The 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress began on Sunday, September 29, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, and although the weather was rainy, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the Ranch classes. The first class of the day, Senior Ranch Riding, saw 88 entries, and the day ended with 91 entries in Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding. Even the Select Amateur Western Working Rail saw 37 riders, taking two splits and a final to determine the winners.
Logan Pluhar and This Chics Nite Win Senior Ranch Riding
Besting 87 other patterns in a deep Senior Ranch Riding class, Logan Pluhar showed Four Star Quarter Horses’ This Chics Nite to the AQHA and NSBA win.
“Belle is owned by the Patton family at Four Star Quarter Horses, and Emily Patton shows her in the Youth classes,” Logan said. “She’s just a wonderful little mare. She can be a little fire-breathing dragon out there, but in a good way, she can pour it on. If you stick with her and are brave, you can really get something out of it. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her and understand her – she’s made me a better horseman.”
Logan talked about this year’s Congress Senior Ranch Riding pattern. “The Coliseum can be a challenging with how narrow it is,” she said. “And right off the bat, you had this extended trot right down the middle of the pen. That can be hard to be courageous and go for it. You have to go in there and feel what your horse is giving you and go with it. There was a rollback in there, too. It was a tough pattern to start the show with, but it was a good start.”
Logan also commented on the size of the Ranch classes. “It’s a big blessing with how large the Ranch classes are,” Logan said. “And with their size, they haven’t lost quality, if anything they’re getting deeper and deeper. I like to credit Bud (Lyon) for that – he keeps setting the bar high and we are all chasing it. Across the board, there are no misses – you have to be on your game!”
This Chics Nite is by Gunners Special Nite and out of This Chic N Whiz, and was bred by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon.
hn Roberts Tops 91 Entries To Win Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding With Bet Boon Gone Blue
With 91 entries in the Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding class, John Roberts had lots of competition, but his ride, Bet Boon Gone Blue, was up to the challenge and was named AQHA and NSBA Congress champion.
“We raised him and I also showed his mom, Shes Gone Dark,” John said. “She was one of my favorite horses and went through three or four customers and stayed in my barn. When we stopped showing her, Clark Williams bought her and bred her to Bet Hesa Boon. We call him ‘Hopper.’
“We’re really excited about him, because he’s become a really nice show horse this year. He’s just three, and this is his first year out. We took him to the Spring Breakout and that was his first show. We showed him in the Maiden Rail class there, and he was second. We showed in Camden, South Carolina, and then at the World Equestrian Center, and he won about $6,500 there. We showed in the Triple Crown deal at the APHA World Show and he won about $2,500 there as well.”
John seems to have a knack for the Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding class. “We’ve shown in the Ranch classes since they started in 2015, and we have placed in the top ten several times, and we won the class in 2022 with Xtra Walk This Way for owner Terry Garrett,” he said.
Although a veteran, John admitted to a few nerves in today’s class. “I went into the class a little bit nervous, but Hopper was very calm,” he said. “He loped off right when I asked him. He side-passed well, he was very behaved and kept his mind on what he was doing and never got excited at all. I thought his extended trot was good, his lope was really nice and his back up. He has a really good way of moving.
John and Hopper will have one additional show after the Congress, competing at the AQHA World Championship Show. “I’d love to keep Hopper in my barn,” John said. “But we have several people standing in line to buy him.”
Rounding out the first day of Ranch competition was the Amateur Select Working Western Rail class, which saw 37 exhibitors. Following two splits and the finals, Karen Johnson and Iscream For Icecreme were named NSBA champions and reserve AQHA champions in the class. Jenny Honey and Katie Chex Your Gun were named the AQHA champions.
Reining and Ranch classes continue on Monday with NSBA classes including Senior Working Western Rail, Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding, Amateur Ranch Riding and the Four and Five Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes. The Congress runs through Sunday, October
To view complete show results or to view the schedule, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com or check the Horse Show Tracker app.
