Young equestrians showed American Quarter Horses to top honors at the Virginia 4-H Championship
Horse and Pony Show, September 5-8, 2024 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. The Virginia
Quarter Horse Association (VQHA) and the 4-H Extension Service partnered to provide high-point awards
and scholarships to these competitors.
“These awards highlight the athleticism and versatility of the Quarter Horse,” says Beth Smith, VQHAPresident. “They also celebrate the partnership that 4-H exhibitors have built with their horses.”
The 83 Quarter Horses at the show accounted for 25% of entries, competing in showmanship, hunter,western, ranch, freestyle reining, side saddle, and reining.
“The partnership between the VQHA and the Virginia 4-H Horse Program provides educational
opportunities to equine-interested youth in the Commonwealth,” says Hunter Liles, Youth Animal
Science Extension Associate. “We are thankful for this breed association’s support of our programs and our shared goals to provide Virginia youth with opportunities to grow in both their horsemanship and leadership skills.”
Sophie Roehl and Cee My Smoking Guns, of Caroline County, took the
Championship. Samantha Wills and VT Running on Empty, of Fluvanna County,
earned the Reserve Championship.
Both competitors received scholarships, which they may use to cover the costs of the 2025 VQHA clinic, conducted each March by nationally recognized horse trainers. Or they may apply the award to cover fees at the Virginia National Stock Horse Show, held in May at The Meadow Event Park, Doswell, VA.
The remaining top five competitors were Chloeye Smith and JF Midnight Slider from Roanoke County;
Aubrey Smith and Features Addition from Lancaster County; and Mason Pettit and Rock Your Assets from
Hanover County.
Sophie and Aubrey are members of the Virginia Youth Quarter Horse Association.
“We are proud of these exhibitors and their partners and we proudly support the 4-H youth program
that builds young horsemen and women,” says Smith. “We hope they will continue working with their
equine partners, whether at VQHA shows or through our Horseback Riding Program that rewards
individuals for working with their horses in all areas.”
The VQHA invites all 4-H exhibitors to build their skills through the Virginia Quarter Horse Youth
Association and at VQHA shows, many of which offer classes for horses of all breeds, as well as Quarter
Horses. For more information about VQHA, go to www.myvqha.com. #AQHAProud
