The final Sunday for performance classes at the Congress saw a busy day with youth competing in the National Youth Activity Team Tournament, futurity finals and several Level 1 (formerly known as Novice or Green) AQHA classes throughout the day.
Futurity Finals
It took a tie-breaker judge to decide the winner due to a tie between Natasha Blanchard and Kari Craft, but Natasha and Made N The Shade emerged the winner after being neck and neck with Kari and Gone Viral.
Natasha reached one of her long-time goals to win a Congress championship in Western Pleasure with 'Mikey,' whom she has been showing all year in Three Year Old Non-Pro events. "It hasn't sunk in yet," she said. "I'm so excited. He really did give his all for me today. He gets a new personality the minute he steps into the ring. He was so perfect."
By Machine Made, Mikey has been under the guidance of Katie and Rusty Green. "Rusty and Katie go out of their way to get us ready. I can't thank them enough," Natasha said.
APHA gelding EPR Face It Im Fancy and Julie Schmidt won the Limited division of the Two Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Stakes. "I've never even shown here before," Julie said. "He's only been shown at the NSBA World Show, and we were reserve in the Color Open Hunter Under Saddle, then at APHA World Show last month, and we were reserve. Our stables is called Dare To Dream Performance Horses, and a dream really came true today!"
Jadasa Jablonowski and HP The Rusty Fox, showing for Angela Fox, earned first in the Southern Belle Breeders portion of the class and reserve champion overall.
By All Time Fancy, 'Chrome' is owned by Samantha Gardner. "This horse caught my husband Allan's eye," Julie said. "He's a really pretty horse. We bought him as a late yearling and just saw that he had natural ability.
In the Limited division of the Two Year Old Non-Pro Limited Western Pleasure Stakes and Southern Belle Breeders, Justin "Clay" Arrington showed his grandmother Vickie Kent's horse, Wonit On My RV, to win the futurity and Southern Belle Breeders champion award.
"I don't think anyone deserves this more," said Vickie Kent. "I'm tickled to death for Clay."
By VS Flatline and out of Ill Be Dun Wonit, 'Moses' was a project that Clay started and continued throughout the year with. "He's a great show horse," Clay said. "He always tries so hard. He hangs his head out there well and just does what you want."
It was also special to have Vickie in the stands to see the victory. She had heart surgery just a short month ago. "You can't keep her away," Clay said. "But we're glad she's here."
Level 1 Champions
Several Level 1, formerly known as Green or Novice, classes were held throughout the day.
Beth Case piloted Miss Goody HOO Shoes to win Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle for Tammy Dyer, showing a two year old against even more seasoned horses. "She's only been to Big A in Georgia, and then to the NSBA World Show in Tulsa before coming here," Beth said.
"She wasn't quite ready in Georgia, but we got our first show in and knew what we had to work on. She won the BCF and Open two year old classes at the NSBA World Show."
By Hot Ones Only and out of Goody Goody Gumdrops, 'Benz' shows both of her parents. "She looks identical to Bruno, her dad, but she shows so much like her mother," Beth said. "She is beautiful, and she has a really good look in the arena when she puts it all together. She's brave, and she takes what you give to her." The filly is for sale.
With a background in POA competition nearly all of her life, Haley Purkapile took on a horse of a different color in her mare, Ready Set Lope, and came out the champion in the Level 1 Amateur Western Pleasure.
"It's my first time to show here and it's a little overwhelming," she said. "But I'm excited to be here and I'm really happy with my ride." The five year old mare, Ready Set Lope, known as Charlotte in the barn, was a present for her birthday in June. She is by Certain Potential.
John Pauluzzi returned to the show ring after more than 20 years two years ago, and piloted his horse Certainly Flatlined to win the Level 1 Amateur Select Western Pleasure.
"I have to thank Kristy and Jay Starnes for resurrecting me from the depths," John said. "They helped be pick the right horse, and helped me ride again. So much as changed since I rode before. They've made everything come true.
"When I heard the judges cards, I just started crying," he said. "This is something I did for myself after a divorce and having two small children."
John and 'Peter' also saw success at the NSBA World Show, where they won the Novice (Level 1) Amateur Western Pleasure.
Tops In Teams: NYATT
The Ohio Quarter Horse Youth Association led all teams in the National Youth Activity Team Tournament on Sunday. NSBA Smart Points sponsors the tournament.
Led by championships in Horsemanship by Marley Mainwaring and HF Tahnee Too, Hunter Under Saddle by Olivia Tordoff and Too Blazin Cool and Barrel Racing with Colin Robinson and Jazzme Ta Fame, the team set a lead that couldn't be beat.
The team continued to place well with a reserve championship in Showmanship by Ellexxah Maxwell and Zips Bossy Chip; third in Reining by Isabella Tesmer and Itsa Last Wimpy; third in Hunter Under Saddle by Ashton Krutulis and Al I Want Is You; fifth in Barrel Racing with Maggie Cain and Westward Memories; fifth in Hunt Seat Equitation by Lauren Carnahan and Too Lazy To Zip; sixth in Horsemanship by Some Hot Potential and Emma Brown; seventh in Western Pleasure by Gavin Patterson and Keeping It Good; and tenth in Showmanship by Cora Wyers and Good N Certain.
Other class champions that helped their teams included Showmanship Champion Mallory Vroegh and Krymsun Belle, representing Iowa Quarter Horse Association; Western Pleasure champion Kiley Wiseman and RR Magical Moonlite, representing Southern Ohio Quarter Horse Association; and Nya Kearns and BMQ Stop For Traffic, who rode for Illinois Quarter Horse Association.
"This team gets along so well together, and they work hard together," said advisor Valerie Sturgeon. "They are really a close knit group and they've worked toward this all year."
Rounding out the final team standings were:
2 - Southern Ohio Quarter Horse Association
3 - Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association
4- North Carolina Quarter Horse Association
5- Michigan Quarter Horse Association
View complete results of NYATT team standings, along with complete show results and additional information about the All American Quarter Horse Congress at www.quarterhorsecongress.com. The show continues through October 29.
