This weekend at the Congress found Equestrians With Disabilties, equestrians in Level 1 and young equestrians in Small Fry events as well as the first over fences classes of the 2023 Congress.
A ‘Tank’ Takes The Longe Line Championship
In addition to equestrians of all abilities, the first Longe Line champions of the 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress were named – Frank The Tankk, shown by Kathie Kennedy for Ditty Up LLC, won the Congress/NSBA and Southern Belle Breeders portion of the Congress Open Western Longe Line Stakes.
“We bought Frank The Tankk at the NSBA Yearling Sale, so we haven’t had him very long,” said Nancy Ditty. “We bought him because we loved his movement, but even more we loved that he went back to the dam of my favorite mare, Troubles A Blazin, as well as Rusty and Katie Green’s (and Deanna Willis') mare, BlazinmytroublesAway (Buttercup). We’re pretty excited about him.”
Frank The Tankk won just over $3,200 in his debut class as a show horse. He will compete again with Nancy in the Non-Pro Western Yearling Longe Line.
Equestrians With Abilities
The NSBA Foundation-sponsored Equestrians With Disabilities classes began with the Western division classes throughout the day. Rhiannon Huffman won the first EWD class of the day, EWD Walk Jog Showmanship, Independent.
“I ride with Partners For Progress and my trainer’s name is Jamie,” Rhiannon said. “I started riding with them when I was five years old. I started coming to the Congress the first year we had the EWD classes in 2015. I think we had won here in 2020. I like coming here and seeing my friends, working with the horses and competing against everyone. It’s a big show. We practiced the pattern a lot to get ready to come here. I really liked our pivot in our class.”
In the EWD Walk Trot Western Pleasure, Supported division, Matty Elman piloted DontSassThisMachine to win the Congress and NSBA title. “My horse that I showed is named Buddy,” Matty said. “I haven’t got to work with him very much, so we are building our relationship. I like how calm and smooth he is, and he’s pretty responsive when I cluck to him and turn him.”
This was Matty’s first Congress championship. “I was reserve champion last year in the Trail and fourth in Western Pleasure,” he said. “We are from Vernon Hills, Illinois, so we can a long way to get here. We’ve been coming here for about three years. I started riding when I was three years old and I’m going to be 15. I love working with the horses. I work around the barn too in the works skills program at my barn, Partners For Progress.”
Kelsey Ann Weick was all smiles when she won the EWD Walk Jog Western Pleasure, Independent class with Superwomann. “I thought our go was very pretty, very smooth,” Kelsey said. “I ride Emma at home and I got to show her in Tulsa this year. And I won the Congress last year in the Trail with her. I like having lots of competition and working very hard at the shows. I show in all the classes in English and Western.
“We work on lots of patterns at the barn. I have sotos syndrome, and the patterns make me work much harder. When I first started showing, I couldn’t remember the patterns, but I kept at it, and all at once it just clicked. I started with the horses when I was eight years old, and I’m 32. I work with Partners For Progress in Waukonda, Illinois.” Kelsey was the reserve champion in EWD Walk Jog Western Pleasure - Independent and placed seventh in EWD Walk Jog Showmanship - Independent
Sotos syndrome is a rare genetic condition that can be accompanied by autism, speech impairments and intellectual, social and motor delays.
Mary Grace Herr showed Invest In Hot Stock to win the EWD Walk Jog Horsemanship, Independent. “We’ve only had Invest In Hot Stock since November, so we haven’t been together very long. In the pattern today, I really liked our 270,” Mary Grace said. “This is our first Congress champion. It feels pretty amazing.”
Mary Grace showed in the EWD Walk Jog Showmanship as well, where she placed third, and EWD Walk Jog Western Pleasure - Independent, where she placed fifth.
Big Wins For Small Fry
The youngest exhibitors began their weekend of classes as well on Saturday. Exhibitors ages nine and under are eligible to compete in the Small Fry division and are ineligible for walk, trot and canter/lope classes.
Sophia Zambanini showed her horse The Wonder Machine to win Small Fry Showmanship in the first class of the day. “I’ve had my horse, Mac, for two or three years,” Sophia explained. “We show in the All Around, both the English and the Western. My trainers are Brent and Joni Specht.
“I really liked our trot through the serpentine in the finals. When I saw the pattern, I wasn’t worried about it – I thought it would be OK. This is our first Congress win, so it’s kind of neat. My favorite class is Western Pleasure, though. We show around Pennsylvania, in Centre Hall, Deep Creek and Harlansburg, pretty much all over Pennsylvania.”
Winning Small Fry Horsemanship was Calla Ross and Flashy Invite
Inaugural Level 1 Walk Trot Champions Named
All American Quarter Horse Congress Officials added AQHA Level 1 Walk Trot classes for the very first time at the 2023 Congress. The inaugural Western Pleasure champions were named on Saturday. Leane Capps guided Whoose On First to win the inaugural Level 1 Amateur Walk Trot Western Pleasure.
In the Youth Level 1 Walk Trot Western Pleasure, Gracelyn Galyean borrowed her sister Aislynn’s horse, VS Lady In Red, to win the class. “It went really good,” Gracelyn said of her ride.
Gracelyn is a back-to-back Congress champion. She the Small Fry Western Pleasure last year showing KM Suddenly So Easy and Aislynn was second on today’s champion, VS Lady In Red. She’s not done showing at this year’s Congress, however. “I’m going to show Real Southern Asset in Hunter Under Saddle later,” she said.
Hunting Wins In The Celeste Arena
Saturday was a big day of competition for over fences exhibitors as well, as Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences classes took place.
In Senior Working Hunter, Lainie Deboer piloted DGS Dont Tell Tales for owner Pam Stubbs to the Congress and NSBA titles. Level 1 Youth Working Hunter saw Jaden Chappell show Truly Priceless Flirt take the Congress and NSBA trophies.
Elaine Haw not only won the Amateur Working Hunter class but took the top two places with her entries Last Hawliday and A Gator Lurking. The Level 1 Youth Equitation Over Fences saw Addison Harr and Pretty Good Payback earn the Congress championship, while Alison Roper and Al Betcha Wanna Look earned the NSBA championship and reserve champion in Level 1 Amateur Equitation Over Fences. Closing out the day of fence competition was Morgan Ratkowski and Better Buy The Minit, who won the Congress and NSBA champion titles in Amateur Equitation Over Fences.
The 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 22. To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker or quarterhorsecongress.com. You can also view the show’s live video feed at quarterhorsecongress.com/livestream.
