Around the Rings: 2026 OAQHA Little Buckeye
All photos courtesy of Cody Parmenter Photography.
The Ohio Amateur Quarter Horse Association just wrapped up The Little Buckeye 2026, spanning the dates of July 9-12, 2026, at Garwood Arena in Columbiana, OH.
The 2025 Top 10 AQHA show, which was AQHA, NSBA, OQHA and NOQHA approved, hosted judges Becky George, Katie Green, Jimmy Daurio, Holly Hover, Rebecca Halvorson, Jennifer Goss, John Kunkle, and Jennifer Kunkle.
According to the ever-dependable An Equine Production, they had roughly 8500 AQHA entries, amazing NSBA entries and a phenomenal prize room, as well as lots of new faces, with perks like a Ride the Trail pattern clinic with Brent Maxwell.
In addition, amateur exhibitors who placed overall 2nd – 5th place exhibitors received jackpot money in each amateur class!
From OAQHA:
Some of our favorite highlights which we think make our show pretty special:
5 free exhibitor meals + an ice cream social
Free donuts + coffee every morning A goodie bag + t-shirt for each exhibitor An AMAZING awards room Free arena photos Ample longeing + riding space
The show also featured money-added NSBA classes:
Congratulations to Allie Rippeon for winning the $2,000 BUCKEYE Nutrition NSBA Non-Pro Trail
Photo: NSBA
HBF Hot Expectations NSBA $2,000 Added Level 1/Green Hunter Under Saddle futurity class
Champions: Country Glam, Carly Veldman Parks for Molly Mullady, $833
Reserve Champions: Im Lucky Too Nite, Sarah Bernatowicz for Christine Scott, $661.50
Third: Chromanticize, Melissa Thyfault for Rebecca Johnson, $490
Fourth/Fifth (tie): All N The Mechanics, Tessa Criste for Meadison Eve Mulder, $232.75
Fifth/Fourth (tie): Batt Out Of Hell, Darla Lee for Hannah Searle, $232.75
Thank you to Cody Parmenter Photography for the photos! They offered free web-sized downloads to exhibitors all weekend. Exhibitors can also purchase full release images here:
https://www.codyparmenter.com/events/2026-the-little-buckeye/index.php
Complete results: 2026+TLB+Results.pdf
Scribe sheets: 2026 The Little Buckeye – Google Drive
High Point Winners
| Open | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| SuddenBreakingNews – Jolene Mierzejewski | Pinball Machine – Liam Benyon | VS Got A Line – Janet Egolf |
| Rookie Amateur | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Red E Freddy & Olivia Boyle | Btr Late Than Nvr & Chelsea Jackson | Invited Kisses Only & Amanda Spivak |
| L2 Amateur | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| KM Best Of Goodbar & Kimberly Adams | Fine Lookin Lady & Amy Errer | Blow The World Akiss & Anna Minich |
| L3 Amateur | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Whata Moonlite Ride & Isabella D’Onofrio | Too Blazin Cool & Alexia Tordoff | VS Fully Revived & Ali Hubbel |
| L1 Amateur | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Batting On Impulse & Lindsay Duran | Blazing Hot N Gold & Holly Saigo | Blazing My Blues Away & Clarissa Manross |
| Select | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| If It Aint Southern & Jennifer D’Onofrio | Under My Terms & Jennifer Royal | Lil Bit Of Moonlite & Beth Ann Becker |
| Rookie Youth | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Now Look At This & Fisher Mayes | Notice My Mechanics & Alexandra Knobloch | Suddenly Krymsun & Quinn Bogue |
| L1 Youth | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Certain To Be Good & Karissa King | Are U A Hot Charlie & Peyton Seyfred | Mo Money & Tenley Grimes |
