Randy Wilson’s daughter, Whitney Wilson, is an intern for GoHorseShow.com and she is reporting for us this week at the Congress. Whitney is currently a junior at The Ohio State University studying Journalism and shows her mare, Do Ya Like My Lope in the Amateur and Non Pro Maturity Western Pleasure events.
Whitney Wilson’s Final Report from Congress
As the 2014 Congress is winding down, there are so many things to remember. Today, the Congress has over 20,000 entries, attracting more than 650,000 trainers, exhibitors and spectators making for a busy three weeks. The weather hasn’t been all that we’ve hoped, with rain and chilly temperatures but that’s the Congress! You never know what the weather is going to be like and it changes year to year.
I’d like to congratulate Hillary Roberts and Whatscookngoodlookin (pictured below left) on being named Congress Champions of the 15-18 Western Pleasure.This team had three firsts and a second. It was a very competitive class with extremely nice horses! Virginia Owen and One Lazy Investment ended up 15-18 Reserve Congress Champions ending an amazing Congress for this legendary pleasure horse.
On Friday, I will be showing my mare, Do Ya Like My Lope (Lacy), in the Amateur Western Pleasure. I won the Small Fry Horsemanship at the Congress when I was seven and have shown at the Congress multiple times. I look forward to showing in my first year of Amateur Pleasure here at the Congress. Lacy has been great for me all year and I hope to have a great ride in a few days to end the year on a good note.
I hope everyone has taken advantage of the All American Quarter Horse Congress app that is available on most Smart Phones. The free app offers so many great features ranging from giving exhibitors split information to providing results and details on the night riding schedule. It touches on some of the most exciting events here at the Congress. If you haven’t already downloaded the app, go to your App Store and search for: “Horseshow Tracker,” and it should be the first to appear with a blue icon.
For those of you still with us here at the Congress, don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Masters events in the pressroom located in the Celeste building. You won’t want to miss seeing the talented maiden two year olds showing in the Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure classes on Saturday night. Stay tuned for my feature story about Jan Pittman and Susan Scott’s stallion, Ona Good Cowboy that my father, Randy Wilson is showing on Saturday in the Masters Two Year Old Class. This stallion is by the legendary mare, Ona Good Impulse and by RL Best of Sudden.
On a quick note, I wish Dale Livingston a speedy recovery from his horse related accident at the Congress. It appears he will be on crutches for awhile but no life-threatening injuries.
If you haven’t made it to Congress this year, I hope that my daily reports have kept you up-to-date with the exciting things happening here in Columbus, Ohio. Wishing the best of luck to all exhibitors showing the next couple of days to wrap up the Congress!
Daily Report #5 Sunday, October 19, 2014
The Quarter Horse Congress’s busiest weekend came to a close today. Congratulations to this morning’s champion in the 3-Year-Old Non Pro, Sharnai Thompson and Rock Country Kid.
A big congratulations to River Cities Quarter Horse Association on winning the NYATT team tournament event today. The team had one Congress champion and two Reserve Congress Champions. The event consisted of over 60 teams competing for the best overall placings in six disciplines: Barrel Racing, Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Reining, Showmanship and Western Pleasure.
During the team tournament ceremony, Megan Murphy reflected on her once in a lifetime experience serving as the All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen. 16 queen contestants completed an interview, a written test and showed in a horsemanship class each competing for this year’s tiara. Congratulations to Miss Carley Kidner of Ohio Quarter Horse Association on being crowned the 2014-2015 Congress queen!
Harris Leather and Silverworks closed out a busy weekend of sales after youth weekend. “Youth weekend is always very busy with Saturday being the busiest,” said Phillis Harris. “Part of that is because of the horse sale that brought a lot of people to the Congress along with youth weekend.”
One thing is for sure, all of Congress Hall was packed full this weekend showing the power and influence that the horse industry continues to carry.
Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow has in store for the Quarter Horse Congress!
Daily Report #4 Saturday, October 18, 2014
History repeated itself again this year with youth weekend reaching maximum attendance. Officials stopped allowing vehicles on the grounds much earlier than noon as parking was considered to be a fire hazard. It is great to see so many people coming out to support the horse industry here at the Congress.
Lots of Champions were named here at the Congress today. Ellexxah Maxwell and Zips Bossy Chip opened the day with a big win in the Youth Showmanship (12-14). “Wow” is the only word Ellexxah had for her victory this morning. “The first time I won was in the Small Fry Showmanship, so it’s been seven years. It’s my favorite class to show in,” Ellexxah said.
Wade Black and Justa Machine were named champions of the Limited Two-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. Justa Machine is in the first crop of foals by the stallion Machine Made owned by Candice Hall and Cory Seebach. “There really are no words to describe the feeling when your horse of a lifetime passes on a piece of himself,” said Candice. “We are so happy for Wade and Cheryl on their great accomplishment and wish them well in the future. Watching his offspring in the show pen is an excitement we’ve never experienced before and we are very thankful to the breeders, owner and trainers who believed in our squishy bug.”
Kenny Lakins and One Lazy Investment won their second Congress championship of this year in the Open Maturity Western Pleasure. It was a really tough class with such a talented group of horses. Also congratulations is in order to Kaleena Katz Weakly and Caught Me Looking on winning the Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure Stakes.
Scott Trahan of Milan Quarter Horses and Prince Farm owned by Chester and Anne Prince of Palmetto, Florida had an outstanding day in the halter arena. Starting off Amateur Week ThatsmsChromeToU were unanimous Amateur Congress Champions in the Amateur Weanling Fillies. Earlier this month, their stallion, PF Chrome was unanimous champions in the Open Stallions. Trahan and his stallion Very Cool had an amazing day when Trahan was awarded champions in the Amateur Yearling Fillies with Cool to Get Roses.
