The 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress is a wrap and we have a list of the All Around and High Point winners at the show.
“I still can’t believe that Leroy and I won the all around at the Congress,” says Maria Salazar of Portland, Oregon, who won the Amateur All Around with her horse, Winkin For Chocolate. “It had never been a goal of mine, because it seemed like only the really cool, really good teams win that. I have a quote saved on my phone from jumper, Richard Spooner, who said, ‘The success of any one horse is one of the intricacies of the sport that makes it so intangible. And when you win, it’s so extraordinary, because everything has come together on that day.’ I’m so grateful to have won this prestigious award, but I don’t for a moment think there aren’t so many other deserving teams out there on any given day in blustery Ohio.”
Salazar adds, “This Congress was such a whirlwind of emotions. We started with the horsemanship and showmanship where we made mistakes and didn’t make the cuts. Between the entire McCulloch Training Stables crew, my parents, and lots of prayers, our show was able to turn around. It was a great lesson to me and hopefully others to not give up when things start turning south. Our success at the end of the show was so much sweeter, and I was so much more thankful, after where we had started.”
“Thank you to the amazing show staff at OQHA, ring stewards, and judges for putting on the Congress, where “everyday is a holiday!” Maria says.
Select Amateur All Around Winner Dan Yeager also was emotional about his win. “When preparing for the Congress, you hope you have a solid run in your classes. You hope you might have an opportunity to win a Congress Championship. I never in my wildest dreams thought about two championships and the all around award. I’m still taking it all in. I’m on Cloud 9. None of this would be possible without the team at Highpoint. They are the best!”
Congratulations to all of the All American Quarter Horse Congress Hi-Point All Around Champions and Reserve Champions
Hi-Point All-Around Horse
Champion – Zip Up My Blumers owned by Lori Wilt
Reserve – Snap Krackle Pop Twylla Lynn Brown
Hi-Point All-Around Small Fry
Champion – Piper Anderson with Im Invited Too
Reserve – Kaylyn Kruchten with Mister Spontaneous
Hi-Point All-Around Novice Youth 13 & Under
Champion – Hayley Freeman with Suddenly Best Man
Reserve – Giorgia Grace Medows with Mostly Chocolate
Hi-Point All-Around Novice Youth 14-18
Champion – Deanna Green with Blazinmytroublesaway
Reserve – Emma C Phinney with Invite Me To Paris
Hi-Point All-Around Youth 11 & Under
Champion – Karissa M Shank with Assets Miss Reba
Reserve – Paige K Wellendorf with Good To Be Sudden
Hi-Point All-Around 12-14
Champion – