Mark Britt gives his son, Christian, some last-minute advice at the Region 10 Championship. It was Christian's first time to show. (Scroll down for more Journal photos.)

A Regional Championship is a great place to show a horse for the first time.

Every year, the Regional Championships attract people either new to showing or new to AQHA shows. Eight-year-old Christian Britt came this year to show with his family, and it was his first time to show.

Christian forgot his boots so he and his sister, Taylor, shared boots, trading shoes in the alley in between their halter classes. Taylor showed RPL Hill Of A CK in youth mares 3 and over and won.

As Christian lined up for his class, his dad, Mark, gave him some last-minute coaching on setting up the big bay gelding, El Bees Legacy. Christian marched out of youth geldings 3 and over with the silver buckle and a smile on his face.

The entire Britt family from Lumberton, North Carolina, went home with at least one regional championship belt buckle. Mark won yearling mares with Reggie Baker’s Toxic Asset, and mom, Amy, won her amateur classes with the mare and the gelding.

“It’s important to get the young ones here,” Mark said in the alleyway, watching the class.

The American Quarter Horse Journal is in Raleigh for the show’s online coverage.  Check out the slide show below (click on each photo to see the caption).

The Region 10 Championship is the first for the 2010 show season, running May 14-16. It comes to the Tarheel State for the first time this year, held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

There are 11 Regional Championships in all, including one in Europe and one in British Columbia, put on by AQHA state affiliates. Region 10 includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Look for a Regional Championship near you at www.aqha.com.

Christine Hamilton
Editor – general, rail & pattern, halter, health, breeding
American Quarter Horse Journal

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