Around the Rings: 2026 WVQHA Wymer Classic
Photos by Steven Pelzer, courtesy of WVQHA.
April 11-12, 2026, marked the dates of the West Virginia Quarter Horse Association’s Wymer Classic in Winfield, West Virginia, with judges Larry Little, Daren Wright, John Tuckey, and Sissy Anderson.
The show, which paid out approximately $20K over their 2024 and 2025 show, offered a full slate of AQHA, NSBA and stock-breed classes with added money in multiple NSBA, AQHA, and stock breed classes.
Once again, over $10K was up for grabs, along with newly added Versatility Ranch Horse classes.
The highlight event each year, however, is the Chris Payne Memorial Showmanship Shootout. This year’s class hosted 18 competitors and was sponsored by Kyle Hughes Quarter Horses.
The class also served as a fundraiser, bringing in nearly $1,000 to support WVQHA.
Congratulations to the top finishers:
🥇 Mariah Zimmerman
🥈 Kaitlyn Barrett
🥉 James Rudd
4️⃣ Francesca Divencenzo
5️⃣ Nicole Blankenship
6️⃣ Savanna Caron
7️⃣ Chase Rudd
8️⃣ Allison Earls
9️⃣ Ashley Hensley
From WVQHA: Thank you to everyone who helped make this class such a special part of the weekend. It’s a great reminder of how this community shows up—not just to compete, but to support one another and celebrate the people who made an impact.
Thank you to Steven Pelzer for the fabulous photo gallery from the show!
