The Congress has announced the 2014 All-Around winners. These awards include six All-Around awards,
one each for Open, Amateur, Youth, Youth aged 15-18, Youth aged 12-14
and Youth aged 11 and Under, as well as Five High-Point awards, one each
for Amateur Select, Novice Amateur, Novice Youth aged 14-18, Novice
Youth aged 13 and Under and Small Fry.
In order to be eligible for an All-Around award, the horse must compete in at least three different categories of events, as determined by the American Quarter Horse Association. Each horse then receives points, based on how they placed in each class.
GoHorseShow.com talked to a few of these winners about their accomplishments.
Livvie Van Lanen and All But Sudden were awarded the Novice 14-18 All-Around and Reserve Youth 15-18. The duo also won the Novice 14-18 Youth Trail and was Reserve in the Novice 14-18 Horsemanship. Her father, Robert Huver, won the Amateur Western Riding and earlier in the show, Charlie Cole won the Senior Western Riding. Livvie shared her thoughts about her impressive accomplishments.
Livvie Van Lanen and All But Sudden were awarded the Novice 14-18 All-Around and Reserve Youth 15-18. The duo also won the Novice 14-18 Youth Trail and was Reserve in the Novice 14-18 Horsemanship. Her father, Robert Huver, won the Amateur Western Riding and earlier in the show, Charlie Cole won the Senior Western Riding. Livvie shared her thoughts about her impressive accomplishments.
“I would like to thank Highpoint Performance Horses for all of their hard work and continuous support!” Livvie told GoHorseShow. “Also I would like to say thank you to Stevie, my horse, for always giving his best in each and every class he was in at this show.”
Whitney Walquist-Vicars and Southwestern Gunman took home the Amateur All-Around Championship. They also won the Amateur Horsemanship. “I don’t really know how to put it into words but I’ll try,” Whitney says. “It is beyond amazing and I’m so grateful.”
After her horse having colic surgery this past summer, she wasn’t sure if they’d be ready for the fall shows. “I was thankful that we got to be here and feeling pretty anxious coming into Congress with it being Gunner’s first show back on a heavy workload with all of his events.
Vicars adds, “I’m very thankful for my Dad and his excellent coaching and support and my mom and Craig for their endless support, help and cheering and all of my wonderful friends in this industry for their encouragement, support and prayers. I definitely didn’t do it alone. Gunner was amazing and gave me his all.”
“Winning the 12-14 all around was an unexpected blessing!” Kamiah McGrath told GoHorseShow. “I showed Secrets Until Dark in the showmanship and therefore didn’t think it would be possible to win the all around. Jake went above and beyond to place first in the equitation, second in the Hunter Under Saddle, second in Western Riding, fourth in the Western pleasure, and twelve in the Horsemanship. The most exciting placing was my fifth in Green Western Riding were I scored a 224.5, my personal best. P.S. The trainers were really nice to me!”
Bailey Anderson and Zippos Kat Man Do won the 15-18 All-Around and also the Youth 15-18 Trail. “In our barn, we don’t really ever set our sights on the all-around; we take one class at a time,” Bailey states.
Bailey continues, “He was absolutely flawless for me in the 15-18 Trail. He didn’t touch a pole. I even had a one point break of gait penalty and scored a 232.5, so couldn’t have been happier. I had no expectation of winning the trail, but I knew I had a great partner. It was a great ride and a great day.”
Later that night, the duo had a strong finish in the horsemanship with a Reserve Congress Championship. Anderson couldn’t stay to show in the western riding the following day, as she had to get back to the University of Georgia to take a calculus exam.
“My parents stayed an extra day and it dawned on us that I might be in the all around standings. So, when they called to tell me I was leading the standings, I was ecstatic! I never dreamed I would win the All-Around at the Congress!”
Congratulations to these All-Around winners (Unofficial Results)
- Open–Go Big Sky and Rodger Call
- Amateur–Southwestern Gunman and Whitney Walquist-Vicars
- Youth Open–Ok Pulse Me and Giorgia Grace Medows
- Youth 11&U–Ok Pulse Me and Giorgia Grace Medows
- Youth 12-14–They Call Me Jake and Kamiah McGrath
- Youth 15-18–Zippos Kat Man Do and Bailey Anderson
- Novice Amateur–The One To Chase and Gretchen Ingersoll
- Novice 13&U–Sculptured In Iron and Kaitlyn Lomas
- Novice 14-18–All But Sudden and Livvie Van Lanen
- Select Amateur–The One To Chase and Gretchen Ingersoll
- Small Fry–Rr My Sudden Career and Grace Mullen
