Some NSBA members experienced their first Congress championship on Tuesday, while one exhibitor took time to savor his second Congress title as NSBA members saw the first wins in Western Pleasure, Western Riding and Hunter Under Saddle, as well as additional class champions in Hunter Hack. Trainers and Non-Pro exhibitors kept busy with several first gos of futurity events that were also held throughout the day.

Western Winners
Drew DeBuhr started the Western Pleasure champions off when he won the Two Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure Stakes aboard Mr Zippos Good Bar. Drew showed for John Narmont, and has a flawless go in the finals.

"We started out this year at the Nebraska Cornhusker, went to the Tom Powers Triple Challenge, NSBA World Show and now here," Drew said.

The two year old roan stallion by Zippos Mr Good Bar is known as Peterbuilt. "He's been great from the start," Drew said. "He's been a very easy horse to train. He just has such a good flow and rhythm. He does it on his own, and you just have to stay out of his way. He's just a worker and he just does his thing."

It was the second Congress champion title for Drew. "This was very special," he said. "These wins are not easy to get, and you really appreciate it when it happens."

The duo will show in the Open division finals, then will compete at the AQHA World Championship Show.

Jason English piloted AQHA stallion Gone Viral to win his first Congress champion AQHA and NSBA title in the Level 1 Western Pleasure for owner Kari Craft. "I wanted this horse from the time I saw him as a weanling," Jason said.

"Waymond Roberts had raised him. He's by No Doubt Im Lazy and out of a full sister to The Rock. I rode him a little bit for Waymond, and bought him in August of 2016. From the first time I rode him, he just got better every day. He always gives you 100 percent. There's nothing bad about him. I'm very excited to get my first Congress win."

"I've had other Congress wins, but not in Western Pleasure," Kari said. "I'm most excited for Jason, because he has worked so hard.

Another first time Congress champion was Chris Holbin, who showed VS Game Changer to win the AQHA and NSBA Junior Western Riding. The duo scored a 225 for their win. "We really bought him for Trail for Kathy," Chris said.

"I started doing lead changes on him, and we showed him here at the Congress in the Green Western Riding last year, and he was 12th. He was fourth in Level 2 Junior Western Riding at the 2016 AQHA World Show. We bought him from Charlie Cole and Jason Martin two years ago.

The five year old bay roan gelding is by Radical Rodder and out of Vital Signs Are Good. He showed some of his famous dam's moves during his go in the class. "He jogged off really good, and loped off really good and got over the log well. On our first lead change he got a little ahead of me, but then we got our timing down. He's got such a great top line, his ears are always up and he never changes."

Chris and TJ will show in the Junior Trail, Congress 4-5 Year Old Trail Stakes, and with his owner Katherine Tobin in Amateur Select Trail and Western Riding at this year's Congress.