Tops in Trail
Thursday saw Trail champions named along with Western Pleasure, Youth Horsemanship and Hunter Under Saddle as the All American Quarter Horse Congress continues in Columbus, Ohio.
Tops in Trail
Three Trail champions were crowned during the day, which saw several hours of Trail competition. Isabella Himes and Assets Miss Reba earned the AQHA and NSBA Level 1 Youth 13 & Under Trail champion awards. It was the second champion title for Isabella this year, who also won Level 1 Youth Horsemanship on Wednesday.
"I'm really excited to come back and win at the Congress again," Isabella said. "I thought the slow parts of the pattern were the hardest, because Reba can get a little anxious and thinks she knows what to do, but she was really good today."
It's Isabella's second year with her show partner, Reba. "She's 20 years old, but she's my best friend," Isabella said. "My mom and sisters showed, but I really wasn't that interested until I got Reba.
Veteran trainer and exhibitor Bruce Vickery showed Talk About Lazy to win AQHA and NSBA Level 1 Senior Western Pleasure for owner Hannah Mowrey Clarke. Lacy is seven years old, and saw success as a Western Pleasure futurity horse. "This is just her first year to do the Trail," Bruce said. "She was really good today, and I was really pleased with her."
Bruce finds bringing past futurity horses into his program works. "I really like being able to follow up on the foundation that's been started with these horses and add to a horse's skill set," he said. "We work hand-in-hand, and it's great to be able to expand a horse's show career."
Another veteran trainer and exhibitor Blake Weis showed The Extreme Machine to win the AQHA and NSBA Level 1 Junior Trail, showing for owner Rhonda Wade. "He is five years old, and he's a stud but you'd never know it. He's like a big dog. If he were a human, he would be a surfer I think," Blake said.
"He's so great minded, and even though there was a lot to look at in the pattern, he took it all in stride. He's a very brave horse and I think that showed in his pattern. He has a lot of heart. For me, the hardest part of the pattern was the second trotting section with the fans.
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Western Winners
Decorated trainer Aaron Moses added another champion title to his list with Hunting The Dream, winning the $10,000 Limited Horse Maturity Open Western Pleasure Stakes. Aaron's theme this year has been developing horses into champions on short notice, and 'Brady' continues that trend.
"I got him after the NSBA World Show, so I've been working with him for a couple of months," Aaron said. "The goal was really to prepare him for the Novice Youth Western Pleasure here at the Congress, but when we got here, I decided to show him too. I really like his personality. He always works really well and he wants to please you."
Shane Pope, who won the Limited division of the class earlier, won the Southern Belle Breeders division of the class with Shes So Posh, for Garcia Quarter Horses.
Drew DeBuhr also added a second Congress champion title for 2017 with the roan stallion Mr Zippo Good Bar, winning the Two Year Old Open Western Pleasure Stakes. The duo won the Limited division of the class earlier in the week. The stallion is owned by John Narmont, and the farm is managed by John and Karen Boxell.
"This win is pretty special for us, because we raised him," John said. "Drew has done a great job and it's been fun for all of us. He always believed in him, even this spring when he looked like a gangly two year old will look. Drew kept saying that there is something special about him."
"He gave me a great go in the finals," Drew said of his mount, known as Peterbuilt. "I could put him where I wanted, and he rode great. He's done at the Congress, but we will be taking him to the AQHA World Show next month."
Hunting a Big Win
Alicia Porter had big wins with Hubbout A Dance at last year's Congress in Hunter Under Saddle, and she has kept the winning going in 2017. The duo won the Limited division of the Three Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, showing for her family's Texas ranch High Range Ranch.
"In our split, we went so many laps that I think we were both tired. I was out of breath," Alicia said. "I'm in college so I haven't got to ride Henry very much. But when we got to the finals, I was able to relax, and our go felt really smooth. Henry felt like he wanted to show. We had a really nice group of horses in the finals."
In the Youth 11 & Under Hunter Under Saddle, Cheyenne Augsburger and One Hot Kat earned the AQHA and NSBA champion titles. "We've been together three years now," Cheyenne said of her horse, known as Stiffler. "It was really fun showing and I'm excited to have a Congress win again. This is my second win, I won a class here last year."
