The EMO Celebration 2025 – The Show That Pays
All photos courtesy of The EMO Celebration/AzQHA.
Not many people can go to Las Vegas and say they won money, but The EMO Celebration made that dream a reality for exhibitors, living up to its reputation as “The Show That Pays”. The show awarded a record $137,000 that spread across every level and division. Held June 26 through July 6 at South Point in Las Vegas, this Top Ten AQHA show never fails to delight. This year, new added money classes in Ranch, expanded Walk Trot offerings, Non Pro L1 horse classes and record entry numbers gave exhibitors even more to Celebrate.
In all, 576 horses were shown by 438 exhibitors, racking up 9,472 AQHA entries plus another 1167 NSBA and Special event entries. Futurities and Super Sires Stakes classes sweetened the pot for those chasing dollars in addition to points.
Cool Cat With Power shown by Taylen Marler for Karen Stafford winning the $5,000 added 3 Year Old Ranch Riding Futurity sponsored by Rancho De Siete.
New to the schedule for 2025 was the $5,000 added 3 Year Old Ranch Riding Futurity sponsored by Rancho De Siete with 18 talented young horses chasing the cash and prizes. In the end, it was Karen Stafford’s horse Cool Cat With Power with Taylen Marler at the reins winning the champion title and a check for $2,284. Gary Roberts piloted Emma Croopnick’s horse Its Hiptobesplashed to second and $1,570.25. Shadd Parkinson and Thundr Strukk won $1,356.13 for third.
Senior Ranch horses were also hunting dollars as well as points in the $2,000 added Ranch Riding Maturity sponsored by Marler Performance Horses. Judges saw the top three tightly matched, but the final tally put Magnums Peppy, shown by Kendall Woellmer at the top winning $1,137.50 for owner Mellisa Brown. Cody Crow and Dr Moonshine were second winning $962.50 and Pale Face Chex with Taylen Marler won $612.50 for third.
Junior Ranch horses had a shot at money in the $3,000 Added 4/5 Year Old Ranch Riding Derby also sponsored by Marler Performance Horses. SS Pity Tha Fool ridden by Jimmy Daurio took top honors and $1,568 for owner Clara Tracy. Ciphered Code ridden by Kendall Woellmer and owned by Jenny Loveland was second, winning $1,078. SS Little Rock shown by Taylen Marler was third, winning $490.
SS Pity Tha Fool was back on top with owner Clara Tracy to win the $1,000 added Non Pro sponsored by Bar U Bar. Ciphered Code won another second place check with Jenny Loveland at the reins. Sydney Weaver and Cocktails Per Se were third winning $528.44.
Super Sires Green Hunter Under Saddle Champion Black N Bleu owned by Kelly Turner and shown by Alyssa Luckhardt.
Super Sires was back at The Celebration, adding $5,000 to Green horse classes along with trophy plaques and NSBA trophies. A combined $8,400 was awarded. Laurel Champlin took home $900 for Coolkrymsunladylike’s go in the Green Western Riding. Cool Sultry Lady earned $1,020 for Shannon Walker in Green Trail. Taylor Searles and Go Swish picked up the winning check for $1,080 in Green Western Pleasure. Black N Bleu won the Green HUS winning $960 for Kelly Turner.
The Celebrations Circuit Awards generated the biggest distribution of smiles and money across every level with over $105,000 paid out. Most all classes, with the exception of some Halter, as well as youth and amateur Walk/Trot, paid $500 to the circuit champion, $300 to reserve and $200 to third. Exhibitors loved posing with their big checks at the awards booth, often roping in friends and family to join them in fun photo ops.
There was even money to be one in true Vegas style: random chance. Exhibitors who placed first through sixth in any class were also invited to enter a drawing for $2,500 in bonus cash sponsored by the Equine Chronicle. With one entry per judges’ placings in every class, the colorful jars where practically overflowing when the winning tickets were drawn Sunday night. Delaney Lee won the first place raffle for $1,000, on top of her Circuit checks for L1 Western Riding, L2 Youth Horsemanship and Equitation.
