It was a day for Trail, Youth and young horses Monday in the Celeste Center at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Tops In Trail
Youth Trail took over both ends of the Celeste Center on Monday morning as Youth 11 & Under, 12-14 and 15-18 worked the patterns toward the highest scores in the class.
In Youth Trail 11 & Under, it was hard to miss Shayne Gilliam and her horse Chocolatey Special K. She and KK scored a 233.5 in the class to take the first place awards, but she also had a lot of friends in the class that she cheered on and who cheered her on.
“I’ve been able to show KK for four years now,” Shayne said. “KK was amazing, and her go was really good. I loved our lope overs the most. I still can’t believe we did it. Trail is my favorite class.”
.In the 12-14 Youth Trail, Natalie Hudson and Hot Ovations took the top spot with a score of 233.5. “I’ve had Benz for almost two years, and we show in Trail and Horsemanship,” Natalie said.
“He’s so much fun. He tries really hard and he always listens. Today, the course was challenging to get through, but it steered well, and Benz was really listening and he picked up his feet really well, and went really slow. I couldn’t ask for a better go.”
In the oldest age group for 15-18 year olds, Isabella D’Onofrio and her horse Whata Moonlite Ride took top honors after scoring a 237. “I’ve only had Bob for 11 months,” Isabella said.
“We got him after my other horse died pretty suddenly. It’s taken us a little while to get together, but we are starting to click now. It’s been a good Congress so far. We were reserve champions in Level 1 Western Pleasure, third in Halter and fifth in NYATT Horsemanship.
“In the class today, Bob was so good. He was perfect. I think I really liked our lope overs best, because he’s such a pretty mover. I couldn’t have asked for a better pattern.” The duo has had a busy schedule, showing in Showmanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure as well as Trail. “I think Trail is probably my favorite, because he’s really good at it and it’s so fun to show.”
GeeZee And Natalie Anderson Win Youth Western Pleasure 12-14
With three firsts and a second from the judges in Youth Western Pleasure 12-14, Natalie Anderson and Geez Whata Breeze were the decisive winners in the class.
“I’ve never won a Congress championship before, so this feels amazing,” Natalie said. “This is my third year to show GeeZee. It’s kind of bittersweet because it was my last time to get to show her. We are going to take her home from here and breed her. It’s been really fun getting to show her, and she’s been a great show partner.
“In our class today, it felt like her legs were really pretty, and she was very consistent. I felt like she jogged really well too.”
Start Ur Engines And Hillary Roberts Win Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure
The gelding Start Ur Engines and Hillary Roberts were the unanimous champions in the Congress Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Futurity on Monday, placing first under judges Tony Burris, Buddy Fisher, Leslie Lange and Doug Allen.
“Richard is by Machine Made and out of our show mare Moma Knows Best,” Hillary said. “He is just like his mother – he rides so great like she did. He kicks his hock out like nothing else. It’s really great to be able to win this class with him, because we won the Congress with his mother too.”
The Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Futurity was Hillary’s only class at this year’s Congress. “We have a few horses that Andy Cochran is showing this week, so we’ll be cheering him on,” Hillary said.
Gil And Pippa Knocked It Out In Junior Western Pleasure
Another decisive Congress champion was named in Junior Western Pleasure when Gil Galyean showed Knockin It Out to three firsts on the judges cards.
Gil showed for Richard and Betty Jo Carr. Betty Jo talked about the win. “I picked Pippa out when Katy Jo Zuidema was showing her here at the Congress,” Betty Jo said. “I fell in love with her then, and I kept trying to buy her. I was persistent and we finally got her bought in Venice in 2020.
“She’s a great mare. She’s fun to ride and she’s fun to be around. I also liked her breeding, and she’s going to eventually go into my breeding program.”
Amanda And Southern Couture Named Level 1 Amateur Champions
It took four splits and a final to decide the Congress champions in the Level 1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, but in the end it was Southern Couture and Amanda Head who were named the winners of the class.
“She showed amazing,” Amanda said. “She basically takes no prep, so we just pulled her out of the stall, warmed her up and showed her. She is just a phenomenal mare. She is the best minded horse I’ve ever been around, and she give you 100 percent every time she shows.
“She was reserve champion in the Three Year Old Limited class last week, so she’s shown great the whole time we’ve been here. I was lucky that we were in the fourth split, so we basically stayed at the stalls as long as we could and then came to our split and stayed for the finals.”
The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 24. To view the complete show schedule, show results or view the live video feed, please visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com.
