The All American Quarter Horse Congress saw its youngest exhibitors and its exhibitors making the most of their abilities, along with several exhibitors who are the bravest to face and jump the fences highlight Saturday’s show schedule..
Exhibitors With Abilities
Saturday saw two Equestrians With Disabilities classes, but these exhibitors quickly showed that they have very special competitive abilities as well as a great love for their horses.
In Level 3 Advanced Equestrians With Disabilities Showmanship, Robert Castellitto and his horse, Empty Irons, took first place honors in both the Congress and NSBA division of the class.
“Showmanship is so precise,” he said. “You have to have straight lines, and you have to do certain things exactly at certain times or you’ll be off for the rest of the pattern. We really worked on that.”
Robert noted that his favorite classes are the pattern classes, but Showmanship is the one he likes the most. He purchased his horse, Empty Irons, two years ago and has been winning ever since.
.
Baylee Oskin second place exhibitor in the Level 3 Advance Equestrians With Disabilities Showmanship in her first time showing in EWD classes.
“I have rheumatoid arthritis, and I just can’t use my legs very well to go in regular classes,” Baylee said. “I showed in 4-H and open shows, and my mom gave me the option to show in EWD, so we did. I’ve never shown at the Congress before, so this is great!”
“It just so happens that today is Arthritis Awareness Day,” noted Baylee’s mother. “Baylee’s Showmanship outfit is blue, and blue is the color for arthritis, so it seemed kind of fitting.”
.
In the Supported Rider Equestrians With Disabilities Western Pleasure, Corbett Ryan showed his horse, Hes Got Da Jack, to the win in the Congress and NSBA portions of the class.
“This was a new horse for me this year,” Corbett said. “We are nine and 0 in competition. And he’s not for sale!”
The Equestrians With Disabilities classes at the Congress are sponsored by the NSBA Foundation..
Smallest Fry
The start of “Small Fry weekend” at the Congress began with Small Fry Showmanship as the first class of the morning. Alexandria Rippeon and Famous N Foolish won both the Congress and NSBA portion of the class.
“I’ve had Calvin since March of this year so it’s our first season together,” Alexandra said. “He’s very fun to show. He is very sweet and nice. He sets up for me and he spins really fast.
“I really love the pattern classes like Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation because you get to bond more with your horse and make them do what you want them to do. This is my fourth time at the Congress, but I’ve never won a class here before. The Congress is a really big show. Back home in Maryland, we don’t have nearly as many people showing."
.
In the Small Fry Horsemanship, the top 20 exhibitors showed the pattern in one of two splits and returned to rework the pattern as well as perform rail work as finalists in the class. It was a veteran team who rose to the top of the class.
Eldon Fredenburg and MWS Flashed N Choc won both the Congress and NSBA portion of the class, besting 64 entries to get the win. “When I first saw the pattern, I thought it was pretty tough, but I thought we could do it,” Eldon said. “It had a lot of transitions, but we practiced it a lot.”
With a pattern that included a trot, two corners, a trot to stop and 360 to a trot and extended trot and back, the pattern certainly was a test for the exhibitors, who all showed great poise in the finals.
Eldon and his mare, Sweet Pea, are not strangers to the winner’s circle. They won the Small Fry Trail at the 2018 Congress.
Scott Family Dynasty Continues In Non-Pro Longe Line Stakes
For the second year in a row, the Scott family led all three of the top placings in the Non-Pro Longe Line, and for the third year in a row, a Scott family member was the champion. Nancy Wilkerson Ditty defended her Non-Pro Longe Line win from 2018 when she showed The Best Cowgirl by winning the 2019 title with A Cowboy For You.
“The one last year and this year are out of the same mare, Huntin A Cowboy,” Nancy said. “Last year’s yearling was by RL Best Of Sudden, and this year’s is by VS Code Blue.”
Nancy prepared all three of this year’s Non-Pro entries. Her mother Susan Scott showed The Best Ticket, while her father Stanley Scott showed Your Made For Me. “I really enjoy preparing the Longe Line horses,” she said. “I just love taking them out of the pasture and getting them to the final product, and watching them progress.”
A Cowboy For You has been winning everywhere he went this year on the show circuit. “He just amazes me,” Nancy said. “I’ve watched him grow stronger and more seasoned as the show year went on.”
Over Fences Riders Earn Congress Trophies
The first over fences classes also started at the Congress on Saturday. Linda Crothers showed Dance If You Wanna to win the Senior Working Hunter for youth owner Chandler Runnells. Known as Lu, the chestnut mare ‘was on,’ Linda noted.
“She is so soft and expressive over the fences and she loves her job,” she said. “I think the judges saw that today. This is her second time to win the Congress, as she won it in 2017. Her owner, Chandler, shows her in the Youth 14-18 classes.”
Non-Pros took the stage at the end of the day on Saturday. Cindy Triscari piloted Every Once In A While to win the AQHA and NSBA awards in Level 1 (Novice) Amateur Equitation Over Fences. “He was awesome,” Cindy said.
“Last year when we showed here, he was a little inconsistent, but today he just floated over the jumps. He nailed his first lead change, and it was his Western Riding lead change, then I knew it would be good. He’s kind of lazy, so you have to ride every stride.”
.
In the Amateur Equitation Over Fences, Morgan Ratkowski rode Better Buy The Minit to the NSBA bronze trophy and second in the AQHA portion of the class.
“He’s just such a great horse,” Morgan said of her multiple AQHA world and Congress champion. “He really takes care of me. We’ve been together for eight years now.”
The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 27.
