Saturday, October 8, at the All American Quarter Horse Congress saw a crisp autumn Ohio day and the kick off to Small Fry, Equestrians With Disabilities and Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences classes around the arenas on the Ohio Expo Center.
Two Classes, Two Championships for Alyvia Kladny
Ten year old Alyvia Kladny started her 2022 Congress with two class championships in Small Fry Showmanship and Small Fry Horsemanship, showing Dangerously Famous. “Allie is 13 years old, and she’s by Hes Suddenly Famous,” Alyvia said.
“I’ve been showing her for three years. In our Showmanship class today, I was just worried about trotting away from the judge. I was worried that she was going to slow down, but she was really good. I really liked our set up.”
In the 2021 Congress, the duo won the Small Fry Hunt Seat Equitation and Small Fry Horsemanship. “My favorite class is Horsemanship, because Allie is good at it,” Alyvia said. The pair showed their skills and love for Horsemanship when they successfully defended their Horsemanship championship, winning the class again this year, giving Alyvia and Allie their second Congress championship of the day. “It feels really good to start out the Congress with two championships,” Alyvia said.
Reaching Sara’s Goal
Sara Grace Carowick and her aunt, Dawn Koffel Allison, had a long-time goal to win the Equestrians With Disabilities Walk Trot Showmanship. On Saturday, the trio realized that goal when Sara and Kiss My Invitation were named the Congress and NSBA champions.
“We’ve been working on this for years,” Sara said. “It had really been a big goal for us. My health has been going downhill, and I didn’t know if we would be able to reach it, but today we did it. I have a number of health issues, including two types of epilepsy, Tourette’s Syndrome, OCD and ADHD and a stomach disease. My short-term memory has also been getting worse, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to remember the pattern, but I did.”
Sara has been competing at the Congress since 2017 in EWD classes. “Having the EWD classes means everything to me,” she said. “Being able to compete here makes me feel normal. It’s hard. It’s a challenge. But it helps me feel like part of something that everyone else does, and I forget about what I struggle with.”
First Time’s A Charm for Aaron Gray
Eight year old Aaron Gray had never competed at the Congress before 2022, but he made the most of his debut by winning the Equestrians With Disabilities Supported Walk Trot Western Pleasure. Aaron showed Slam I Am, whom he shares with his sister, Addison, who shows the gelding named Russell in Youth events.
Aaron is known as a walking miracle by his family. Born three months premature, Aaron spent his first three months of life in a neonatal intensive care unit. He has had numerous surgeries, and is impacted by cerebral palsy. Aaron has limited use of his right arm and leg as a result of cerebral palsy.
Aaron and Addison work with their uncle, trainer Chris Gray, to prepare for shows. “Aaron tells us that he is going to retire,” laughed Chris. “He won the EWD Walk Trot Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show this year too, so he is undefeated in the class. We will have to see.”
In The Hunt
The Celeste Center saw AQHA and NSBA Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences classes kick off, with increased numbers throughout the roster. Dancin N The Dirt and Chuck Briggs, showing for Terri Brewer Booth, won Senior Working Hunter; What We Do By Blue, shown by Corinne Kolinoski, won Youth Level 1 Working Hunter; Better Buy The Minit and Morgan Ratkowski took the Amateur Working Hunter; and Finley Scheffel piloted Not So Badd to win Youth Level 1 Equitation Over Fences.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 23. To view the complete show schedule, connect to the live video feed or see complete show results, please go to allamericanquarterhorsecongress.com or visit the Horse Show Tracker.
