The 2011 show season is off to a good start and the Walking Horse Trainers' Association Riders' Cup is in full-swing. Twenty-five horse shows have already applied for affiliation with the program and applications for future shows are arriving each day.
All 10 divisions were sponsored this year, marking a first for the program and 83 trainers are participating in the program in 2011. Points are awarded at all horse shows that have affiliated with the Riders' Cup, regardless of HIO affiliation.
2010 champion Jimmy McConnell is back on top of the standings through the April 10th weekend. Tim Smith, Charlie Green, Brock Tillman and Knox Blackburn round out the top five. The standings and upcoming Riders' Cup shows appear each week in the Walking Horse Report. Standings are also up-to-minute online at www.walkinghorsereport.com.