| 13 & under | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| The Roan Show & Molly Mullady | Slow Southern Drawl & Lucy Moore | Simple Is Best & Alexa Kozuch |
| L2 14-18 Youth | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Bettr Than You & Lauren Deeds | By Good Rights & Eleanor Gaible | Certain To Be Good & Karissa King |
| L3 14-18 Youth | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Hour Slot Machine & Alexandra Rippeon | VS Retirement Fund & Madeline Rippeon | Guess Whoo & Kaylee Olds |
| Ranch | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Thee Gunn Show – Tracy Hritz | CC Valentino – Jeffrey Stanley | IceForTheChics – Olivia Stoudmire |
| Small Fry | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre | This Versions Lazy & Lena Shoemaker | KM Dont Flash Me & Peyton Tebben |
| L1 Amateur Walk/Jog | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Last Drop Of Wine & Emily Dixon | Youll Always Envy Me & Elle Bischel | Good Old Gold & Kara Schockling |
| L1 Youth Walk/Jog | ||
| Champion | Reserve | Bronze |
| Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre | KM Dont Flash Me & Peyton Tebben | This Versions Lazy & Lena Shoemaker |
2026 The Little Buckeye – Circuit & High Points
| 1/501. L1/Green Senior Trail | Slam I Am & Chris Gray |
| 2/502. L1/Green Junior Trail | SuddenBreakingNews & Jennifer Paul |
| 3/503. Junior Trail | Gonna Needa Martini & Melvin Yoder |
| 4/504. Rookie Amateur Trail | Gonna Need A Martini & Heather Wilt |
| 5/505. L1/Novice Amateur Trail | Ona Impulsive Cowboy & Margaret Zepka |
| 6/506. Rookie Youth Trail | Abagail Krymsun & Liam Benyon |
| 7/507. L1/Novice Youth Trail | Pinball Machine & Liam Benyon |
| 8/508. L1/Novice Am W/T Trail | Batt N Thousand & Philip Kramer |
| 9/509. L1/Novice Youth W/T Trail | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 10/510. Small Fry Trail | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 11/511. Select Trail | Lets Ride & Janet Egolf |
| 12/513. L2 Amateur Trail | Maybeline & Annika Rear |
| 13/513. L3 Amateur Trail | Perfectly Made & Abigail Roos |
| 14/514. Youth 13 & Under Trail | Slow Southern Drawl & Lucy Moore |
| 15/515. Youth 14-18 Trail | Itzonly Make Believe & Allie Rippeon |
| 16/517. L2 Senior Trail | Unchained Melody & Melvin Yoder |
| 17/517. L3 Senior Trail | Itzonly Make Believe & Allie Rippeon |
| 18/518. L1/Green Western Riding | Sundi Comin Down & Michael Colvin |
| 19/519. Rookie Am Western Riding | Willy The One & Addison Schliesser |
| 20/520. L1/Novice Am Western Riding | Cowboys Love Me & Jennifer Feller |
| 21/521. Amateur Western Riding | KM Best Of Goodbar & Kimberly Adams |
| 22/522. Rookie Youth Western Riding | Love Konnection & Unie Brechbuhler |
| 23/523. L1/Nov Youth Western Riding | Guess Whoo & Kaylee Olds |
| 24/524. Youth Western Riding | The Roan Show & Molly Mullady |
| 25/525. Western Riding | VS Got A Line & Kyle Dougherty |
| 40/540. L1/Gr Non-Pro Showmanship | Dont Break The Code & Melanie Patterson |
| 41/541. Rookie Youth Showmanship | Now Look At This & Fisher Mayes |
| 42/542. L1/Nov Youth Showmanship | Are U A Hot Charlie & Peyton Seyfred |
| 43/543. Rookie Am Showmanship | Last Drop Of Wine & Emily Dixon |
| 44/544. L1/Novice Am Showmanship | Last Drop Of Wine & Emily Dixon |
| 45/546. L2 Select Showmanship | Hez Just Got It & Jackie Davis |
| 46/546. L3 Select Showmanship | Queen Of Me & Christinna Murphy |
| 47/548. L2 Amateur Showmanship | Fine Looking Lady & AMy Errer |
| 48/548. L3 Amateur Showmanship | KM Picture Perfect & Brooke Braden |
