Source:  News Release

 

 

American Shetland Pony Congress Returns to Iowa State Fairgrounds With Huge Success
More than 500 Ponies Compete; More than $50,000 in Prize Money Awarded

Des Moines, IA – The American Shetland Pony Club, Inc.’s, National Congress celebrated its 65th observance in July by returning to its original home in Iowa and posting a stunningly successful competition.

The 2011 American Shetland and American Show Pony National Congress was held July 12 – 16, 2011, at the beautiful Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA. More than 500 ponies from across the United States & Canada competed for 364 national championship titles.

The event’s return to Des Moines was historic. The first American Shetland Pony Congress was held in 1947 at the Iowa State Fair’s National Horse Show. The event remained in Des Moines until 1970. Since then, the ASPC Congress has occurred in several different locations across the country. However, the recent opening of the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center on the fairgrounds and the historic 65th Shetland Congress provided the perfect opportunity for the ASPC/ASPR Congress to return to its roots.

“The new Jacobson Center is a wonderful show facility, and it worked very well for the Congress,” said show manager Lenard Davenport. “This facility and its staff were accommodating and contributed greatly to making this championship show a success.”

This year’s Congress was, indeed, a success! ASPC President Pat Sanders summed up the entire show and experience in one word, “positive!”

Sanders said, “I was impressed with the high level of competition at Congress. The caliber of ponies competing was exactly what you want to see for a national show.”

Ponies and exhibitors came from at least 20 states spanning the entire country. With 505 ponies accounting for more than 1700 entries, participation in this year’s national championship was up nearly 25% over last year’s Congress. Competitors won premium paybacks, incentives, jackpots and breeders’ Futurity winnings of between $53,000 to $55,000.

The 2011 ASPC/ASPR Congress offered a bevy of special awards and recognition for the people who participated. Youth competed for more than two dozen special award categories from high point winners to junior judging & quiz bowl champions to sportsmanship honors. One lucky youth wrote an essay to win their own new Shetland pony donated by a participating stable. Top amateur exhibitors in three divisions received special recognition, and there were awards for other efforts such as stall decorations.

In honor of the historical significance of this year’s Congress, special activities occurred throughout the week. A beautiful opening ceremony in the original show pavilion featured a parade of past champions and comments by one of the competition’s original ring men from 60 years ago. Six long-term exhibitors’ families who have been supporting the Congress for decades and across generations were honored during this ceremony. The Iowa Draft Pony Association conducted a special hitch demonstration one afternoon, and the American Show Pony Committee sponsored a thrilling roadster under saddle presentation and a beautiful fancy turnout exhibit. There was a desserts reception one evening and a potluck luncheon on another day. Youth had several fun activities from crafts to bowling to help keep them busy when they weren’t showing.

Both Sanders and Davenport noted that, with the success of this year’s Congress and an increasingly positive financial picture for the event, the ASPC hopes to find a permanent home for this long-running event. Sanders said, “We have so many options for sponsorships when we put our Congress in a nice facility like we experienced in Des Moines this year. Truly, the sky’s the limit.”

With 60-plus years of history to build on, increasing entries for the show and growing interest in American Shetland Ponies and American Show Ponies, the future for this historic event may, indeed, be limitless.

For more information about the ASPC/ASPR National Congress, the American Shetland Pony Club or other programs involving American Shetland Ponies, visit www.shetlandminiature.com.