'Fall' horse show springs forth

Don't let the name fool you -- The TQHA Fall Novice Show really is going on this spring weekend -- not this fall.

"It was originally in August, and the American Quarter Horse Association won't let you change the name of the show," said Barbara Fisher, coordinator of the event.

Held at Clearview Horse Farm, 2291 U.S. 231 South, the annual event features a clinic on Saturday and a show on Sunday, and Fisher expects plenty of excellent horses and horsemanship.

"The facilities are good and the weather is good. It's going to be a good show," she said.

All novice shows are for horse enthusiasts who are just beginning to show, a fun and easy way to become better exhibitors while making new friends," Fisher said.

"We welcome all American Quarter horse owners to attend an all-novice show," said Bill Brewer, AQHA vice president. "AQHA shows are fun, and anybody who has ever wanted to get involved with horses or compete at an AQHA show is encouraged to attend."

AQHA shows test the horses' abilities in dozens of different classes and feature events such as jumping, reining, barrel racing, cutting, ripping and pole bending. In the halter classes, horses are judged on balance, muscling and breed characteristics.

Each year, the AQHA approves more than 2,700 shows and special events around the world, and the Tennessee QHA will be hosting this event.

Is it hard being quarter horse enthusiasts in the heart of walking horse country?

"I don't think so at all," said Fisher. "It's a totally different breed. We get a good turnout."

In fact, those wanting to bring horses to the clinic don't even have to have quarter horses -- any breed will be accepted. They don't have to have a horse at all to come and audit the clinic from outside the ring.

The clinic classes, led by Mitch and Geana Leslie of Cookeville, begin at 9 a.m., with Showmanship following at noon with the Horsemanship class and 2:30 p.m. with Equitation. Saturday competition begins at 6 p.m. and the Sunday classes begin at 8 a.m. Any horses competing do have to come with registration papers and proof of negative Coggins.