| 49/549. Youth 13 & U SMS | Are U A Hot Charlie & Peyton Seyfred |
| 50/551. L2 14-18 Showmanship | Bettr Than You & Lauren Deeds |
| 51/551. L3 14-18 Showmanship | Hour Slot Machine & Allie Rippeon |
| 52/552. Small Fry Showmanship | This Versions Lazy & Lena Shoemaker |
| 55/555. Am Performance Geldings | Yikkity Yak & Ricky Young |
| 56/556. Youth Perf Geldings | Hour Slot Machine & Allie Rippeon |
| 57/557. Performance Geldings | Yikkity Yak & Ricky Young |
| 58/558. Am Performance Mares | Little Bit Of Moonlite & Beth Ann Becker |
| 59/559. Youth Performance Mares | Cowgirl Code & Brielle Gault |
| 60/560. Performance Mares | Slip It Slow & Chris Gray |
| 62. Amateur Two-Year-Old Geldings | CR Peaceout & Troy Dugan |
| 63. Amateur Three-Year-Old Geldings | VS Riseabovetherest & Ellexxah Maxwell |
| 64. Amateur Aged Geldings | Snoop Dogg & Jason Somnitz |
| 69. Youth Three-Year-Old Geldings | One Lazy Redneck & Sophia Zambanini |
| 70. Youth Aged Geldings | Credibility & Colton Smith |
| 74. Two-Year-Old Geldings | CR Peaceout & Dewey Smith |
| 76. Aged Geldings | Credibility & Dewey Smith |
| 80. Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares | Gracies Cool Secret & Jason Somnitz |
| 81. Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares | Soltress & Dan Pierce |
| 82. Amateur Aged Mares | Shine Up The Chrome & Roxanne Swygart |
| 85. Youth Yearling Mares | JLR Born In Elegance & Colton Smith |
| 88. Youth Aged Mares | One Lazy Mouse & Kora Crites |
| 91. Yearling Mares | JLR Born In Elegance & Dewey Smith |
| 92. Two-Year-Old Mares | Gracies Cool Secret & Jason Somnitz |
| 93. Three-Year-Old Mares | Soltress & Dan Pierce |
| 94. Aged Mares | Shine Up The Chrome & Dewey Smith |
| 97/597. L1/Green Ranch Trail | CC Valentino & Melvin Yoder |
| 98/598. L1/Nov Am Ranch Trail | Iceforthechics & Olivia Stoudmire |
| 99/599. Amateur Ranch Trail | Thee Gunn Show & Tracy Hritz |
| 100/600. L1/Nov Youth Ranch Tr | Honey Pale Ale & Olivia DeFranco |
| 101/601. Youth Ranch Trail | Honey Pale Ale & Olivia DeFranco |
| 102/602. Ranch Trail | Iceforthechics & Melvin Yoder |
| 103/603. Pleasure Driving | Give Me A Good Alibi & Marion Troyer |
| 104/604. Amateur Pleasure Driving | Give Me A Good Alibi & Maryn Klaus |
| 105/605. L1 Am W/T W. Pleasure | Good Old Gold & Kara Beth Shockling |
| 106/606. L1 Select W/T WP | KM BestNTheMoonlite & Connie Shafer |
| 107/607. L1 Youth W/T WP | Snoozzzin & Josie Lukachek |
| 108/608. Small Fry W Pleasure | Ona Impulsive Cowboy & Brigid Johnson |
| 109/609. L1/Green WPleasure | RL Dream Take Flight & Taft Dickerson |
| 110/610. Rookie Youth W Pleasure | Masterly Made & Molly Gullett |
| 111/611. L1/Novice Youth W Pleasure | Pinball Machine & Liam Benyon |
| 112/612. 13 & U Western Pleasure | Batmans Got Da Goods & Addison Gray |
| 113/613. 14-18 Western Pleasure | Towin The Line & Nathan Carson |
| 114/614. Junior Western Pleasure | The Best No Doubt & Chad Piper |
| 115/615. Rookie Am Western Pleasure | RL Dream Take Flight & Kaitlyn Bennett |
| 116/616. L1/Novice Am WPleasure | RL Dream Take Flight & Kaitlyn Bennett |
| 117/617. Select Western Pleasure | The Best No Doubt & J Jonard |
| 118/618. Amateur Western Pleasure | RL Dream Take Flight & Kaitlyn Bennett |
| 119/619. Senior Western Pleasure | Aint No Stoppin Her & Randy Wilson |
| 120/620. L1 Am W/T Horsemanship | TheBeatGoesOn & Mackenzie McCuen |
| 121/621. L1 Select W/T Horsemanship | Best Flat Line Yet & Denise Folck |
| 122/622. L1/Green Non-Pro HMS | Unchained Melody & Isabella Stanley |
