Friday, October 6, at the Congress marks a changeover in residents from Reining and Ranch Horse exhibitors' horses to over fences, Level 1, Small Fry and Equestrians With Disabilities exhibitors as well as those futurity and All Around exhibitors who will show for the remainder of the show schedule. However, it was a day to honor heroes, crown a new queen and welcome exhibitors with different abilities to the show.
Honoring Heroes
Kicking off a special weekend of classes was the Heroes On Horses event. Veterans and active military personnel within any branch of the armed forces are invited to participate in the Heroes On Horses class, but many also participate in the Heroes parade to express gratitude for the service and sacrifice of military members.
The Heroes On Horses Independent Walk Trot Western Pleasure saw 15 veteran and active service members compete for the title of Congress champion, however they were all winners who shared in camaraderie along with the competition.
Gerald “Jerry” Hathaway showed his wife’s horse, WalkTheLyne, to win the class. “I hadn’t been on a horse in about 20 years before going to Tulsa in August,” Gerry said. “I had team roped years ago, but I hadn’t been around horses until I met my wife.
“We built a house and did most of the inside work ourselves, and once it was finished we looked at each other and asked what was next. My wife, Stephanie, said ‘well I used to have a horse.’ So then we sold that house and bought another property with acreage for the horses. I hauled Stephanie all over when she was showing, but I didn’t ride.
“We went to Tulsa to try out our horse, Cash, or WalkTheLyne, and Stephanie told me to get on him too. So I rode him. We happened to be at the NSBA World Show when the Heroes On Horses class was going on and Stephanie told me I needed to do this. So here I am.”
Jerry participated in a war than many felt controversial. “I spent two years in the 4th infantry in the U.S. Army as a mortar specialist,” he said. “I would put 81 mm mortars in a tube and shoot them. I was in Viet Nam from 1969 to 1970, and it was an awful war. We should not have been in that war.”
Gerry was quick praise the Heroes On Horses event. “This event brings us together,” he said. “All of these guys have been through the same thing, and unless you have lived through it, it’s hard to describe. You have to have some outlet to take your mind off what you went through – whether it’s fishing, horses or something else. I belong to a veteran’s group back home, and none of them could believe that we have this kind of an event. We lose five to eight veterans a day to suicide, and we have to find more things like this to help them.”
“I never dreamed in my life that I would be a Congress champion. I told everyone before the class that I was going to sell tickets for this rodeo, but Cash was great through the whole class. It’s amazing.”
A New Reign Begins For Jessica Blevin
Jessica Blevin, representing the Indiana Quarter Horse Association, was crowned as the 2023 Congress Queen on Friday afternoon. First runner up was Madison Heilveil, from Tri State Quarter Horse Association, with second runner up Caitlyn Christman, representing West Virginia Quarter Horse Association.
2023 was Jessica’s second time to compete for the Congress Queen title. In 2022, Jessica was named second runner up. “I really relied on Kylie Good, this year’s queen, and Sara Beth Felker, who were the top two in the written exam last year, for tips on competing in the Congress Queen Contest this year. They were very inspiring,” Jessica said.
Jessica noted that her state contest was a great proving ground for the Congress contest. “Our Indiana Queen Contest is run very similar to the Congress contest, so it was a great place to start this process,” she said. “This year we had a genuinely great group of girls running for queen. We had such a great time and made great friendships.”
Jessica grew up in a horse family. “My family has always been involved showing Quarter Horses,” she said. “I did Lead Line and Walk Trot when I was young, and my mom always had a horse showing when I was growing up. When I was in middle school and high school I stepped away from showing for a while but I started showing again when I was in college. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve jumped all in showing. I really love Western Pleasure.”
When asked about achieving the title, Jessica said. “This is just surreal and I have lots of emotions. It’s truly something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl. I’ve been coming to every Congress since I was born.”
The 11 queen candidates competed in a written exam worth 30 percent of their overall score, which includes questions from the AQHA Official Handbook as well as questions about the Congress and its history. The oral interview makes up 50 percent of each contestant’s overall score, while the Horsemanship contest attributes 20 percent of the overall score for each potential Congress queen.
Young ladies between the ages of 18-25 are eligible to compete for the Congress queen title. They must first represent their state or regional Quarter Horse association as queen to be eligible to compete for the Congress Queen contest. To learn more about the Congress Queen contest, please visit the website www.congressqueen.com.
EWD Exhibitors Welcomed
Equestrians With Disabilities classes will take place over the weekend, but EWD exhibitors and their support teams enjoyed a welcome dinner and a chance to meet fellow exhibitors as well as answer any questions about their classes, practice schedules or the format for their classes. The dinner was sponsored by the NSBA Foundation.
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.