Sunday will be another busy day full of youth events. NYATT team tournament events start so come out and support your favorite team. Always remember that you have three choices in life: you can give up, give in or give it all you got!
Daily Report #3 Friday, October 17, 2014
Today turned out to be such a beautiful fall day full of sunshine. Unfortunately, nice weather is a rarity here at the Congress.
Bruce Vickery started out the day making history winning the Junior Trail in the Celeste arena on Signature Absolute owned by Nancy Riggs. Bruce had a nearly flawless pattern scoring 239, the highest trail score ever at the Congress.
Congratulations to Giorgia Grace Meadows and OK Pulse Me on winning the Youth Western Pleasure 11 & Under. Not only did Giorgia win the 11 & Under Western Pleasure, she also won the 11 & Under Horsemanship and the Novice Youth Western Riding 13 & Under. “It feels amazing, it’s just so unreal that you come here and you’re able to do that good. Getting to go through all of that with your horse is such an amazing experience,” said Giorgia. I’d like to wish Giorgia and “Trooper” the best of luck making their debut in the Youth Hunt Seat Equitation tomorrow. Another big winner this evening in the Limited Maturity finals was Jason Gilliam on Caught Me Looking owned by Kaleena Weakly.
Kristin Martin of Certified Images also presented her lecture on “Advertising, Marketing and Campaigning to Win” today. Martin told the audience that, “Advertising is an investment in the promotion of you and your horse. It’s important to hire a professional to guide you through the process of creating a good ad.”
Counting down the days until Friday, October 24 when I’ll be showing in the Amateur Western Pleasure. I had a great riding session today in the Buckeye arena. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my horse and I are ready. It’s an indescribable feeling riding in the makeup pen knowing you’re moments away from making your Congress debut.
Congratulations to all of today’s winners and good luck to everyone who is showing tomorrow!
Daily Report #2 Thursday, October 16, 2014
It’s been an exciting day here at the Congress. This morning began with trail in the Celeste arena and halter in the Coliseum.
The Hamm sisters from Arizona dominated in the Youth Halter Mares. Monica, 17 was named Grand Champion Mare with Miss Kittee, and Kaylee, 13, was Reserve Grand Champion with Giancarla.
“We got in at about midnight and typically get up about 5 am, go out and show, and then come in here and help my grandparents,” said Monica. The girls are granddaughters of the well-known Vern and Rita Habighorst of Blue Ribbon Saddlery. They’re no strangers to the winner’s circle at the Congress. “We’ve been very blessed to have great horses to show,” the girls said.
Then, I was able to watch a tough Green Western Pleasure class with so many talented horses. The Celeste arena was behind on schedule, as the class was estimated to go around 3:30pm and didn’t end up showing until nearly 5. Rusty Green and Rock County Kid owned by Sharnai Thompson came out on top out of five splits as Champions of the Green Western Pleasure. I was able to stop and get a picture of the champions coming out of the arena. Rock County Kid is by the late, Good I Will Be.
As youth weekend is underway, Congress Hall is becoming very busy with lots of shoppers. “This weekend is always our busiest, with kids coming in to get their show outfits and tails as youth weekend approaches,” said KC Knoch from Kathy William’s Tail Extensions.
The Ohio Quarter Horse Association held a special ceremony for the governor, senators and county commissioners who were presented plaques as “Champions of the Congress.”
“We presented awards to the politicians who supported our initiative to get a new agriculture building on the Expo Center fairgrounds,” says President of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association Chris Darnell.
I’d like to congratulate all of today’s winners and wish those showing tomorrow the best of luck! Don’t forget to smile and be confident. Practice like you’ve never won; show like you’ve never lost!
Daily Report #1 Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Showing is in full swing here at the 2014 Quarter Horse Congress. Congratulations to some of today’s Congress Champions: Stephanie Lynn, Aaron Moses, Susan Roberts, Beth Case, Heidi Piper and Kenny Lakins.
Aaron won his first ever Congress Championship in the NSBA $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Stakes riding Cool Lookin Machine owned by Jessica Parris. He had three firsts and a third. One Lazy Investment had back-to-back wins in the Senior Western Pleasure with Kenny Lakins aboard. GoHorseShow’s own Stephanie Lynn won the Senior Pleasure Driving with Ride The Blue Sky with Linda Lindsey.
Also, quite moving was when Amateur Dennis Mulford of Georgetown, Ohio placed third in the Amateur Pleasure Driving with Stay Shining. Mulford showed to honor his wife and wore the color blue–“Blue for Sue.” He ended up taking her place because Sue is currently in the hospital fighting her third bout of cancer. Friends and family were also in the stands wearing blue to support her. Sue who has been in the hospital the past two weeks hopes to be released by next week to make it to the Congress to see her granddaughters show in multiple classes starting the 20th.
Last night, the first go of the Non-Pro Three Year-Old Western Pleasure showed and it was interesting to see not very many men in the class. Sharnai Thompson and Tanya Relander’s horses were my favorites and there were a lot of pretty show jackets that I had never seen before.
One of my favorite parts about the Congress is seeing old faces and catching up with good friends. Nothing says Congress quite like the familiar announcer’s voice on the grounds. Riding this morning, the make-up pens and practice arenas were very crowded, with exhibitors and trainers preparing to show. Trail practice is set up under the overhang for tomorrows trail classes in the Celeste arena.
Thankfully, the forecast has cleared up for the next ten days because the overhaul of rain we received yesterday made the outdoor longing pen sloppy. Let’s hope it dries up over the next few days and beautiful weather is in store for the rest of the Congress. Stay tuned for more reports from the show!
