By Michael V. Hannigan
It’s horse time out at the fairgrounds.
The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Summer Jubilee got underway today in Athens with entries from all over the country and Canada. The event will run through Sunday, July 19.
Organizers said the show will see more than 300 contestants by the end of the week, and with less than five of those coming from Henderson County, it truly is a national event that features several past world champions.
Participants this week are vying to earn points to qualify for the AQHA World Championship Show scheduled for July 31 – Aug. 8 in Oklahoma City.
The event is the annual major fundraiser for the Henderson County Horseman’s Association (formerly the Henderson County Horse Committee) and helps fund training and vaccination clinics throughout the year, as well as the horse events at the annual youth livestock show and a scholarship. The association also donates money back to the Fairpark Complex, which gets used to buy new equipment.
In addition, association members point to the boost the show gives the local economy from all the out of county visitors.
The public is invited to come out to the fairgrounds and watch the action, and to look around behind the scenes at all the horses. Entry is free.
You can find the complete schedule of events on the Mark Harrell Horse Shows website.
