The third Saturday of the Congress is always a jam-packed weekend with many classes for exhibitors, vendors for shoppers and of course the Congress Super Sale for those in the market for a new horse.

Showmanship Showdown
Three age groups of AQHA and NSBA Youth Showmanship classes took place in the Celeste Center, which saw nearly 250 Showmanship patterns run, not including all the finalists who reworked their pattern a second time.

In the AQHA and NSBA Youth Showmanship 12-14, Rebekah Rosa and One Dynamic Krymsun showed to the win. "I've had him for four or five years," Rebekah said of her gelding, Reach. "It's our second Congress championship. We won the Novice Youth 13 & Under Horsemanship last year here."

Rebekah enjoyed the Showmanship pattern. "My favorite part about the pattern was the extended trot to the slow part, because he's really good at that," she said. After working the preliminary pattern in the first of two splits of 99 horses shown, Rebekah and Reach were able to fine-tune their pattern. "I worked on getting him up with me, and he was really good in the finals."

Former NSBA The Way To Go Cover Girl Mallory Vroegh took Krymsum Belle to a repeat win in AQHA and NSBA Youth Showmanship 15-18. "I'm so excited to say that we won the triple crown," Mallory said. "We won a world championship at the AQHYA World Show in Showmanship, then we won the NSBA World Show in Showmanship and now here at the Congress. I'm so excited!"

Mallory approaches her patterns scientifically. "I'm always thinking about what I can do to make each part of the pattern better," she said. "Belle guides so well, and she follows me really well into the square corners. I especially enjoyed the extended trot in our pattern."

In the 11 & Under Showmanship, Claire Bingaman and Invite Me Im Hot earned both the AQHA and NSBA champion titles, after a very quick study with each other. "My other horse got in an accident the week before the Congress, and my mom had leased '40,' so I was very blessed to be able to show this horse instead."

Claire and 40 had a little over a week to get to know each other - and fine-tune their Showmanship pattern. "40 had only been shown in Showmanship four times," Claire said. The duo earned one first and two second places on the judges cards to earn the championship title.

Western Winners
Hillary Roberts piloted Momma Knows Best to win the Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure Stakes on Saturday night. "We've had 'Myrtle' since she was three, but this is my first year to show her," Hillary said.

"She's fun. She makes you work for it, but once you do, she's worth it. We were third at the Tom Powers earlier this year, and second at the NSBA World Show. She has so much raw talent, and I've been really blessed to have great people around me to start her and work with her - both Andy Cochran and Katie Green worked tirelessly on her."

Kenny Lakins Jr. took the reins of RR Magical Moonlite and won the Open Western Pleasure Maturity for owners Dennis and Debbie Martin.

"I don't get to show him very much, because Ashley usually shows him," Kenny said. "He's really matured and just gotten better this year. He's so smooth that you don't even really think he's moving, and I tend to want to push him. But he was great tonight."

"We are so excited," said Debbie Martin. "He is so great with our granddaughter, Kiley. They get along so well together, and he is safe for her. He loves her, and she loves him."

Asha Winterfeld made the most of her first trip to the Congress by winning the Level 1 Youth Western Pleasure 14-18. "We've had her for two years," Asha said. "My dad actually bought her as a secret. I used to show game horses and had never shown the Western Pleasure much.

"She's one of the two last babies by Vital Signs Are Good and is out of One Hot Krymsun, and she's just like a puppy dog. She wants to do her job," she said. With splits and a finals, Asha made a few changes before riding in the finals. "I changed out my spurs and she was softer and she was more focused. Plus she's so pretty, she's big and she just stands out. I'm still in shock - I didn't expect this."

Super Sale Highlights
The 2017 Congress Super Sale took place Saturday and saw more than 100 horses fall under the gavel. Most information will be posted once it becomes available.

The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 29. To view complete show results or learn more about the All American Quarter Horse Congress, please visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com.