2006 OPEA News

Please excuse the lack of an update- my computer died. The youth page is updated with a new letter from the 2007 Youth President. Please view that page.

I will be posting the 2006 Award Winners next week, so stay tuned to see who won what. The awards will be presented at the Awards Banquet in February, but the exact date and location have yet to be determined.

The Annual Business meeting of OPEA was conducted on Sunday, December 3, 2006. The 2007 officers have been posted on this website. Please click the Officers link on the left.

The Joggin Jackpot was a great success with 21 horses entered. Only 3 were not Palominos. Everyone participating had a good time demonstrating a "Granny Walk," and extended trot in addition to the traditional gaits. The winner was Cutter Crider on Walk Thru the Terms, and Reserve was our own Paige Murphy on COWBOY! (We know that horse loves to jog!) Complete results can be found on the Circuit Page.

The dinner Saturday evening was a wonderful treat after a long day of riding. Suzy Hampton catered the meal complete with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie! It was sponsored by the ArPEA, OPEA, and Ridgeview Quarter Horses. Thank you for feeding us all so well.

****Don't forget our membership meeting on Sunday, December 3 at 1:00 at the Best Western. *****

It is hard to believe how fast this year has flown by and that Thanksgiving is only one week away. While we all rush around trying to gather items to prepare a wonderful meal for our families, let's take time to think of those less fortunate. At our Thanksgiving Day Circuit, we will have the big orange tub out for donations. Some of the items needed are new socks or underwear. We will also be collecting canned food items to deliver to the mission. This time of year is also a great time to clean out our closets. If anyone has any old coats that you don't wear anymore or they don't fit right, please bring them to the show and we will also take those to the mission. Thank you for all your generosity. Unfortunately, I do not have everyone's e-mail address, so, if you happen to talk to anyone that is coming to the show please pass this information along to them.

Plus, Saturday is also the day of the 1st Annual Jogging Jackpot! Enter for only $20 and the top 10 places win prizes in addition to some money. 10% of the pot is donated to the Bob Barnett Scholarship Fund and the rest is paid out to the top 10 places. (This is being held in place of the Open Breed Walk/Trot class.)

Our sincere condolences to OPEA member Libby Crandell on the loss of her mother, Irene Sellers, on October 23, 2006. The funeral was at Lake Road Church of Christ in Gore, Oklahoma, on October 26th. Libby's address is 23608 E 137th Street South, Coweta, Oklahoma 74429.

There is a great show in the works for the Thanksgiving Circuit!!!! Watch your mailboxes for information on the First Annual Joggin' Jackot!!

The Amateur Show was a ton of fun. Lots of exhibitors enjoyed a spectacular day in the Oklahoma sun. Now we must get our horses bundled up for the stretch of cold weather we are expecting. Stay tuned for information on the A-OK Bob Barnett Thanksgiving Circuit. The Maders (from Arkansas) are coming up with some FANTASTIC ideas for fun at the show. I'll keep you posted. Check back within the next week for full details. We are looking forward to a great turn-out.

After a year long battle and courageous fight with cancer Francis Longacre, Mounds, OK mother of PHBA Judge Keith Longacre, Glenpool, OK went home to eternity with our Lord.

Visitation will be held on Friday September 8 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Ninde Woodland Chapel, 5757 S Memorial, Tulsa OK 74133; 918-728-8500

A graveside services will be Saturday September 9, 2006 at 2:30 pm at Bixby Cemetery, 151st St & Sheridan, Bixby, OK

A memorial service will follow on Saturday September 9 at 4:00 pm at Saint James Presbyterian Church, 11970 S Elm, Jenks, OK 74037

Oklahoma Senior Olympics, 1710 West Charles Page Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74127
or
Saint James Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 11970 S Elm, Jenks, OK 74037
or
American Cancer Society, 5110 South Yale Suite 101, Tulsa, OK 74135

Several exhibitors contacted the Show Chairmen and requested that OPEA add Western Parade Horse to the OPEA slate of classes. A vote was conducted by the show committee, and Open, Amateur and Youth Western Parade Horse will be offered at all OPEA sponsored shows.

If you have any concerns, want something changed, added, revised, please contact your OPEA officers and let them go to work for you.

The Reichert Celebration has packed up and left, and the NSBA World Show is going on at our fabulous Expo Square. Congratulations to Paige Murphy and her horses Impressive One Note and Ladys Flasher on a great showing against some of the toughest AQHA Youth in the country. Cristin Murphy also had a great show with a big top five placing on her new hunt seat horse, Zips Shady Chip. Cristin and Red were also Novice Amateur All-Around winners at the AQHA show. Sandy Bendele showed Leos Rocket Wrangler at the AQHA portion of the show and ended up with the Circuit Award in Novice Amateur Trail. Way to go!

Well, Super Barn D is pretty awesome! The arena is bright and COLD!! The stalls are relatively well-ventilated. (I mean, come on, it's 107 degrees outsitde!) There is ample parking adjacent to the stalling area, so we don't have to walk a mile, but BEWARE of the unpainted concrete surrounding the tall lightpoles in the middle of the parking lot.

For information on the Labor Day Circuit, check out the Labor Day Circuit page or the Go For the Gold website. PLEASE check back for traffic information (as there is always construction in Tulsa) and more information about Super Barn D (where we will be showing for Labor Day.)

Don't forget about our fun Amateur sponsored show in October. It will be a great time and the Amateur Association is planning some fantastic exhibitor gifts. Mark your calendars and check back for updates.

What a great time we all had at the Annual Cook-Out Show! It was a very hot day, and we were all trying to stay cool, but the coolers of ICE COLD WATER really helped! Great job, Cyndi Cox, Entertainment Chair, on getting everyone well-fed. (And thanks, Cyndi, for staying to get everything loaded up and cleaned up in the end.)

