By Tracy Bidwell, OQHA
The Ohio Quarter Horse Association crowned more than 400 Congress Champions in Columbus, Ohio at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, held October 5-28 at the Ohio Expo Center.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress showcased some of the most talented Quarter Horses from 48 US states, as well as three foreign countries. In addition to a full array of disciplines, exhibitors and their horses competed in classes sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Snaffle Bit Association and the Southern Belle Breeder’s.
The show drew 19,861 entries over the course of 24 days, which is a 10.4 percent increase compared to last year. In the last two years alone, the All American Quarter Horse Congress has seen a 16 percent increase in entries. Additionally, the show houses more than 5,000 horses during its three-week duration.
“It’s incredible to have record-breaking numbers two years in a row,” said Dr. Scott Myers, OQHA Executive Director. “We cannot thank all of our exhibitors, vendors and corporate sponsors enough for their support. Our board and staff have worked hard to make the Congress bigger and better, and we have absolutely succeeded.”
Big Winners
The richest purse at the All American Quarter Horse Congress is the Equine Chronicle Congress Masters Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure class, with $75,000 being presented to the winner. This year, it was Moonlite Ventures, ridden and owned by Angie Cannizzaro of Purcell, Oklahoma that took home the honors.
Other top winners include the Equine Chronicle Congress Masters Two-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle winner, This Is Personal, ridden by Trisha Yamber and owned by Carl Yamber taking home a $50,000 paycheck.
The Congress Reining Futurity boasted $25,000 for first place, which was won by Yankee Gun, ridden by Shawn Flarida for owner Arcese Quarter Horses.
The Congress also crowned several All-Around Champions, the most prestigious of which is the Open Award. After a close race, Smarty Brown, owned by Holly Powell, came up the 2012 Congress Open All-Around Champion, with Its Been Awhile, owned by Theresa Pfeiffer, a close reserve.
Youth Contests
The All American Quarter Horse Congress holds several youth contests throughout its duration, the largest of which being the National Youth Activity Team Tournament. After a long day of competition on October 21, the River Cities Quarter Horse Association Team was named the winner, beating out 77 other teams from across the country.
The annual Congress Intercollegiate and Youth Judging Contests were held on October 17, with the Indiana Quarter Horse Association team taking top honors in the youth division and West Texas A&M winning the senior collegiate division.
Other youth contests held at this year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress included Communications, Horse Bowl and Hippology.
