The All American Quarter Horse Congress Ranch pen was all about Youth on Friday. The show schedule saw Youth 14-18 Ranch Riding, Youth 13 & Under Ranch Riding and Small Fry Ranch Riding classes take place with tough competition from beginning to end.
Madison Rafacz Continues Her Hot Hand In Ranch Classes
Calm and cool Madison Rafacz rode her two horses, Whizenboonsmal and Got Twisted In Vegas, into the Coliseum one at a time to work the Ranch Riding pattern and walked out with the top two placings in Youth Ranch Riding 14-18, the same way she did in the Non-Pro Ranch Riding Stakes on Tuesday.
“He was really great for me today,” Madison said of ‘Peter.’ “We’ve been battling all week at being fresh, and with it being a little chilly, and he already has some quirks so it’s been an ongoing battle – but I think we’re finally mellowing out a little bit. I wouldn’t have asked him to do anything different.
“Jasmine was great too. Since she is going to have her baby after this show, so I really wanted her to win a Congress champion,” Madison added. “All this year she’s been second to Peter. While I have no complaints, I really wanted it for her. I can’t ask for anything better though.”
Madison commented on the size of the class, which saw 84 entries. “I can’t remember any entry numbers but I don’t think I showed against this many at the other shows this year,” she said. “The entry numbers have gotten a lot bigger and it’s super exciting to see this many people wanting to do these classes. It’s extremely fun. The patterns are all fun and the atmosphere and the people are great, especially at the Congress because this is my favorite show of the year.”
When asked about she stays so calm under pressure, Madison said “I’ve been showing for so long that it’s just part of it. I do get nervous, but I try not to think of one show as any different than other show. I’ve shown on my own since I was five, and I came from a Reining background, so I’ve been doing patterns a long time. In the Ranch classes, the pattern comes at you a lot faster.”
Quincy Clagg Wins Youth 13 & Under Ranch Riding With ‘Rock’
Quincy Clagg brought a different horse to the Youth Ranch Riding 13 & Under and came away with her second Congress championship. She showed Wimpys Color Code to win the class, and on Wednesday, she showed Fancy Blue Roo to win Youth Working Western Rail.
“We call Wimpys Color Code ‘Rock,’” Quincy said. “He’s five years old and I’ve had him for two years, but I haven’t shown him a lot. We didn’t bring him here (to the Congress) last year, but we brought him this year and he’s been good.”
The palomino gelding has a special spot with the family. “We call him our ‘Barbie horse’ because he’s so pretty,” Quincy said. “He definitely knows it, and he struts and stuff. I knew he was special the first time I rode him. I could tell he was going to be something pretty good. He’s so smooth. I’m hoping he get to be my 14-18 horse for a little while.”
Quincy was happy with her Ranch Riding pattern with Rock. “His serpentines were very correct and good, the lead changes were pretty good,” she said. “With my first horse, my pattern wasn’t as good but I redeemed myself with this one. I was close with him at the AQHYA World, we were fifth there, and he put it together here.”
When asked about what attracts her to the Ranch Riding classes, Quincy said “It flows so good and everyone is so nice. It’s just a fun environment to be in.”
Small Fry Ranch Riders Delight The Crowd
The Small Fry Ranch Riding class proved to be a crowd favorite in the Coliseum on Friday afternoon. The smallest exhibitors showed off their riding skills at a walk, trot and extended trot as they maneuvered over logs as well as performed a 90 degree turn, back up and sidepass.
One crowd favorite was six year old pint-sized Riley Schauffhauser, who showed three horses in the class. “She’s been showing in Short Stirrup at the NRHA shows and she has done the Ranch Riding. We just went to Ocala,” noted her father, Sam Schauffhauser. “Last year she had only walked and trotted, and she found out they had this class last year and wanted to show in it.”
Riley came out of the class with a broad smile and noted that she had fun showing in the class. “I really liked the spin the best,” she said. “The side-pass was the hardest.”
The 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 27. Saturday will be a busy day at the Ohio Expo Center, with Youth Reining and NYATT Reining (showing concurrently), as well as the Level 3 and Level 4 Reining Futurity finals in the Celeste, while in the Coliseum Level 1 Ranch Trail, NYATT Ranch Riding, Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding, Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding and Junior Ranch Riding will all be held.
To view complete show results or to view the schedule, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com or check the Horse Show Tracker app.
