Iowa Gold Star Show

There are horse shows and then there are horse shows! The Iowa Gold Star, in just a few short years, has managed to move itself into the second category—that is, the rarest of shows that Arabian horse enthusiasts put in pen on their calendars at the beginning of each show season. Yup, it’s that good.

This year’s show was no exception. With its “Golden Renaissance” theme, meals around the clock provided by generous sponsors, significant prize money, vendors, and an exciting stallion auction, exhibitors had plenty to do, see and enjoy. Besides all that, there was a brand new show arena for what organizers describe as one of the deepest fields of horses they’ve ever seen. Competitors have gotten the word about the Iowa Gold Star and came from as far away as Florida, Arizona, Texas and California. An international competitor from Uruguay was also in attendance, showing in the halter division.

Traditionally held over Labor Day weekend in conjunction with the Fall Classic Show, the Iowa Gold Star took place Thursday through Monday, September 1-5, this year. For those who have never been, mark your calendar for August 30 through September 3, 2012.

What has made the Gold Star a signature event? It started when the Iowa Arabian Horse Association decided to create an opportunity for exhibitors to earn more prize money, which resulted in a futurity program that offers payouts in both halter and performance classes and allows participation by both purebreds and Half-Arabians. With a total potential payout of more than $100,000 in the open halter and performance divisions, and yearling auction classes that paid $156,285 in 2010 and $153,320 in 2011, competitors have been drawn to the show and the chance to win significant prize money. But having the futurity program wasn’t enough.

“Early on, we knew people would be interested in being a part of the event because of the prize money,” says Kim Matthias, show co-chair. “But we also felt it was important to make the show really fun. I’ve been showing Arabian horses for a long time and I remember when we all sat around and visited after the sessions and enjoyed going to shows. A lot of us within the club felt the shows had become so busy, with so many classes and people just coming to earn their points and leave. We wanted to give them a reason, besides watching their friends show, to stay on the grounds.”

With those thoughts in mind, the club set about enhancing its new futurity program with events and perks for competitors. Each year, it starts with a theme.

Past years have included “The Wild, Wild West,” “Roaring 20s” and “Party Like a Pirate.” Décor, meals, entertainment and even the stallion auction reflect the theme, with exhibitors encouraged to take part. The stallion auction dinner event is where competitors are given the chance to join in, and Kim says she thinks everyone enjoys being someone else by playing dress up.

The theme was also carried out this year with jousting on Saturday and Sunday evenings and a Renaissance style magician and juggler during the stallion auction.

In addition to the entertainment and the prize money, the Iowa Gold Star is unique in that almost every meal is provided. Ranging from biscuits and gravy in the morning to barbecue in the afternoon to a Progressive Barn Party with everything from margaritas to desserts, there is no reason for anyone to go hungry. But more than providing food, the perk of meals is meant to do more. “Having food onsite with different sponsors is a really good way to keep people on the show grounds and give them an opportunity to mingle with people from other barns they might not otherwise see during the show,” says Jill Rittmer, show co-chair. “Everyone really appreciates it.”

Highlights from the 2011 show are too numerous to name. Exhibitors were able to enjoy the new air-conditioned arena for the first time with its attached warm-up facility. A hunt saddle donated by Helen Nymeyer was given away to the winner of the Iowa Gold Star Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse 5 & Under ATR class, won by Jill Mohr on JAS Showdownn, and Joe Frizzell, aboard JP Crimson Cowboyy, won a western saddle, donated by Schneiders, in Half-Arabian Western Pleasure Junior Horse ATR.

Uncle Bob’s Tack contributed prize money for two new English Pleasure Jackpot classes for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, one for purebreds and one for Half-Arabians. In the filly and colt auction in-hand classes, which offered the largest payouts at $27,850.80, Alcides Rodrigues won with the filly Goddess Of Da Vinci for owner Sally Bedeker, while Anthony Marino took home the prize money with the colt, Spartacus M, for his family. A live stallion presentation featuring a number of the auction program stallions was held Thursday night, drawing big crowds.

Show management decided to intermingle the Iowa Gold Star and Fall Classic classes this year, which gave everyone a chance to experience both shows. As a fundraiser for the Arabian Horsemen’s Distress Fund, a western saddle was auctioned, as well as a Game Ready System®. A total of $12,500 was brought in for the fund. Sponsors who contributed to funds for the saddle, which brought $10,000 and was purchased by Oak Ridge Arabians, included Holly Dillin, Tamara Hanby-Black, Troy and Amy Peterson, Jeff and Charlotte Runde, Dr. Bruce Jackson, Randy Anderson, Lon Matthias, Kim Matthias, and Leon Matthias. The Game Ready System®, donated by Troy Peterson, was bought by AKS Farms for $2,500.

More stallions were added to the program this year, which means their offspring will now be eligible to compete after paying a program entry fee. They include Onitnelav, Tribute Thyme SA, AAS-Elishahh, Armir, Candeman, Justa Magnum, Sir Marwan CRF, Star Ghazal, Baahir El Marwan, El Chall WR, Ever After NA, Havik (Friesen), JA Urbino, Justimagine Joy, Laman HVP, LC Athens, Mamage, Psyignify FF, RA Psyche Patriot, Spades LRA, WC Ali Gazal, WH Patriot, WR Crown Royale, Hereafter IA and LA Karát.

“There are a lot of things that make the Iowa Gold Star a unique experience,” says Jill. “We get a lot of feedback about families or spouses that really enjoy attending because there is time to do other things besides just show, and there is a real sense of fun and community.”

Looking forward, Kim and Jill are planning to deal out some surprises at the 2012 Gold Star with a Las Vegas theme. “During this year’s show we were already thinking of things we wanted to do next year,” says Jill. “We think people are going to have a lot of fun with the Las Vegas theme. And although what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, what happens at the Iowa Gold Star goes everywhere!”

In 2009 the Iowa Gold Star Show theme was the Wild, Wild West, in 2010 it was The Roaring Twenties. 2011 brought us the The Golden Renaissance.

And now the 2012 theme will be

Celebrating Las Vegas ~ Gold Star Style

BE THERE!!

Story reprint with permission from Arabian Horse Times