**ANNOUNCING**

2014 KEYSTONE SHOWDOWN DATES
June 18-22, 2014

2014 KEYSTONE SHOWDOWN MAKING HISTORY!
The Keystone Quarter Horse Association could not be prouder than they were at the 2014 Keystone Showdown held in Centre Hall, PA on June 18-22. Only four short years ago the club took on many changes and a special group was pulled together strictly by fate.
That is a story within itself.
 
Before the Keystone Showdown was formed four years ago, the previous KQHA sponsored show rented 80 stalls and barely had enough entries to make an official show. Since relocating and branding the show as the Keystone Showdown and following through with a wildwest theme the show has grown to renting over 550 stalls with a record number of entries.  A majority of the classes had between 20 to 40 horses with several having to be split. A combined total of approximately 7000 entries were judged by Jennifer McGrath, Kendra Weis, Brent Maxwell, Laura Gilmore, Tom Robertson and Will Knabenshue. There were some late nights but management is already looking to accommodate the large number of entries going forward. The show went on past midnight and exhibitors were adding at midnight instead of scratching classes.

The first Keystone Showdown started out with no money in the budget though they knew they wanted the Showdown to be an event not just a horse show.  There are other clubs that hold shows at the same facility that do not have the financial concerns KQHA had.  KQHA was forced to be creative thinkers leaving no stone unturned, pulling resources and giving 200 percent. That same mentality is passed along from year to year.

Aside from the normal horse show circuit awards, KQHA is always thinking outside the box to offer exhibitors tons of opportunities to win.  The Mike Whitmore Non-Pro Walk Trot, honoring a trainer that passed away from cancer, had 73 entries, with $1000 added and a saddle given to a random entry by pulling the back number out of a sack.  The Hoedown at the Showdown was held Friday Night serving everyone a great dinner of chicken, ziti, baked beans, potato salad, desert and drinks. Entertainment featured a mechanical bull and DJ Jammin Jamie. Saturday night offered a pizza party and Frisbee toss. Frisbees were sold for a Frisbee toss contest with the funds going to the KQHA Scholarship fund. The winner received an I-Pad Air.  Each class winner was given a scratch off ticket to win big cash. Each exhibitor in Open and Amateur Performance Halter Mares and Geldings pulled from a money bag filled with several bills in different denominations including $50’s & $100’s.

Dubed the little show that could is surely making it’s mark on the east coast map.

SAVE THE DATE: THE 2014 ANNUAL BANQUET WILL BE HELD
FEBRUARY 8, 2015 AT THE WATSON INN IN WATSONTOWN, PA

WE’RE ON FACEBOOK

Please don’t forget to visit our Keystone Quarter Horse Association and our Keystone Showdown facebook pages.  The Keystone Quarter Horse Association facebook page provides up to date info on the club, while the Keystone Showdown page caters exclusively to our Showdown, there you will find news from the show and hundreds of pictures from the previous Showdown.

As always, please feel free to contact any KQHA Officer, Director or Member to have your comments, questions or concerns addressed.