Novice Amateur Erena Lanza had never shown a western event at the
Congress before this year and didn't start showing AQHA until June of
2010. But that didn't keep her from being crowned Congress Reserve
Champions in the Novice Amateur Western Pleasure out of 120 exhibitors
with her horse, Wolf Pack Ranger.
A fairly uncommon occurrence happened in the halter events at the All
American Quarter Horse Congress. Chester and Anne Prince's yearling
stallion, PF Credibley Supreme, was awarded Grand Champion Stallion. A
yearling stallion standing Grand at the Congress is something that has
not happened in the modern halter era.
The Cherry family of Oklahoma City have had an amazing Congress so far. Chad Cherry won the Amateur Heeling and the Amateur Cinch Shootout and was third in the Amateur Heading. This was Chad's first time to compete at the Congress. His wife, Molly didn't show this year, but she was a great cheerleader for both her husband and their 11 year-old daughter, Gentry.
World and Congress Champion Amateur Darcy Reeve and Congress youth winner, Jonathan Nowacki searched in all the barns at the Congress for the best stall fronts and narrowed down their front runners and came up with their Top 10 list. There are similar themes, colors, and designs in their top picks. Let us know which ones are your favorite.
AQHA World and Congress Champion trainer and judge, Kendra Weis, took time out of her busy schedule to break down the Congress 15-18 Youth Equitation pattern. Weis has also judged the AQHA World Championship show, so she knows what is expected at the highest levels of competition.
Charlie Cole said that roan stallion, VS Code Red (Waylon), performed a flawless pattern Tuesday night in his unanimous Congress win in the Junior Western Riding. "Waylon was 34th to go and the last of my horses I had to ride, but he was brilliant and I couldn't have asked for a better ride. I was definitely exhausted at the end of the class!" Cole said when he talked to GoHorseShow right after his huge win.
Fairy tales do come true---just ask AQHA newbie Drew Boies and his
roping mare, Ravens Silver Angel. Boies and Raven placed seventh
in the Amateur Heeling last week at the Congress. While that might not
impress some; we encourage you to read the story of this roper and his
four year-old grulla mare from Ocala, Florida.
Exactly three years ago, 17 year-old Dakota Diamond Griffith wrote her
first story for GoHorseShow.com and little did we know at the time what a
huge impact it would have. The inaugural piece was titled "Dakota's
Must Haves From The Congress" and our readers made it one of the most
popular stories from the entire year.
While you’re at the All American Quarter Horse Congress,
please be sure to stop by the Kaplow Insurance Agency booth,
conveniently located in Congress Hall just inside the overhang next to
the Crown Royal bar. Evan
Kaplow will office out of this booth space for the duration of the
Congress and encourages everyone to stop by.