| 123/623. Rookie Am Horsemanship | Red E Freddy & Olivia Boyle |
| 124/624. L1/Novice Amateur HMS | InvitedByWillyNelson & Lexie Ziemak |
| 125/625. L1/Novice Select HMS | Blazing Hot N Gold & Holly Saigo |
| 126/626. Select Horsemanship | Blazing Hot N Gold & Holly Saigo |
| 127/628. L2 Amateur Horsemanship | Perfectly Made & Abigail Roos |
| 128/628. L3 Amateur Horsemanship | Whata Moonlite Ride & Bella D’Onofrio |
| 129/629. Junior Working Western Rail | Smoked The Rest & Melvin Yoder |
| 130/630. Am Working Western Rail | Iceforthechics & Olivia Stoudmire |
| 131/631. Youth Working Western Rail | CC Valentino & Addison Stanley |
| 132/632. Senior Working Western Rail | Chex Gunna Be Tops & Shannon Hill |
| 133/633. L1/Green Ranch Riding | Everything I Love & Melvin Yoder |
| 134/634. L1/Nov Am Ranch Riding | PS Watch Me Im Good & Julia Zym |
| 135/635. Amateur Ranch Riding | Only Hot N Winning & Macey Bennett |
| 136/636. L1/Nov Youth Ranch Riding | Nicked My Mercedes & Sophia Silvestri |
| 137/637. Youth Ranch Riding | Honey Pale Ale & Olivia DeFranco |
| 138/638. Ranch Riding | SS Wrecking Ball & Melvin Yoder |
| 139/639. L1 Youth W/T Horsemanship | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 140/640. Small Fry Horsemanship | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 141/641. Rookie Youth HMS | Now Look At This & Fisher Mayes |
| 142/642. L1/Novice Youth HMS | A Heart Like Hers & Alyvia Kladney |
| 143/643. 13 & U Horsemanship | The Roan Show & Molly Mullady |
| 144/645. L2 14-18 Horsemanship | By Good Rights & Eleanor Gaible |
| 145/645. L3 14-18 Horsemanship | Hour Slot Machine & Alexandra Rippeon |
| 147/647. L1/Novice Am W/T HUS | Batt Out Of Hell & Mariah Sherer |
| 148/648. L1/Nov Youth W/T HUS | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 149/649. Small Fry HUS | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 150/650. L1/Green HUS | All N The Mechanics & Tessa Christe |
| 151/651. Rookie Youth HUS | Living For The Nite & Skylar Hernstein |
| 152/652. L1/Nov Youth HUS | Good Ol Southern Boy & Lexi Wills |
| 153/653. Youth 13 & HUS | Southern Party & Ruby O’Connor |
| 154/654. Youth 14-18 HUS | Im The Greater Good & Erin Duquette |
| 155/655. Junior HUS | Im The Greater Good & Suzanne Duquette |
| 156/656. Rookie Am HUS | Naturally Blue Sky & Angela Paugh |
| 157/657 L1/Nov Am HUS | Naturally Blue Sky & Angela Paugh |
| 158/658. Select HUS | RUSleeping & Susan Gough |
| 159/659. Amateur HUS | Too Blazin Cool & Alexia Tordoff |
| 160/660. Senior HUS | Keepin A Strait Face & Ashley Conger |
| 161/661. L1/Nov Am W/T HSE | Youll Always Envy Me & Elle Bischel |
| 162/662. L1/Green Non-Pro HSE | Unchained Melody & Isabella Stanley |
| 163/663. Rookie Am Equitation | With Aside Of Blazin & Sundae Weldi |
| 164/664. L1/Novice Am HSE | Batting On Impulse & Lindsay Duran |
| 165/665. Select Equitation | Lil Bit Of Moonlite & Beth Ann Becker |
| 166/667. L2 Amateur Equitation | Its A Bold Thing & Sara Oler |
| 167/667. L3 Amateur Equitation | Whata Moonlite Ride & Bella D’Onofrio |
| 168/668. L1/Nov Youth W/T HSE | Ima Southern Loper & Harper Barre |
| 169/669. Small Fry Equitation | This Versions Lazy & Lena Shoemaker |
| 170/670. Rookie Youth Equitation | Southern Party & Ruby O’Connor |
| 171/671. L1/Novice Youth HSE | Are U A Hot Charlie & Peyton Seyfred |
| 172/672. Youth 13 & U HSE | Lifes Good & Marley Tincher |
| 173/674. L2 Youth 14-18 Equitation | Im Flaunting Awesome & Giavonna Fusillo |
| 174/674. L3 Youth 14-18 Equitation | Unchained Melody & Isabella Stanley |
