Sunday saw the Congress National Youth Activity Team Tournament take place with classes occurring in three arenas over the course of the day, as well as a number of Stakes and Futurity classes and AQHA events..
Busy day with NYATT
With team member showing in Cooper Arena, the Celeste Center and the Coliseum throughout the day, the pace was fast and furious as the teams accumulated points toward the NYATT title. The National Snaffle Bit Association’s Smart Points program is the sponsor of NYATT, and Youth members can earn Smart Points for competing in the NSBA portion of the class.
The Ohio Quarter Horse Youth Association once again claimed the NYATT tournament title in Division 1. The team consisted of Ellexxah Maxwell, Maggie Cain, McKenna Ivey, Olivia Tordoff, Lauren Carnahan, Kylee Wiseman, Cora Wyers, Reagan Priest, Matthew Siefker, Isabella Tesmer, Abby Querry, Claire Hickman, Sydney Krebs and Lauren Harvey, with advisor Valerie Sturgeon. OQHYA saw wins in NYATT Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure.
In the Division 2, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association won the title. Their team included Brody Galyean, June Roberson, Madison Parduhn, Rosella “Jojo” Roberson, Elizabeth Wright, Lily Corbin, Tatum Keller and Olivia Upton, with advisor Monica Purduhn.
Natalie Vargo showed Dancin N The Dirt to win the NYATT Hunt Seat Equitation. She represented the Texas Quarter Horse Association. “The pattern was a little tough,” Natalie said.
“The breakdown from the hand gallop to the two point was the hardest part, staying up on top of him. We had a lead change on the way he’s better at, so it was good. There were a lot of great runs in the class, and it was fun.”
In the NYATT Western Pleasure, Kylee Wiseman and RR Magical Moonlight took top honors. It was the second year in a row for the duo to win the class. “It was so much harder this year,” Kylee said. “The horses in this class were so much tougher, so many good ones!
“We had some things I wanted to fix after our split, and he went in and showed like a rock star in the finals. He looks easy to ride, but he isn’t. We’ve worked really hard at it.”
Other NYATT champions included Sierra White, Down Home Legacy, NYATT Barrels; Ellexxah Maxwell and Zips Bossy Chip, (Ohio QHYA) winning NYATT Showmanship; Olivia Tordoff and Too Blazin Cool, (Ohio QHYA) NYATT Hunter Under Saddle; Amelia Reutermann and Smart Chicago Spook, (North Carolina QHA) NYATT Reining; and Hanna Olaussen and Wearin Only Moonlite, NYATT Horsemanship.
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Futurity/Stakes Champions
Sarah Nimigan earned her first Congress championship in the Limited division of the Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Futurity aboard her stallion, Best Brew At The Bar. “He’s pretty special,” Sarah said.
“I met him and I just fell in love with him. I’ve shown stallions before and I get along pretty well with them. He just has so much personality. I’m really excited to start doing the All Around with him and add Trail, Western Riding and Performance Halter.”
The pretty stallion, known as Shock Top, is by The Best Martini and out of Prissy Legs.
An emotional Liz Long showed Ona Moonlite Bay to win the Limited division of the Two Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Stakes. “It’s been a while,” Liz said of the win. “It’s my mom’s birthday today, so getting the win today is really special. I lost her in 2015. I tied to win this class last year with Clay Arrington, and lost the tiebreaker. Today the tiebreaker finally went my way.
We bought this mare from Darol Rodrock. She’s by Only In The Moonlite, and she’s very sweet. She’s just so natural, and she doesn’t want any trouble.
“Our finals felt really good. She was right there with me every stride. I have to thank Natasha Humphries for helping me with her.
AQHA Achievements
In the Level 1 Open Hunter Under Saddle, Keith Miller finally got to show a horse he originally bought for a customer back in May, but sold quickly after. He showed Hotforyourhonor for Pamela Raad for the win.
“I bought him in May at the Madness for a customer, and then six days later, Gene (Spagnola) called and said that he had a customer that had been looking and they bought him,” Keith said. “So we never got to show him, but I asked to show him at the Congress and World Show.”
“His name is Quincy, and I just think he’s really cool,” added Lauren Raad, who showed him to win the Level 1 Youth Hunter Under Saddle 14-18.”
“He’s breathtaking, an amazing trotter and his canter just gives you goosebumps,” added Gretchen Mathes. “I haven’t seen a horse like that in a long time.”
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Bailey Anderson lost her voice but not her competitive spirit and showed her horse Flat Out Mystical to win the Level 1 Amateur Western Pleasure.
“We started a year ago in June when we got her as a three year old. I got to show her at the NSBA World Show and the Congress last year,” Bailey said of ‘Vee.’
“She’s super sweet and learns super fast. She wants to be a pleaser, and she does whatever you tell her. She’s been so much fun to ride. I hope to add some Trail and Horsemanship. We’ve already done Showmanship.”
By VS Flatline, Vee is out of Mystical Machine, a double-registered APHA/AQHA mare. “She’s a Solid Bred Paint and I got to do all the color stuff at the NSBA World,” Bailey said. “We had a really good NSBA World. We won the Novice Amateur and the 3-6 Color Western Pleasure. We were also reserve in the Showmanship there. She’s been a really good mare.”
Suzan Vonessen rode Too Cool To Be Hot to win the Level 1 Select Amateur Western Pleasure. “I’m on Cloud Nine,” she exclaimed.
“I had never showed a rail class before. We sort of crammed for the Congress. I spent four days at Jason and Jamie English’s barn riding twice a day. He really taught me this class, and every little thing my barn family told me, we did,” she said of her show partner, who is called Coolio.
“I saw him at the Little Futurity about a year ago and fell in love with him,” she said. “I had started looking in the late spring last year. Once we found him, we went to a lot of high level shows preparing and showing at a high level. I love my barn family. We have the best time.”
To view the complete show results, please visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com, and the view the live video feed, go to nationalsportsbroadcasting.com/congress/. The show continues through October 28.
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