Ranch horse exhibitors saw a lot of Trails and a class of Rails on Thursday during Ranch Week at the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Two exhibitors won their very first Congress championships, while two veteran exhibitors and horses added to their 2024 Congress win lists.
‘Fancy’ and Tianna Cooper Win Amateur Ranch Trail
Tianna Cooper and SDP Got Fancy Genes won the NSBA and AQHA portions of Amateur Ranch Trail, and took Tianna to her first Congress championship. “The last three years I’ve been reserve champion here,” Tianna said. “We’re so excited.”
‘Fancy’ was recruited from her job in the breeding shed to become a show horse. “We’ve had Fancy since 2019 as a broodmare, but we thought she might be kind of cool at the Ranch classes, so we started working on it in 2020. It’s kind of been uphill from there,” Tianna said.
“Trail was really a rough start for us. We weren’t sure if she was going to make it in the Trail, and then last year, it was just like the pieces started to fit together and she’s been doing really well this year. Today, our walk over the poles and over the bridge to work the gate were really good, that worked exactly like I envisioned it in my head. It was sweet.”
The Ranch Trail pattern had something for everyone from a serpentine to lope overs, dragging a log, walking over logs, a bridge and a metal gate. “When I saw the pattern on paper, I had to really read it,” Tianna said. “I also do City Trail with another horse, and those patterns kind of flow, and this one had a lot of options to do things how you wanted to, so I thought that was kind of cool.
“For me the Ranch classes are fun,” she said. “I still work hard, and put a lot of effort in, but I don’t stress out as much about them. I just go and show and have fun.”
Tianna won’t have much time to celebrate her win, however, because she is attending college at the University of Findlay as a marketing major. “I have class tomorrow,” she said.
David Renier And Earn First Congress Championship In Amateur Select Ranch Trail
David Renier and his horse Cowpuncher Cadillac came a long way from Colorado to show at the Congress, but it was worth the trip when David and ‘Blue’ earned their very first Congress NSBA and AQHA championship in Amateur Select Ranch Trail.
“We just came for the Arizona Fall Championship Show, so we’ve traveled pretty far,” David said. “He’s the horse that made my dreams come true. I could not have done anything that I’ve done without my husband, Jimmy Daurio. He’s done an amazing job with him and made it a much easier for me as an Amateur to be successful with him. I couldn’t be happier or more proud of him.”
David and Jimmy paired up with Blue just a few years ago. “We’ve had him for three years,” David said. “He’s going to be seven years old. There were a lot of maneuvers and a lot to remember, which can be challenging for me sometimes. All of us have talked about the pattern, and it was a great pattern, because with as many great horses as were out there, there had to be something that separates us all. It just worked out in my favor today.
“He just seemed really dialed in with me today and listened to my feet and my voice. It felt like a winning run to me when I came out, but you can never be too sure. I was very proud of him and he did everything I asked him to. I was draw six, it’s a little daunting when you go early. Jimmy always tells me as a judge that go out there and the judges will remember you and reward you, and recognized you, whether you go first or last.”
David also recognized the success of his fellow exhibitors. “A bunch of my friends were successful too, and I’m super happy for them too,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about, showing and celebrating with my friends.
Reflecting on his first Congress championship, he noted “It’s always been a dream of mine to win at the Congress, and I’ve never cried so many happy tears before.”
Steve Meadows and Hava Cocktail On Me Earn #2 in Senior Ranch Trail
Hava Cocktail On Me and Steve Meadows won the NSBA and AQHA portions of Senior Ranch Trail adding to their Congress championship in Senior Western Working Rail earlier in the week.
“I call him a once in a lifetime horse, because he’s probably the most successful horse I’ve ever had,” Steve said. “He won the inaugural Ranch Trail world championship at the AQHA World Show, the inaugural AQHA Working Western Rail world championship, and he won the Level 1 Select at the World Show with Deb, and he’s been second here a bunch of time. He’s kind of broke out of his bridesmaid role here and he’s been really good.”
When asked about his traits that make him stand out as a Trail horse, Steve noted “He’s careful but he’s relaxed, and that’s what you want any horse to be. He’s careful where he puts his feet, but he’s a touch quirky, which makes him look at stuff and give you good expression. We use him for ranch work at home. He drags colts around, check fence on him, he’s just a good guy. He really is a using horse.”
With a pattern that included a number of maneuvers in the Coliseum, Steve was pleased with ‘Jimmy’s’ go. “My sidepass through the back through was excellent, my lope overs were good, drag was really good,” he said. “He’s so pliable, he just does what I ask him to do and there’s no resistance.”
Bud Lyon and LJ Add To Wins With Open Ranch Rail Stakes Championship
“Holy Smokes!” said Bud Lyon about the Open Working Western Working Rail Stakes. “That was a deep group. I think that is a testament to the direction that our events are going and the evolution that we’ve seen recently, just getting better and better horsemen and horses participating. I’m glad to see it.”
Bud showed Double Tapn to the Congress championship in the class, earning $6,250.40 for owners Dan and Katie Fox. The duo earned their second Congress championship of 2024, adding to the Open Ranch Riding Stakes title they won earlier in the week.
“I always think he looks so much better for Bud than he does for me,” laughed Katie Fox. “He has a really pretty topline and is so great with his ears. He just stands out. That’s why we love him.”
“He’s a little bit of a character but he has so much ability and talent,” added Bud. “When he’s locked in, he’s so fun to show, it really is effortless for him. We’re really grateful to the Headley family for sponsoring all these Ranch classes.”
Friday’s Congress show schedule will include Level 2 NRHA Green Reiner, as well as youth classes Youth Ranch Riding 14-18 and 13 & Under and Small Fry Ranch Riding. The popular Freestyle Reining will cap off the night.
To view complete show results or to view the schedule, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com or check the Horse Show Tracker app.
