More From Murfreesboro/QuarterFest

Yesterday had so much activity that by the time I got back to The Castle (which is what I have taken to calling the living-quarters trailer I'm staying at during QuarterFest), I was too pooped to post! So I'm catching back up with you this morning.

I have a partner in crime on this trip, with Horse&Rider's associate publisher Rick Swan from Scottsdale, Arizona. Rick is with the magazine's ad-sale team, knows everyone (or so it seems), and is some of the best "up for anything" company a person could ask for. He's

in the peach-colored shirt, standing with Extravaganza performer Tommie Turvey (on the roan horse).

Tommie's part of the Extravaganza with Pokerjoe, an amazingly trained horse,  brought the house down every night. It's one of those things you really have to see to believe...I'm mystified as to how he gets that horse to lie flat on its back and stretch single legs straight up in the air on cue (among other things).

The gal toting the saddle is Team H&R's Julie Goodnight from Salida, Colorado. At this event, Julie gets my personal award as the hardest-working woman in show business. She's been conducting clinic sessions all weekend. Her mic'd voice was the first one I heard yesterday morning over the P.A., and the last one I heard before the evening Extravaganza began. The folks who bought clinic passes to ride with her at QuarterFest are definitely getting their money's worth.

I love anything having to do with driving horses, so was quite drawn to the stagecoach pulled by six matched black Quarter Horses. The biggest hitch I've ever gotten to drive was four horses, and that was challenging enough at a walk out in the open. So it must be something to drive SIX horses in a hitch, at a gallop in an arena! (I wouldn't have minded riding in the stagecoach, either.)

For one of those personal rock-star episodes you wish your mother got to witness, I was headlined at the AQHA booth, where I got to meet H&R readers and talk about careers in the equine industry. I even signed some autographs! (Blushing the entire time, I'm sure.)

Today, I may finally get a chance to attend some of the horse camping and trail-related presentations. I'm glad I made arrangements to be at QuarterFest the entire three days, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to get all the way through the program!

 

 

QuarterFest Scenes & Moments

Yesterday, I was too busy doing other things at QuarterFest to be able to visit the vendor booths. But I made up for that this morning, and have two shopping bags of gifts and other goodies to show for it.

It wouldn't be hard to come home from this event as a completely glitzed-out "kowgirl." Or as a well-dressed cowGUY, for that matter. Thanks to such AQHA partners as Wrangler and Justin, the latest styles in jeans, shirts, and boots are just as much a part of the shopping experience as the statement-making bling for us gals.

One of the most interesting people at QuarterFest is Sgt. Josh Forbess. He's the blue-shirted rider on the left of the shot with the two mounted cowboys. A member of our armed forces, Josh is still following the long road to recovery after surviving a fiery helicopter crash in Iraq. He was on fire when pulled from the chopper and has undergone nearly 20 operations on his head and face since then. Now an advocate for therapeutic riding the U.S. Army's Ft. Campbell,  he was part of last night's Extravaganza show that helped raised money for America's Horse Cares (which supports therapeutic riding). Josh joined us for dinner the first night we were here and shared his story with us.

Hat's off to you, man.

The Walk of Fame houses horses from the Extravaganza--one of which is Blue Jeans, the gray horse Miley Cyrus rode in her "Hannah Montana" movie. He's had a steady stream of visitors.

If there were a Walk of Fame here for humans, Bob Avila (in coral shirt, next to palomino horse) would certainly be on it. The champion trainer and member of Team H&R was just getting ready to go in the arena for a clinic session this morning when I snapped the photo of him talking to one of the many folks eager to see him here.

Day 2, Ready to See and Do More at QuarterFest

There's honestly so much happening at AQHA's birthday-bash event in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that I didn't begin to see or do it all yesterday. So I'll have plenty of exploring to do yet today.

Of course, that means I will have to tear myself away from the luxury of the living-quarters Sundowner trailer I'm staying in on the grounds. Right now, I'm kicked back on the tooled-leather-look sofa, sipping a cup of French roast coffee brewed right here in my borrowed weekend castle, listening to some Nashville sound on the FM stereo and cozying up against the sound of rain on the roof.

Ah yes, the rain...just no getting around it, and for better or worse, a whopping rain event is visiting middle Tennessee at the same time as QuarterFest. This is no big deal to someone who lives in the Northwest, however--you just dress accordingly and go on about your day. The event organizers here are coping just as readily.

In fact, when I was at the AQHA booth yesterday to meet and talk with prospective journalists, I caught a glimpse of the "in case of rain" manifesto that had been prepared ahead of time. The outdoor clinics have been moved to indoor venues, and with the size of the coliseum complex and other under-cover areas, not much of a beat's been missed.

QuarterFest, Here I Come (Anyone Joining Me?)

The more I've thought about AQHA's upcoming QuarterFest event, the more intrigued I've become over its concept of bringing horse lovers together for a breed-branding mix of education and fun

So, even though I live too far away to bring my own horse (kind of a long haul from Idaho to Tennessee), I'm going to attend anyway. And I'm pretty stoked about it, too. Got my airline reservation yesterday, and have fingers crossed that a horse will turn up for me to ride on the Saturday trail ride.

I'll be blogging from the event, so you'll get an inside scoop on how this first QuarterFest celebration turns out.

It'd be even better if you turned up in person so we could meet! The event is set up so you can come with or without your horse.

I know I'll be seeing at least a few familiar faces, would love to add some new ones.

Here's what I look like in my favorite hat, just so you'll be able to spot me!

Dates: May 1-3

Place: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Info: AQHA.com

A Breed Event That's NOT About The Points & Ribbons

I can't give you a review of AQHA's newest event, called QuarterFest, because it hasn't happened yet. It'll take place May 1-3 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

But I can say that I hope it's successful enough to inspire the powers-that-be in other breeds to get their thinking going in a similar direction.

QuarterFest is not planned as a horse show, with points and ribbons as the enticement, but as a pride-in-belonging festival. Sort of like "Sturgis for horse people." A party, to large extent.

This party's invitees are the home-based, non-competition-driven horse lovers looking for a good time, and maybe a little horsemanship education, over an extended weekend.

The event is set up to be something like a horse expo, with clinics, demonstrations, breed exhibits, vendor shopping, and plenty of chances to mingle with and hang out with other horse people. 

But here's what seem to me to be the two brilliant twists on the concept:

* Attendees have the option to bring their own horses--of any breed--then camp on the grounds, ride in the clinics (or ride out just for fun), to get R&R time as well as social and/or learning time. (You can attend without a horse, too.)

* The event sponsor's own breed gets to be the star of the show. QuarterFest will include a two-hour, choreographed showcase of Quarter Horses as its evening entertainment.

The clinician lineup happens to include two Team H&R members, Bob Avila and Julie Goodnight. Dunno know about you guys, but I'd jump at a chance to ride with either one of them.

In any case, I'm all for the idea of creating opportunities for horse people to be engaged and active. So, tip o' the hat to AQHA for thinking this one up.