Monday at the All American Quarter Horse Congress saw an never-ending stream of Ranch Trail patterns that continues as of this writing on Monday evening, however, we wanted to bring you a special story from the Youth Ranch Trail class earlier today.
Emily Patton showed her horse, Whizzin Banjo, to win a large Youth Ranch Trail class that saw 58 entries, and competed for several hours to determine winner. The class had followed a marathon Open Ranch Trail class that saw nearly 100 entries that began as the sun was rising at 7:00 a.m.
For Emily, the class was special, and nerve-wracking at the same time. “There were a lot of elements to this pattern, but I was really nervous about the ground tie and remount,” Emily said. “Not so much about the ground tie, but 'Joey' can be a little funny getting back on. But he was perfect – in every part of the pattern.”
The class allowed Emily to pay special tribute to her former trainer, the late legendary trainer, coach and instructor Clark Bradley, who died earlier this year. “Clark was my trainer for six years, and this was my first year to show at the Congress without him,” Emily said. “In fact, Joey is actually his horse. I love having this horse that can do these classes so well, and just allow you to have fun out there. I have a feeling that Clark was watching us and cheering us on. Maybe he was riding with us.”
Emily showed the gelding, who is by Banjo Whiz and out of a New Chex To Cash mare, to a 232.5 score, besting the second place exhibitor, Trent Ferrier and Wimpys LittleDiamond, by 1,5 points, and won both the AQHA and NSBA portions of the class. “I was talking to Quincy Clagg before we showed, and I wondered if it was bad of me to hope that Joey could score higher than my other horse in this class, but that’s how it worked out. Joey is kind of busy-minded, and Trail is really good for him. It gives him other things to think about and keep doing.”
You’ll often find Emily competing in Hunter Jumper events as well, but this was her first Congress championship in Ranch events. “It’s been a great way to start this year’s Congress,” she said. We suspect somewhere in the sky, Clark Bradley approves.
Other Congress champions named on Monday included Sumac Gunnabeflashy, shown by Bud Lyon for Leslie Vagneur Lange to win the Open Ranch Trail and Fancy Blue Roo, shown by Courtney Dobbs Clagg, earning the Amateur Ranch Trail championship. The Open and Non-Pro Ranch Trail Stakes classes will conclude the Ranch events at the 2022 All American Quarter Horse Congress.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 24 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. To view the complete show results, visit the Horse Show Tracker app or the quarterhorsecongress.com.
