Monday saw a wide range of classes at the Quarter Horse Congress, with Equitation Over Fences, Hunter Hack and Working Hunter Under Saddle in the Celeste Center, Halter Stallions, Small Fry and AQHA/NSBA Level 1 Walk Trot Under Saddle and Equitation as well as Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line in the Coliseum.
Rachel Pollzzie Earns First NSBA Bronze
Rachel Pollzzie showed Hippie Hippie Shake to win the NSBA portion and reserve in the AQHA Level 1 Amateur Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle on Monday. “Maizie is a five year old Quarter Horse/Solid Paint mare,” Rachel said.
“She’s by Peace Out Man. I bought her as a two year old, and we’ve had a bit of a long road and we’re just now starting to show, but it’s been so worth it. She is such a sweet mare. She’s my first mare, and I’m very blessed with her.”
Rachel has been coming to the Congress for a long time and made the most of her first trip to the Congress show pen. “I live about two and a half hours from here in Northwest Ohio, and I used to come here and shop every year, but I had never shown here,” she said.
Rachel and Maizie showed in a split and returned to a finals for their class. “In our finals today, rail position was a bit of a challenge because it was crowded out there, but we made it work. I was able to navigate her a little bit off the rail to be seen by the judges and I think that paid off. She’s a beautiful trotter – that’s what sold me in her sale ad as a two year old. She just has such a kind face as well, and she’s just a classy mover. She’s a plain bay but her movement makes up for it.”
Rachel welcomed the Level 1 Walk Trot class. “I love that they have this class and that it’s growing. It makes me very pleased,” she said. “Because we started her a little bit later, Maizie wasn’t quite ready for the canter classes just yet, and with us being a new team, this was a great place for us as a stepping stone to get to the walk trot canter classes in the future.”
In addition to Hunter Under Saddle, Rachel and Maizie compete in Showmanship and have started Equitation. “Hopefully in the future we can add Horsemanship and possibly Trail,” she said.
Rachel and Maizie plan to compete at both AQHA and APHA events in the future.
Makinn Me Famous And Stella Taylor Win Level 1 Youth Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle
Stella Taylor borrowed a family member's horse to show in the Level 1 Youth Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle and came out as the Congress and NSBA champion.
“This is my sister’s horse, Makin Me Famous. She let me borrow him for this class,” Stella said. “He’s just a two year old and this is his second show ever and his fourth class maybe. He’s a classic gelding, super sweet and easy going.
“I show Western Pleasure and Horsemanship with my mare, but Hunter Under Saddle is new to me. In our finals today, he went around perfectly and it was overall a good class.
"I think the Level 1 Walk Trot is a really fun new class that they added last year. I think it’s a really good addition.”
Alexa Kozuch Earns Second Congress Win In Small Fry Hunt Seat Equitation
Alexa Kozuch had a busy weekend showing in all the Small Fry classes at the 2024 Congress, and she is leaving the show with two Congress championships. Earlier in the show she won Small Fry Showmanship, and in the last Small Fry class of the show, Small Fry Hunt Seat Equitation, she and ‘Jasmine’ earned their second 2024 Congress title.
“Our forehand turn was the best part of our pattern,” she said. Alexa has a love for the pattern classes and counts Trail as her favorite. “Jasmine just learned Showmanship and hasn’t been doing it very long. She’s just five years old.”
Alexa had never won a Congress class until this year, and seems to be taking two championships in stride. She’s already working on her goals for 2025. “We’re going to do Level 1 classes next year,” she said.
Morgan Miller Wakeling and Quinn Win Non-Pro Yearling Hunter Longe Line
The Coliseum was filled with Hunter yearlings on Monday evening when the Non-Pro Yearling Hunter Longe Line class took place. Morgan Miller-Wakeling and her filly Because Eye Said So, who is known as Quinn, took the win in both the NSBA and Southern Belle Breeders portions of the class.
Quinn is by Easy On The Eyez and out of Detailed In Blue and was bred by Mary Glenn. Easy On The Eyez saw a strong showing in the class as he sired the champion, reserve champion Hubbout Those Eyez with Amanda Beck, seventh Eyez A Good Gurl Sir with Chad Mills, and eighth Luck Of The Eyerish with Mark Owen.
So Statuesque, owned and shown by Kimberly Tuck, won the Super Sires portion of the class. So Statuesque is by Good Better Best and out of Absolute Playa, and was bred by Lisa Moden.
The Open Yearling Hunter Longe Line will take place on Tuesday. Other classes on the schedule for Tuesday include Junior Pleasure Driving, Two Year Old and Maturity Western Pleasure, Two Year Old and Maturity Hunter Under Saddle, Junior Hunter Under Saddle, Junior Western Riding and Senior Level 1 Western Riding, as well as Halter Geldings and Hunter Hack classes. The 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 27. To learn more about the Congress, view the schedule or show results, please visit the Quarter Horse Congress website or visit the Horse Show Tracker app.
