Sunday was chilly at the Congress, but it didn’t stop exhibitors from competing in three different arenas throughout the day. Equestrians With Disabilities saw their final classes held, while Small Fry and Over Fences competition continued.
Small Fry Win Big Prizes
Elden Fredenburg had a busy morning on Sunday showing three horses in the Small Fry Trail. The class ended with Elden winning the Congress and NSBA portion of the class aboard MWS Flashed N Chock, placing fourth on Ima Tough Barpasser and seventh on Suddenlysophisticated.
His horse MWS Flashed N Chock had already earned a Congress and NSBA championship with his sister Caroline last week in the Youth Ranch Riding. He scored a whopping 231 on his winning go and 227.5 on his fourth place run and 221 for the seventh place finish. “Yeah it was a pretty busy morning,” he said. “I really liked the pattern. I think my favorite part was the back through.”
Eight year old Logan Starnes took the top spot in the Congress and NSBA Small Fry Western Pleasure showing his horse Certainly Flatlined. “It makes me very happy, because I was a (NSBA) world champion and now I’m a Congress champion,” Logan said.
“My horse’s barn name is Peter and I named him – I named him after Peter Pan. I really like him, and I think I like most that his nose is so soft.”
The busy eight year old is also a red belt in taekwondo and loves to fish for bass, catfish and brim.
Final EWD Champions Named
The Congress EWD classes concluded on Sunday with Trail, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle events.
In the Supported Rider Level 1 Trail, Corbett Ryan showed two horses and won the Congress and NSBA class aboard Romantic Dress.
“It is really great that we have the EWD classes at the Congress,” Corbett said. “It gives me a goal to work toward all year long. I’ve been showing here ever since they started having the classes here.” Corbett showed two horses in the class and won the class with the very last ride of the class.
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An emotional Kelsey Weick earned both first and second place in the Congress and NSBA Walk Trot Independent Rider Level 2 Trail. She showed Walk Away Hocus to the win and Huntin Somethin Hot to the reserve title.
“This is just awesome,” she said. “I loved the pattern we had. I loved everything about it. I just got a new horse in January, and we’ve been learning. We show at the NSBA World Show and the Capgun Show in Madison, Wisconsin.” Kelsey takes therapeutic riding lessons at Partners For Progress.
“Kelsey has a genetic syndrome called Sotos, and she has a hard time remembering things, noted her mother. “She has really blossomed since she started doing riding lessons in place of physical therapy. Last night, for the first time, she was studying the pattern like she was a college student. It’s been wonderful.”
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Evan Zaloudek was named the NSBA champion and third overall in EWD Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle Independent Rider Level 2. Evan had a number of challenges at this year’s Congress, but he is a great example of being persistent and keep trying for your goal. He fell during his Showmanship pattern on Saturday, but jumped up quickly and announced “I’m OK!” He went back to the start cone and did his complete pattern for the judges. In his Trail class, his horse loped off on a trot over. However, Evan came back to win the very next class!
Evan is autistic, and although he has trouble with speech development and verbalization, he has blossomed since he began therapeutic riding 13 years ago. “Evan showed Pearl, or Lazy Lovin, in the Hunter Under Saddle,” said his mother, Lorna.
“I’d say the Congress and the NSBA World Show are our two favorite shows that we go to. We show at quite a few shows from Gordyville, to the Capgun, to the Gateway Classic and March to the Arch. It really gives Evan things to work on all year, and we keep the Congress in the back of our minds while we prepare. He’s done pretty well considering he has been riding new horses this year that he wasn’t as familiar with.”
In the EWD Walk Trot Hunt Seat Equitation Independent Rider Level 2, Robert Costellitto showed Empty Irons to win the Congress and NSBA titles. “This is a new horse for me,” Robert said. “I’ve only had her since April. We call her Emma, but her registered name is meant to recognize all the empty saddles for members of the military who never make it home, so I think about that every time I ride.
“I started out riding dressage, and did some jumping, and then I found the EWD classes. I really like the pattern classes like Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation, because it gives you a things you have to do in a certain order. You have to work at it, and you get better at it the more you do it.”
“Robert rides for his cousins and uncle,” noted his mother. “Horses are so great for him. He normally doesn’t talk to people he doesn’t know, but he loves talking about horses. Last year was the first year he came to the Congress, and now he’s met so many friends who also show EWD.”