Kennedy Wright and KM Three Bars Down, 11 & Under WT All Around Champion.
All Around and Best of Show awards also awaited exhibitors. Champions received a trophy buckle and buckle shadowbox, while Reserve won a trophy halter and halter bag.
SS Pity Tha Fool was a big winner in the Reining, Ranch and Cattle Division, winning the Open with Jimmy Daurio and the Amateur with Clara Tracy. This team also scooped up a total of 11 Circuit Awards. Nancy Gillett’s Electric N Hollywood, ridden by Laurel Denton, was Reserve in Open and Sissie Shank with Ronni Rey Gun took the Reserve spot in Amateur.
Later Haters and Sadie Joy Lamar had a great week, winning 3 circuit awards and ended up Best of Show Champion in the Youth division.
On the Rail, Trail and Pattern side, Kaylee Mellott and Insomniak were Best of Show in Amateur. Emerson Knabenshue and Party Favours won the buckle in Youth along with 4 circuit checks. Ayana McKnight and Walkin Willy Good had a winning time in Vegas, collecting 3 circuit checks, then topped off the week with a Best of Show in L1 Youth. After four circuit award checks and a consistently great week, Dan Yeager and Nothing Myst picked up the trophy buckle for Select.
A smooth running schedule was a big win for everyone. By grouping ranch, reining and cattle at the front end of the show, then switching to Rail, Trail and Pattern classes for the second half, the show maximizes the facility and minimizes conflicts. Even the barns who have horses competing on both sides love the ability to focus on one, then the other. And everyone love the South Point facilities. Despite Las Vegas experiencing a freak windstorm and a much needed monsoon drenching, exhibitors and horses stayed comfortable, calm and on schedule in the sprawling Equestrian Center.
Charlie Cole and Meghan Renfro winning the Trail Challenge.
The Celebration is not all hard work and serious competition. There was plenty of fun to be had as well. This year, PCQHYA’s Fundraiser class was a Pro-Am Trail challenge. Ten teams were previewed and auctioned in a Calcutta. Competition got tough, with teams adding extra flourishes to show off their horsemanship skills. Then the bridles started coming off to raucous cheers from the audience. Charilie Cole, Andrea Kail, Jimmy Daurio and Chad Evans all navigated the course sans bridle. Not to be out done, Justin Wheeler removed his saddle. All in good fun, the class was placed and awards given. Charlie Cole and Meghan Renfro won first. The real winners were the youth of Pacific Coast Quarter Horse, adding $11,450 to their coffers to support their numerous programs.
Huge horsemanship classes at The Celebration
The Celebration offers more than great facilities, competition and cash. Exhibitors and their families love the fun environment of the show. From watching fireworks displays on the roof top, to dining with your crew at the many on site restaurants, there’s a lot going on outside the rings at this show. It all comes together to make The Celebration a favorite summer destination show for the whole family.
Getting Our Red White and Blue on!
Looking forward to 2026, the Western States Affiliates are pleased to welcome Marshall & Sterling Insurance, the parent company of EMO, to The Celebration. The show will drop “EMO” from the name and simply be called The Celebration. A new name, same fantastic Celebration. Chris Hocutt, Equine Account Executive at Marshall + Sterling states, “We are proud to help support the AQHA industry with the title sponsorship of the show. EMO has been a sponsor of The Celebration since its inception in 2015, and Marshall + Sterling will continue with that tradition.”
Full awards and results can be found at thecelebrationlasvegas.com
Western States Affiliates/AzQHA Office
515 East Carefree Hwy, PMB #405
Phoenix, Arizona 85085
(623) 869-8037 • thecelebrationlasvegas@gmail.com
Contact: Kristen Spinning, The EMO Celebration Media Coordinator
