Final Fry
After a full schedule of events for youth aged nine and under throughout the weekend, the final Small Fry classes took place on Monday. Kenzie Laine Bracken and her horse Styles Sophisticated swept the English classes by winning the Congress and NSBA titles in Small Fry Hunter Under Saddle and Small Fry Hunt Seat Equitation.
"His name is Tex, and I've just got to work with him this year," Kenzie said of her gelding. By Jerry and Laura Bracken's stallion Sophisication Only, Tex was a Congress champion in the Limited division when he showed in the Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle at the Congress.
"We had sold him, but we were fortunate enough to buy him back to become Kenzie's horse," Jerry said. "We're so excited for Kenzie and so grateful to get to show him again."
Emma Grace Gore and her show partner Hes Suddenly Handsom concluded their Small Fry career by being named High Point Congress Small Fry after winning Horsemanship and earning reserve in Hunter Under Saddle, third in Trail, fourth in Showmanship and Hunt Seat Equitation, and fifth in Western Pleasure.
Color Wins Big in Longe Line
ApHC stallion Thebestbetyet remained undefeated at the Congress by winning the Open English Longe Line with trainer Anthony Leier. The sorrel stallion with the bright blaze and flashy blanket had won the Non-Pro English Longe Line on Sunday with his owner, Kevin Griner.
"He is one of the best minded yearlings I've ever had," Anthony said. "He just takes everything in stride. I'm so excited that he was rewarded here. His color didn't matter. He's just a great horse.
"We decided to bring him to the Congress after the NSBA World Show because we knew we would have some time to recover before we leave before going to the Appaloosa World Show. He'll get to go home and be turned out for a while before the show.
The top two NSBA places in the class were ApHC-registered horses, with Blue Boys Fair Lady, shown by Lisa Ligon for Rebecca Hogan taking the reserve title.
In the Open Western Longe Line, Gil Galyean catch-led Rockerfella to win the Congress, NSBA and Southern Belle Breeders portions of the class. "The credit really goes to Mike Tivoli, because he prepared this horse," Gil said.
The gelding is by The Rock and owned by Mike's girlfriend, Melinda Maxson. "He wasn't quite mature enough for the Tom Powers, so we left him in the pasture to grow up some more," Mike said. "We entered him in the Congress on August 25th and pulled him out of the field to start working.
"He is the best minded colt. His ears are always forward, and he's just happy. The first time he was ever shown was in the Non-Pro with Melinda, and it was her first time to ever show in the Longe Line, and they placed seventh."
Winning Hunter Hack Runs
Cindy Triscari piloted her horse Every Once In Awhile to win the NSBA division of Amateur Hunter Hack Level 1, earning fourth in the AQHA division of the class.
"He's just a baby at five years old, so I'm really pleased with him," Cindy said. "His name is Goose. I've had him for two years, and I've been riding for about six years and been coming to the Congress for the past four years. He does it all in the over fences classes."
Goose is by Double Up Investment and was started as a Hunter Under Saddle horse by trainer Beth Case. "Beth put such a great foundation on him, that his rail work is always solid," said trainer Jenny Welhouse. "I love buying horses from the NSBA trainers to bring on to the over fences classes, because you can go right on with them."
Other NSBA Hunter Hack champions on Monday included AQHA and NSBA champion in Amateur Hunter Hack Emmer Verplank and AE Hot N Sonny; AQHA and NSBA champions in Level 1 Youth Hunter Hack Pipen Hot Irons and Maddie Paul; NSBA and AQHA champions in Youth Hunter Hack 14-18, WhatMadeUSayThat, Caroline Bradley; and NSBA champion and reserve AQHA champion in Youth Hunter Hack 13 & Under Enterprising To Win and Maelyn Belle Taule.
Other over fences classes held on Monday included Equitation Over Fences and Jumping. NSBA champions included AQHA and NSBA champions Better Buy The Minit and Morgan Parisek; NSBA champion Heavens Hot Guy and Kerry Hansen, who placed fifth in the AQHA division of Level 1 Amateur Equitation Over Fences; NSBA champion and reserve AQHA champion in Level 1 Youth Equitaiton Over Fences, Pipen Hot Irons and Maddie Paul; AQHA and NSBA champion in Youth Equitation Over Fences 13 & Under Abigail Hardy and My Secret Past; AQHA and NSBA champions in Youth Equitation Over Fences 14-18, Dance If You Wanna and Chandler Runnells; and NSBA champion and reserve AQHA champion Always A Big Choice and Sara Nelson.
