA patterns. The horse is required to perform a number of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The horse should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.

* Barrel Racing: An exciting race against the clock in which exhibitors follow a course consisting of three barrels in triangular "cloverleaf" pattern. Riders choose to circle either the right or left barrel first, race to the opposite barrel and complete the course after circling the third barrel and racing down the center of the three barrels to stop the timer. Knocking over a barrel carries a five second penalty.

* Cutting pits an American Quarter Horse against a cow in a battle of wills. Horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one cow from the herd, drive it to the center of the arena and "hold" it away from the herd. The horse is scored on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage. There is a 21/2 minute time limit.

* Tie-Down Roping tests a horse's ability to follow a calf at great speed, giving the rider the best opportunity to catch the calf. The horse is judged on how quietly he waits for the calf to be released; how well he runs to the calf; how he rates his speed and position so that the rider can rope the calf; and how well the horse stops and works the end of the rope, keeping the slack out but not dragging the calf. There is a one minute time limit for all roping events.

* Pole Bending: A timed event in which the speed and agility of the horse are tested as horse and rider weave through a course of six poles spaced 21 feet apart, twice circling end poles before turning and racing to the finish line. The pattern must be followed exactly. A five-second penalty is added for each pole knocked down.

There are also halter classes which judge the horses on performance and appearance.

AQHA, based in Amarillo, Texas, gives prizes at the end of each horse show season based on points awarded for competing in AQHA-sanctioned shows. There are also world championship shows, one for adults and one for youth, featuring competitors who have qualified at AQHA-sanctioned events.

For more information about this weekend's show, call Mary Ann McElhiney at (931) 670-4270. For more information about AQHA, call (806) 376-4811 or go to www.aqha.com.