Seen here with Head Coach Pam Bruemmer, New Mexico State sophomore Kelli Younker (right) went on to place fifth in the AQHA Cup Competition at 2005 IHSA Nationals.

THE 2005 AQHA CUP (TROPHY) COMPETITION

SUNBURY, OH - The American Quarter Horse Association has been good for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and vice-versa. The AQHA sponsors both the Stock Seat Team Competition and the Western High Point Open Rider Award at IHSA Nationals. The latter, though often referred to on this site as the AQHA Cup, is really a trophy named for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) in past seasons but re-named the Jerry Mupo trophy in 2005 to honor the late coach originally associated with the Jersey City State equestrian team in the 1960's but known for his involvement with Pace, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo and the United States Military Academy in this decade.

The top open riders in each region (combined reining and rail points) automatically qualify to compete for the AQHA/Jerry Mupo Trophy. 22 of the IHSA's 29 regions hold western shows, and because two regions in Zone 3 ride as one for stock seat, this means 21 riders partake in the High Point Rider competition. Three entries had to win tiebreaker classes at Regional shows to qualify. Brianna Vermeulen of Cal Poly - Pomona won the first of these tiebreakers on March 12th, getting the nod in Zone 8, Region 2 over UCSD's Lindsey Minor (both posted 54 points during the regular season). On April 8th Christina Ecker of Saint Mary of the Woods College won a ride-off at Zone 9, Region 1 Regionals over defending AQHA entrie Stefani Redding. Both Ecker and Redding had scored over 100 points each during the regular-season. In total contrast, the final ride-off in Zone 6, Region 2 was between four riders with 51 points each. On April 10th, Shannon Borke of Wilmington College, Krista Johnson of Midway College, Jessica Reed of Ohio University - Southern Campus and Ginny Richardson of host Morehead State competed in the four-way ride-off. Though she was the only Zone 6, Region 2 rider in the tiebreaker who had not qualifed for Regionals in either western open division, Johnson of Midway was assured of a trip to Nationals via a blue ribbon here.

Vermeullen, Ecker, Johnson and 18 others gathered at Eden Park Equestrian Complex on May 6th for the Rail Phase of the AQHA/Mupo trophy class. The Rail Phase was the first western division at 2005 IHSA Nationals of any kind, and after each of the 21 riders had completed their pattern the results remained a mystery. Unlike the hunter seat equivalent, known as the Cacchione Cup, where an equitation score is posted, the rail scores from Western Judges Bonnie Jo Clay and Ed Dingledine would not be posted or revealed at the conclusion of the show. Competitors and spectators alike would have to wait until the show was complete to 'guestimate' what the rail scores were based on the reining scores and the final placings.

Ted Chapman of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls (left, with Falcons Head Coach Peter Rayne) had the second highest Reining score in the AQHA Competition, 145.5!

By the time the AQHA Reining phase began late Saturday afternoon, eleven of the twenty-one entries had ridden in at least one individual or team class since the Rail phase. Morrisville State College senior Jake Burger had faired the best in these classes, winning team open reining and placing second in individual open rail. Another Jake, in this case University of Findlay senior Jake Bowman, won the individual open rail a few hours before the AQHA reining got underway.

At the previous two IHSA National AQHA Cup Competitions in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the highest reining score had been a 144.5, given to Hannah Bitzenburg of the College of Southern Idaho in 2003 and then to both Barbara Stancel of Ohio State and Kristin Dickerson of Oklahoma State last season. Though he did not have as large a rooting section as some, Ted Chapman of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls received quite a roar when his reining score of 145.5 was announced.

Texas A & M senior Katie Forest, who was fourth in the 2003 AQHA Competition, scored a 143 soon after. In total contrast, three of the first ten riders overspun during their spins, resulting in a score of zero.

As is customary during Western Reining divisions at IHSA Nationals, the ring needs to be dragged at the midpoint of each Reining class. One of the last rides before the drag was given by Bowman. On the previous day, former Miami of Ohio Head Coach Jim Arrigon (who received the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award) remarked that Bowman was about as good as any reiner he has ever seen. Arrigon, who rode for the red hawks in the late 1970's and then coached both Murray State and Miami of Ohio for a combined 20 years could claim to have seen his share of reiners. Bowman lived up to Arrigon's expectations here, with some fine slide stops and perfect spins. When Keith Bradley announced over the loudspeakers that the score for number 146 was 151, the crowed hooted and hollered, even letting out a few "Oooohs."

Following the dragging of the ring, ten more riders had their turns. Surprisingly, only one rider in the second group scored more than a 133, with Kansas State sophomore Nicole Ruff the best of the bunch with a 136. By contrast, the first group contained four scores higher than Ruff's (New Mexico States' Kelli Younker a half point better with 136.5). One thing the second group had in common with the first was that three riders overspun. This was very unfortunate, as several of these rides would have been worthy of scores in the 130's or higher had the riders not spun one too many times.

Texas A & M senior Katie Forest had the third highest reining score, 143. Her rail score apparently lifted her up even higher in the overall AQHA standings.

