2025 APHA Eastern National Show Draws Over 1,000 Entries

By Jessica Hein, PHJ News:

The word on the street? Exhibitors LOVED the 2025 APHA Eastern National Championship Show, which took place August 21-24 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.

This year’s show featured 1,052 entries, 227 entered horses, 146 national championship classes and 16 all-around awards. New for 2025 were English and Western Versatility Pattern sweepstakes classes and select all-breed pattern sweepstakes. Exhibitor clinics returned for a second year, hosted by Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen Tera Fauver, Daren Wright and Steve Meadows. That came in addition to a Ride the Pattern clinic with judge Kelly Boles Chapman and tons of fun events including a “find the duck” scavenger hunt, tie-dye t-shirt making station, boot scramble and coloring contest.

Special thanks to MARS Equestrian for sponsoring two Novice Youth and Youth Walk-Trot entries for exhibitors, along with free lead line entries; and Boehringer Ingelheim for sponsoring exhibitor appreciation donuts.

International Ranch Horse Association classes featured over $8,000 in total payouts.

Join Us Next Year

• Tentative Dates: August 20–23, 2026, at the World Equestrian Center, Wilmington, Ohio

All-Around Champions: 2025 Eastern National Championship Show

Open Show Horse

Champion: Salty Southern Belle, a 2023 chestnut overo mare by Salt On The Rocks x Southern Girlz, leased by Parker Suess of Westampton, New Jersey

Reserve: CR Open Range, a 2014 red roan overo gelding by CR Good Machine x Bluebonnet S, owned by Kevin Smith of Palmyra, Wisconsin

Amateur

Champion: Kevin Smith of Palmyra, Wisconsin, & CR Open Range, a 2014 red roan overo gelding by CR Good Machine x Bluebonnet S

Reserve: Karly Furnas of Alvaton, Kentucky, & At Batt, a 2016 bay overo mare by Batt Man (QH) x Limos Zippy Limousine

Masters Amateur

Champion: Jennifer Ross of Grayslake, Illinois, & Daddysleepstomuch, a 2017 sorrel overo gelding by The Sugar Daddy x Not Enuff Sleep (QH)

Reserve: Jamie Ross of Grayslake, Illinois, & Call Me A Cowboy, a 2014 brown tobiano gelding by The Original Cowboy x Call Me Sister

Amateur English

Champion: Kaitlin Kemper of Indianapolis, Indiana, & Oh Whata Ride, a 2017 bay tobiano mare by Whata Vested Asset x Thebestsudden Asset (QH)

Reserve: Ruth Scherer of Sparta, Michigan, & On Doctors Orders, a 2013 sorrel overo gelding by VS Code Blue (QH) x Sensational Partygirl

Novice Amateur

Champion: Jamie Smithenry of Willow Hill, Illinois, & No Doubt Ima Ten, a 2018 bay overo gelding by No Doubt Im Lazy (QH) x Hide Your Assets

Reserve: Katherine Spratt of Homosassa, Florida, & Rockin The Impulse, a 2016 chestnut overo mare by MDR Impulsive x Rockys Poco Sue

Amateur Walk-Trot

Champion: Christina Thode of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, & CR Good Chocolate, a 2017 sorrel overo gelding by CR Good Machine x Chocolate Sophie (QH)

Reserve: Amanda Giombi-Lorenz of Franksville, Wisconsin, & One Dirty Martini, a 2019 bay overo gelding by The Best Martini (QH) x Without Mercy

Youth 14–18

Champion: Faith Wiedyk of Adrian, Michigan, & Fancy With Time, a 2016 sorrel overo mare by All Time Fancy x Fancy Time Cooke (QH)

Reserve: Karley Eager of Kent City, Michigan, & Best Of The Gentlemen, a 2019 sorrel tobiano gelding by Gentlemen Send Roses x A Classy Hotrod

Youth 13 & Under + Youth English

Champion: Journey Frericks of Quincy, Illinois, & Its Korona Time, a 2020 sorrel tobiano mare by Gentlemen Send Roses x Hot Time Zip

Reserve: Aliyah Attar of Pepperell, Massachusetts, & Invitation To Ride, a 2009 sorrel overo gelding by Special Invitation x Bourbon St Fancy

 Novice Youth

Champion: Elizabeth Shoemaker of West Olive, Michigan, & No Moore Candy, a 2013 sorrel overo gelding by Charlie Hilfiger x Zippos Satin N Lace

Reserve: Karley Eager of Kent City, Michigan, & Best Of The Gentlemen, a 2019 sorrel tobiano gelding by Gentlemen Send Roses x A Classy Hotrod

 Youth Walk-Trot 5–10

Champion: Halleigh Koning of Lowell, Michigan, & All Revere, a 2021 bay overo mare by All Time Fancy x One Hot Expresso

Reserve: Kiersten Gibson of Inverness, Florida, & The Ultimate Sting, a 2016 bay overo gelding by The Ultimate Fancy x Elegant Invitation (QH)

Youth Walk-Trot 11–18

Champion: Faith Engemann of Hermann, Missouri, & HF Color Me Art, a 2017 chestnut tobiano gelding by HF Spanish Artist x HF Shiny Contender

Reserve: Charlette Kleinow of Tecumseh, Michigan, & Shore Is Sleepy, a 2021 sorrel overo gelding by The Offshore Account x Dont Think Im Sleepy (QH)

 Open Ranch Horse

Champion: Seven S Crossfire, a 2019 blue roan solid gelding by Stevie Rey Von x Seven Pepto Whiz (QH) owned by Kara Bennett of Erie, Pennsylvania

Reserve: Reserve: LC Glo In The Dark, a 2021 sorrel overo mare by LC Trinity Glo (QH) x LC Trinity Angel (QH), owned by Robert Dean (Bob) Johnson of Burns, Tennessee

 Amateur Ranch

Champion: Kara Bennett of Erie, Pennsylvania, & Seven S Crossfire, a 2019 blue roan solid gelding by Stevie Rey Von x Seven Pepto Whiz (QH)

Reserve: Karen Johnson of Burns, Tennessee, & LC Glo In The Dark, a 2021 sorrel overo mare by LC Trinity Glo (QH) x LC Trinity Angel (QH)

 Novice Amateur Ranch

Champion: Sue Trible of Dunnsville, Virginia, & Dunnit Double Time, a 2014 chestnut overo gelding by Pale Face Dunnit x She And Chic Dunit (QH)

Reserve: Carla Perri of Cochranville, Pennsylvania, & Maclean Inferno, a 2018 palomino overo gelding by Inferno Sixty Six x Slide Meto My Dream (QH)

 Youth Ranch

Champion: Allison Kratzer of Georgetown, Ohio, & Lazy Sexy Cool, a 2015 bay overo mare by Hes A Cool Hotrod x Lopin Gracefully (QH)

Reserve: Jenna Edmonds of Monroeville, New Jersey, & Sonnys Music Man, a 2005 sorrel tobiano gelding by Royal Deluxe Too (QH) x Pure Country Music

 

Photography by Ruehle Photographix.