Darlene Morrison and So Hot Im Krymsun became repeat Congress and NSBA champions when they won the EWD Walk Trot Independent Rider Level 2 Western Pleasure. They won the Showmanship on Saturday.
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Jill Matye and Sweet Lopin Goodbar won the last EWD class at this year’s Congress, winning the Congress and NSBA championship in EWD Walk Trot Independent Rider Level 2 Horsemanship.
“This is my second year to show at the Congress,” Jill said. “I’ve been riding this horse for two years. I wanted to come to the NSBA World Show this year, but my health didn’t let me.
“I have a brain tumor that has taken the sight in my left eye, and I had a relapse and I’ve lost most of my sight now in my right eye. I just had a back surgery two days ago to remove a tumor on my spine, and I told my doctor that I didn’t care what he said, I was showing here. I so much needed this.
Jill showed “Socks” in Showmanship and Horsemanship. “The Showmanship was new for her, so we taught her how to do it. I love the fact that we have these classes. It gives people who have a passion for horses like me a way to continue being involved.”
Al Be Addicting Wins Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line
A somewhat small but competitive group of 13 yearlings and their Non-Pro handlers competed in the Congress Yearling Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line Sunday night.
The tall, strong filly Al Be Addicting, with Laura Nagengast on the lead, was a crowd favorite, and the judges agreed. She won both the NSBA and Southern Belle Breeders portion of the class. “She’s by Allocate Your Assets, and out of a mare that I showed. This is just her third show. I took her to the NSBA World Show and the Michigan state futurity,” Laura said.
“I just love her personality. She’s playful but yet really great to work with. She’s showing in the Open Hunter Longe Line, and then when we get home we plan to start riding her and will probably show her in the two year old Hunter classes next year.”
Working Hunter Rules The Day In Celeste
In the Celeste Center, Working Hunter classes were the order of the day. The two most prestigious classes of the day were the Open Working Hunter Classic and Non-Pro Working Hunter Classic, which showed in two go rounds and used an average for final placings.
Virginia Beaton showed Classic Circle to the win for owner Madeline Keyes. “He’s such a good boy. He’s really starting to come together and has decided he wants to show well,” Virginia said.
“He’s 13 years old, and he’s by Regal Circle. We also show in the Youth Equitation Over Fences and Hunter Hack,” added Madeline. “He’s a lot of fun to ride every day!”
Catherine Fike showed Suitable Impression to win the Non-Pro Working Hunter Classic.
“It was our fourth year to show year, and it’s my first Congress championship,” Catherine said. “It was amazing, but it was also kind of nerve wracking, because I knew we were leading going into the finals, but I had to forget about everything and just concentrate on the ride.
“He’s 14 years old, and we call him Koda. I’ve been riding for about 13 years and doing over fences classes for about ten. It’s so fun. It’s always different with different horses and different courses that always make it a challenge.”
In the Progressive Working Hunter, Lainie Deboer showed DGS Don’t Tell Tails to the AQHA and NSBA wins. “MJ Fowler bought this horse as a three year old, and we’ve just taken our time and cultivated him,” Lainie said.
“He’s five years old, and so it’s his last year as a Junior horse but he’s going to be a neat Senior horse. He has a great personality – he’s quiet and easy, and MJ also shows him in the Green. He’s very versatile and can work with multiple riders. He’s kind of one of those once in a lifetime horses.”
Other NSBA over fences champions on Sunday included: Level 1 Working Hunter as well as Junior Hunter Under Saddle AQHA and NSBA, Good By Me, Linda Crothers for Gretchen Ingersoll; Amateur Select AQHA and NSBA Working Hunter, Always In Hot Irons and Julie Young; Youth 14-18 AQHA and NSBA Working Hunter, Lasting Exposure and Haleigh Holiday; Youth 13 & Under NSBA Working Hunter (reserve overall), Naturally Immortal and Denim Jo Welhouse.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 28. On Monday, show rings will see Equitation Over Fences, Hunter Hack and Jumping in the Celeste Center; Stallions, Small Fry Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation, Amateur Hunter Hack, the Open Western and Hunter Longe Line and the preliminary go of the Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure Stakes.
