The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues into its third week with Stakes and AQHA classes. Tuesday, October 10, saw champions in several disciplines from Western Riding to Longe Line, to Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure.
Circling A Win In Longe Line
Elizabeth Baker guided a yearling filly that she and her husband Cole raised to win the the Open Hunter Longe Line Stakes for owner Ditty Up LLC. It was the second Congress win for It Matters To Her, known as Gucci, who won the Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line on Monday with Nancy Ditty on the line. Gucci earned more than $4,400 in 2023 Congress futurity earnings.
“It’s exciting for me because the first two places in this class, It Matters To Her and Whats It Matter, were twin embryos that we raised, both by What Matters Most and out of Last Minute Investment,” Elizabeth said. “Nancy Ditty had actually owned the second place horse and sold her, and bought this filly.
“Everything is just so natural for her, and of course she’s beautiful. She gave me a really good go tonight. We can’t wait to start riding her, and I can’t wait to get Nancy in some breeches and riding in Hunter Under Saddle in the future!”
Maturity Matters: Air Ryde Takes The Win
Anita Weiscamp’s gelding Air Ryde was named the champion in the Maturity Open Western Pleasure Stakes with Sara Simons in the saddle.
“We started with this horse four years ago,” Anita said. “We had him 30 or 45 days and then went to the NSBA World Show and tied for two world champions. I haven’t checked, but he’s probably the only horse that has won both the Maturity and the Senior Western Pleasure two years in a row. He’s just so natural at it and so happy. He’s a neat horse. The Parrishes gave me a great opportunity to buy him when he was four years old. He’s eight years old. He’s a Machine Made out of KM Hot Ones, who is by RL Best Of Sudden.
“Sara gets along so well with this horse. It’s like I’m just along for the ride. And he’s so good at everything he does. At the last Ocala show, he won the Senior Western Pleasure and then 30 minutes later won the Western Riding, then the next day won the Maturity Western Pleasure and then later scored the highest score in the Trail. He’s one of the few that can dial it up or dial it back with all these classes. He’s an amazing animal and Sara has done an amazing, amazing job with him.”
Two Classes, Two Wins For Charlie Cole
Charlie Cole had a busy but very productive day on Tuesday. In the morning he won the Junior Pleasure Driving, and in the afternoon he showed My Dad Is The Best to win Junior Western Riding with a score of 243.
“I call My Dad Is The Best Jasper. He was very successful in the Western Pleasure before we started his All Around career. He was a reserve world champion in the Junior Pleasure with Shane Dowdy and did well here at the Congress in the Three Year Old Western Pleasure with Gil Galyean. We bought him here his three year old year.
“We only showed him in the Trail last year and we won the Junior Trail here with him. And this year we’ve done the Western Riding. I’m so proud of him. He’s just a smart, kind, good horse. He’s a beautiful mover, and he’s got a great topline, expression and ears. And he just shows super consistent and I just tried to show him as fancy as I could.”
Charlie also did something he doesn’t do very often when he catch-drove the Congress champion in the Junior Pleasure Driving with Simply Presidential. Laurie Hoops had asked me if I would drive him, and I told her I would try it. I hadn’t seen him until 5:00 a.m. this morning. Laurie did a fabulous job training this horse so I can’t take any credit.”
The Best Rides For Only Ride The Best
Caroline Cavallo’s Hunter Under Saddle gelding Only Ride The Best took top awards on Tuesday with two different riders, winning the Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity Stakes with Caroline in the irons in the morning and in Junior Hunter Under Saddle with Sara Simons taking the reins.
The gelding by Good Better Best is out of Blazing My Way, and is no stranger to Congress championships and big futurity wins. His career started by winning the A Sudden Impulse Futurity Maiden Hunter Under Saddle with Dawn Baker, and he has never looked back. "Teddy" has won the Congress Three Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Futurity as well as winning the Congress Junior Hunter Under Saddle in 2022. In addition, Teddy has won multiple AQHA world championship titles and has more than $53,000 in total NSBA earnings,
A Stakes Win For Ziggi and Blake Britton
Blake Britton piloted Wickked Game to win the Two Year Old Open Western Pleasure Stakes for Kylee Wiseman.
“We bought him at the Back To Berrien show in June from Mallory Menard,” Blake said. “I saw him riding around and thought he just looked so natural and would be a good fit with Kylee too. We showed him at the NSBA World Show and were reserve champion to Gil Galyean and I Lope You Love Me (who were reserve champions in today's class). Kylee just loves him, and I think he will get to stay around.
“He’s by No Doubt Im Lazy, and his barn name is Ziggi. He was really good for me in the class.”
Other champions on Tuesday included DW Sudden Invitation, shown by Sara Simons for Ali Hays, winning the Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Western Pleasure Stakes. First go rounds were held for several futurities that will hold second go round and finals in the coming days.
The 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 22. To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker or quarterhorsecongress.com. You can also view the show’s live video feed at quarterhorsecongress.com/livestream.
