Day Two of Ranch classes at the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress saw four different Congress NSBA champions in Senior Working Western Rail, Level 1 Amateur and Amateur Ranch Riding and the Four and Five Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes class.
Bridesmaid No More: Hava Cocktail On Me Wins Senior Western Working Ranch Rail
Steve Meadows said that Hava Cocktail On Me has been a bridesmaid at the Congress more than once, but a Congress champion eluded the ten year old gelding by Wimpyneedsacocktail and out of Lenas Dynamite Chic. That changed Monday when the duo won the NSBA and AQHA portions of the Congress Senior Western Working Rail for owner Deborah Deschamps-Baker.
“We call him Jimmy,” Steve said. “We found him for Deb about three or four years ago. He won the AQHA World in Ranch Trail in 2021, and he won the Western Working Rail last year. He’s one of those once in a lifetime horses. He loves our family and we love him.
“He’s been second here in Amateur Select Ranch Riding, second in the Green Ranch Riding and I think maybe second in this class last year. This Senior class is always a tough class, and this year with 56 entries, it was even more tough. When the placings got down to that last five or six horses, I felt if I placed in here, I’m fine, because it’s that great of a show.”
When asked about his final go, Steve noted “I was able to get great rail position the first direction. This is such a small pen compared to other places that we show, that rail position is a big part of it in getting seen by the judges. He always does his job as long as I stay out of his way and let him do it. And he did a great job today.”
A big story line during this year's Congres has continued to be the huge number of entries in the Ranch classes. With three splits and a final and 56 horses showing, Steve talked about the growth of the Ranch division. “The size of the Ranch classes is a testament to the style of horses,” he said. “They appeal to so many people and so many people feel like they can do it.”
Two Lyons, One Storm, Two Wins
Chillinlikeavillian had a very busy day on Tuesday, showing with both Kim Lyon in Amateur Ranch Riding and with Bud Lyon in the Congress Four and Five Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes. However, he proved up to the challenge, winning the NSBA portion and reserve AQHA championship in Amateur Ranch Riding and taking the top prize in the Four and Five Year Old Open Ranch Riding Sweepstakes.
‘Storm was supposed to be an investment. There is a running theme in my marriage about buying horses as an investment, but he’s now a forever horse for us. He came to our facility as a long yearling, and we started him for a client. We purchased him from the client at the beginning of his three year old year. He’s been fun to have in the barn. He’s been very successful in the Reining pen, and he’s been very productive as a Ranch horse as well.
“He's five years old and he’s by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of a mare named Oaks Steady Star. He has a three year old full sister showing in the Reining Futurity here at the Congress, and we have a full sibling on the ground that is a weanling.
“He’s a very intuitive horse, and that can be good and bad. There’s a seamless transition between horse and rider. They pick up on concepts very quickly, and sometimes he tries to think ahead of you, but today he stayed hooked and was great in there. He tried really hard for me.
“Something we appreciate about him is that he has great quality of movement and he’s very athletic. He makes it fun and easy to show him because he’s a big flowy mover. Especially at the extended trot, it’s fun to show that off. He allows you to show that part off. He’s got a lot of handle, and with this being a smaller arena, there are some tight turns and you have to have that dialed in, but he did. It was fun to maneuver him around in there today.”
The Congress Four and Five Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes saw 51 entries, and Bud noted that the class was tough. “That was a very deep pen of horses,” he said. “The quality in that class was very impressive. It’s a huge compliment to the Congress and to (sponsor) Mr. Headley for the interest and participation that he has brought out to it.”
Just a short while before the Four and Five Year Old Stakes class, Bud’s wife Kim showed Chillinlikeavillian to the NSBA champion title and reserve AQHA award in Amateur Ranch Rail.
“It’s my first time talking about him,” laughed Kim. “I think the thing I’m most proud of is that we were communicating so well and he was hooked with me. He did everything that I asked him to and kind of rode to my level. I think there was a lot more in there that I could have gotten out, but he and I are just learning each other.
“It’s a journey, and I’m learning to do my part. I haven’t got to show him consistently so far, but he’s just been really willing and happy to do his job.”
“I’m really proud of Storm, because he really took care of Kim,” Bud added. “He had a long time to stay saddled up and mentally ready to show in the two classes back-to-back, and he was really good.”
Laska Anderson And ‘Little Bit’ Win Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding
Laska Anderson might be more well known for her All Around showmanship, but she has spent the past year learning Ranch events with her four year old mare, Moonlights Dream. The mare is by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Lazy Lopin Moonlight.
“She is so special,” Laska said. “We bought her at the Congress last year. She’s been kind of green, so this year it’s been so rewarding to see how far she’s come along, maturing mentally and physically. She has so much personality and I just love her so much.
“She loves her job. When I go ride her, I say we have ‘girl time’ because it just feels like we are hanging out together. She just tries so hard.
“She came with the name Lazy, which was her mother’s name. And even though we think it’s bad luck to change a barn name, she just isn’t Lazy. So we’ve been calling her ‘Little Bit.’ I have another mare who is a big Hunter Under Saddle mare, so it’s little mare, big mare, so she became Little Bit or Bitsy.”
Laska showed in a huge class of 78 Level 1 Amateurs. “I felt really good about our go,” she said. “I come from the All Around, the Horsemanship and Equitation, so I feel like I’m going really fast and then I’ll look at the video later and realize I’m not going very fast. I wasn’t expecting to do this well. We keep her at home, and that makes it that much more special.
“I have only been doing Ranch classes since we bought her last year, but my dad ropes and I’ve been around that and cattle all my life, even though I didn’t do Ranch classes until now. It’s pretty special.”
The 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 27. Ranch classes continue on Tuesday with Junior Working Ranch Rail, Amateur Working Western Rail, the Non-Pro Ranch Riding Stakes, Amateur Select Ranch Riding and the Three Year Old Open Ranch Riding Futurity. To view complete show results or learn more about the Congress, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com or the Horse Show Tracker app.
