The Buckeye slogan “WHERE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ARE MADE!” is proven year after year. If you can win at the Buckeye, you can be a National Winner. The caliber of horses is the best, especially in the performance divisions.
The Buckeye offers National Show Horse District Championship classes, a Progressive Party that is one of the best in the country, different prize money programs, really cool awards, and over $100,000.00 is offered in prize money. It is non stop horse show!
Most recently, 2009, the Buckeye started a new program that has been successful in other breeds. It is called the Buckeye Sweepstakes Extravaganza Program. This is a junior horse program where you can own a “SLOT” into a specific junior horse slot class. Only so many are sold which increases the value of the “SLOT”, and the majority of the proceeds of the sales of the “SLOTS” go towards the specific class prize money. As you can see by the photos below, it is some tough competition, and if you look into what else these horses have won, you will see Buckeye competition is National quality competition. One of the awards that the winner receives is a one of a kind crystal platter created courtesy of Crystal Traditions, in Tiffin Ohio.
The Championship crystal platters are exclusively designed and hand cut by Aidan Scully, Master Irish Cutter and Designer, at Crystal Traditions in Tiffin, Ohio. Each award takes approximately 36 hours to completely design, cut, and finish by Mr. Scully. Each is free-hand art at its best and uniquely made for the winner’s lasting pleasure. The Bennett family, owner of Crystal Traditions wanted to give back to the show that their daughter Angie enjoyed so much growing up. What a wonderful and most generous thing to do. The first year of the Extravaganza, 2009, there was over $60,000.00 awarded in these four classes.
The Buckeye is also famous for their “Progressive Party”. This is held every year before the Friday evening session begins. Spectators and exhibitors are treated to foods provided by the various farms. Folks go through the barn sampling a variety of food, both American and foreign in nature, and then the grand finale is all the different desserts. After eating the best of the best we go back to the show ring for some high level classes and end the evening with the Arabian English Pleasure Association Yearling Futurity. This is a class of future English performance prospects that has the potential of awarding $20,000.00 in this class alone. This is not just a halter class, these horses must have English performance potential, and the judges must judge according to the class rules created for this specific class. The handlers in this class need to be as conditioned as the horses in order to show off the yearling’s full potential.
Everywhere you look there is a feeling of excitement when you spot many of the top stables in the country and some of the most talented exhibitors on those horses we have read about in the magazines.
If you are looking for a show which is highly competitive, with the best of the best in the country performing, mark your calendar for Memorial Day Weekend, we promise you a weekend of fun!