We had the best turn-out with all our Novice Youth classes making and all 5-9 classes making. Select classes were also well attended. All-in-all, it was just a record-breaking Cook-Out show. Check out all of the High Points on the Claremore Show page.

Home address Is:
Gini Hudspeth
7500 East 151 ST SO
#125
Bixby Ok 74008

7-26-06 The REVISED GO FOR THE GOLD FUTURITY and LABOR DAY CIRCUIT Schedule has been posted. Please click here to go directly to the OFFICIAL show schedule. IN PDF, or DOC files. Entry information has been added. See who's showing!! Go to the Labor Day Circuit page.

7-26-06 OPEA member Harold "Huddy" Hudspeth of Bixby is seriously ill and in critical condition in the hospital.Hudspeth is an AQHA Hall of Fame Inductee, PHBA President's Service Award earner, lifetime PHBA member, horse breeder, judge and trainer. Please keep Huddy in your prayers.

7-25-06 The PHBA World Show and the Youth World were a huge sucess. The Youth ended up doing very well in the Parade of States and Stall Decorations! Please visit the youth pages for more information on the Youth World.

THANK YOU to all of the OPEA volunteers that make the World Shows possible and SO MUCH FUN! The work that is put in by Heather Williams and her team of volunteers makes the Youth World one of the very best youth events in the country. Thank you so much, Heather, for your time and effort you put into this endeavor.

Despite the 100+ degree days, and the oppressive humidity, the arena's airconditioning held up to the challenge. To the best of my knowledge, no one passed out from the heat.

The Challenged Riders class was AMAZING! I have never seen so many exhibitors in one class that were truly inspirational. There were 14 horses and 14 of the most talented exhibitors surrounded by leaders and spotters that proved inspirational to us all.

The Sundowner Non-Pro Versitility Challenge raised $10,000 for the Challenged Riders class. The big winner of the Challenge was Jessica Holub riding Spicy Hollywood. It was quite a fun show to watch!

6-25-06 Please visit the Youth Page for information on our State 4-H Exhibitors!

Our condolences to the family of Wayne Kruse, of Moore, Oklahoma, who passed away June 2, 2006, at the age of 67. Wayne's horses we are familiar with include Blonde Impressive, Golden Perpetuallism and Perpetually Blonde.

Wayne Eldon Kruse, 67, went to be with our Lord on June 2, 2006. Born September 7, 1938 in Watseka, IL. Wayne married Sandra Kay Jewell on October 26, 1958 in Watseka, Illinois. Wayne retired as a Master Sergeant in the USAF. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Moore, a Mason and Shriner, a member of the American Legion, and a member of AQHA & PHPA. He loved to raise & show Palomino horses. He is survived by his wife Sandra of 47 years; daughter & son-in-law Micki & Raymond Griffin of Moore; son & daughter-in-law Brian & Debbie Kruse of Idabel, OK; 4 grandchildren: Eric & wife Crystal Griffin, Ryan Griffin, Sierra Kruse, & Taiwa Kruse; 2 great-grandchildren: Gabriel Dance, & Madison Michelle Griffin; brother & sister-in-law Bill & Connie Kruse of Gibson City, Il. He is preceded by his parents Forest & Dorothy Kruse of Watseka, IL. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart & Lung Association. Services to be held Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church of Moore at 11:00 AM. Services will be under the direction of the John M. Ireland Funeral Home.
Published in The Oklahoman on 6/4/2006

An Executive Meeting of the Officers was held on June 22. Minutes of this meeting will be available as soon as possible.

What an EXCELLENT show we had this past weekend!! Huge halter classes, great Select classes, big Amateur classes and ALL Youth division classes made. Visit the Memorial Day show page for more complete coverage.

Corrections to the High Points for the A-OK Spring Show have been made. Please see the Spring Show Page for details.

WORLD SHOW ENTRIES DUE TODAY! Be sure to get those entries in the mail today - or else pay the higher fees!

Please visit the new Amateur Association page for an update on the past weekend's show.

Exhibitors from our Spring Show donated around $900 to aid Terry Furnish, who was injured in a training accident. Please visit www.terryfurnish.com for information on how you can help.

Our first show of the year was a huge success! Look for the High Point winners on the Showing page.

We had a great showing for our first Novice Youth Classes and would like to thank the OPEA membership for voting to add these classes. Congratulations to our three Novice Youth exhibitors - Casey Montgomery, Kelcey Brand, and Nicole Komerak - on a job well done! Look for them on the high point lists with PHBA.

We had (unofficially) 50 horses each day, and a huge turn out of spectators from the AQHA Regional Experience. We even recruited an exhibitor from Purcell to come show with us for the first time because of the AQHA show - Needless to say, they enjoyed showing with OPEA and will be back!

DOWNLOAD the new entry form before the shows! (Fill it out and save time at the show.) ENTRY FORM

4-19-06 New Baby Pictures have been posted. Please submit your photos for this new feature. Baby Pictures

The newsletter is about to go out- look for it in your mailbox. -The one at the ROAD, not necessarily on your computer.

OPEA mourns the loss of Sid Waterman earlier this month. Our condolences to Millie and their family.

Make plans to attend the A-OK Spring Show May 6 & 7. Click here for a showbill. A-OK SHOWBILL

The latest show schedules have been posted. Don't miss our NEW NOVICE YOUTH classes and the addition of Hunter Hack and Flags.

3-27-06 The National Convention was a huge success and the OPEA Hospitality Suite was enjoyed by everyone! Way to go Cyndi!! Our Entertainment Chair did a wonderful job recruiting and hiring Suzi Hampton to provide the "Tulsa Style" in the most popular Meeting Room at the convention. Please check out the PHOTOS! National Convention Photos.