As was the case throughout the weekend, the western divisions were not tested, and all 21 riders were instructed to enter the winner's circle area for the awards presentation. After a lengthy delay, the scores were finally announced from tenth back to first. The rider in tenth place will probably never forget what a tenth place ribbon looks like, as she ended the weekend with two of them. Amy Beavers of Berry College, who was Amy Humble before graduating in December and subsequently getting married, was tenth in both the AQHA and Cacchione Cup Competitions. Beavers may be the only rider in IHSA history to graduate mid-season and still finish the entire year as high point open rider within her region in both the english and western disciplines. Beavers was given the 2005 versatility award, bestowed on the rider who competes in both an english and a western class at IHSA Nationals with the best (or most important?!) results. Her reining score was 132, which would have put her in eighth place if the competition was exclusively reining. Burger of Morrisville was ninth, though his reining score was only 131. Ashley Kovar of Ohio State was eighth, with a reining score of 133.5. Ecker of Saint Mary of the Woods had scored a half a point less than Kovar in reining, but must have had a good rail ride to make up for it. Ecker was seventh overall while Middle Tennessee State senior Rusty Rea was sixth. Rea was the only rider in this year's AQHA Cup Competition (and so far the only one this decade) who made it to Nationals as high point stock seat open rider each of his four seasons as an undergradute. Rea rode for Louisville in 2002 and 2003 before transfering to MTSU prior to the 2003-04 season. In spite of his reining score being only 131, Rea equalled his highest placing in this competition, having placed sixth a year ago with a reining score of 141 at that time.

None of the top five ribbon-winners this season had competed in the AQHA class in 2004. Younker of New Mexico State was fifth, with apparently the fourth best reining score and the sixth best rail score. Fourth place went to Chapman, who like Beavers had ridden in an english class earlier in the show. Though it may not have been obvious based only on her reining score, Ruff had apparently topped the group in the rail division, as the sophomore from Omaha finished third overall with only the fifth best reining score. Forest, a senior from Richmond, Texas was reserve. It would turn out that Forest had the second best rail score to go with the third best reining effort.

When Forest was announced as reserve it meant that the rider with the best AQHA reining score since Crystal Pope of Auburn scored a 151.5 at Cazenovia during 2002 Nationals would claim the top spot. Bowman, a senior from Dayton, Ohio, had been at Findlay while Nicolas Baar (in 2002), Natalie Litwiller (in 2003) and Andrew Standaert (in 2004) had all taken a turn riding at IHSA Nationals in the AQHA trophy competition. In spite of some incredible individual rides, none of these three had been able to capture the AQHA trophy. In fact no Findlay rider had ever won the coveted prize.

Findlay Volunteer Assistant Coach Clark Bradley (left) is happy that senior Jake Bowman is the first oiler rider ever to win the AQHA Trophy. Only a season ago Bowman was riding at the advanced level.

When announcer Keith Bradley introduced Bowman as the 2005 AQHA Cup Champion, an oiler rider had finally claimed the honor. Even more remarkable was that only a season ago, Bowman was competing in the advanced division! Bowman's acceptance of the award at 8:37PM Saturday evening marked a turning point in the show, as Bowman would win the NRHA individual open reining and place second in team open western in the shows' final class, the latter enabling the oilers to win the Stock Seat National Championship outright.

In addition to these placings and his second to Burger in team open reining, Bowman also placed fifth in individual open horsemanship. Two firsts, two seconds and a fifth; Not bad for someone who had only one IHSA Nationals class under his belt before the show started!

Though it was not clear to this writer what the Western Equestrian Studies and Business Major had planned for the future (aside from competing in "The Derby" on May 20th), it would be hoped that Bowman stays in the horseworld, as he certainly can rein with the best of them.

Though Jake Bowman grabbed most of the stock seat headlines there were nine others who made the AQHA Top Ten. From left to right are Bowman, Katie Forest of Texas A & M, Nicole Ruff of Kansas State, Ted Chapman of Wisconsin at River Falls, Kelli Younker of New Mexico State, Rusty Rea of Middle Tennessee State, Christina Ecker of Saint Mary of the Woods College, Ashley Kovar of Ohio State, Jake Burger of Morrisville State College and Amy Beavers of Berry College.

The numbers tell us only so much: Following the conclusion of the AQHA trophy competition, scores for each rider were posted near the main entrance to Eden Park. As was the case last season, these numbers were not the announced scores but rather the official numbers that are used for western scoring. This system changes the top score in either reining or rail from a number such as 151 for Bowman to "120," the top score. Second is converted into "105," third into "91," fourth into "78," fifth into "66," sixth into "55," seventh into "45," eighth into "36," ninth into "28" and tenth into "21," though there are numbers found below that. Though the list at the end of this story gives everyone's reining score as well as the top ten, for completists we have the official numbers as posted:

Bowman first with 91 rail/120 reining, Forest second with 105 rail/91 reining, Ruff third with 120 rail/66 reining, Chapman fourth with 66 rail/105 reining, Younker fifth with 53/78, Rea sixth with 78/28, Ecker seventh 45/45, Kovar eighth 28/55, Burger ninth 36/21 and Beavers tenth 6/36. In addition Vermeulen scored 21 rail/0 reining, Kristin Lajeunesse of Cazenovia scored 15 rail/0 reining, Katie Murphy of Wesleyan College scored 0 rail/15 reining, Brenna Burris of Fresno State scored 3 rail/10 reining, Alisha Smith of Utah State scored 10 rail/0 reining, Aurora Stanbro of Oregon State scored 1 rail/6 reining, Mallory Crawford of West Virginia scored 0 rail/3 reining, Diane Zrimsek of Saint Mary's College of Maryland scored 0 rail/1 reining while Johnson of Midway, Whitney Eisentraut of Delaware Valley and Jared Marinos of the United States Military Academy did not earn points in either style.

---Steve Maxwell

Reining Scores: