It was hot in St. Louis on August 2-5 for the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) National Shetland Pony Congress, but the ponies who came to compete were even hotter. Some 480 ponies trekked to the new show site, the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis. After almost a decade of hosting the show in Rantoul, IL, show officials were very pleased with the number of entries the new show location attracted. “With a new location, soaring gasoline prices and record temperatures, we were concerned about the turnout for the show,” said ASPC Marketing Director Johnny Robb. “But not only was the turnout very good, the caliber of the ponies was really high in every division.”

Once again, ASPC member Sandy Grabow put together an incredible program for the youth exhibitors. Whenever the youth participants were not showing, they were on the go with fun activities, including youth judging, electronic quiz bowl, art contests, pottery classes and much more. “I think the youth programs at our shows is really second to none,” said Robb. “These kids enjoy so much more than just the showing. Thanks to Sandy (Grabow) and the youth committee and great companies like Farnam and Cowboy Magic, it’s like a week at camp for our youth riders.”

But the kids were not the only ones having a good time. Adult exhibitors, both amateurs and professionals, took advantage of the full range of classes offered for pony enthusiasts. From spirited roadster classes and fine harness driving to jumping, obstacle classes, and fun costume classes--the show offered something for every competitor.

For the first time, the Shetland Pony Congress offered a new division of classes for National Show Ponies (NSPR). Jim and Arlyn Story’s Fort Storey’s Cannonball Express made history when he became the first NSPR pony to win a national championship. Cannonball was named National Show Pony Hunter Hack National Champion.

This year’s Shetland Pony Congress was full of news...a new location, a new division and more than 200 new national champions added to record books. View the complete ASPC Congress results at www.horseshowsonline.com.


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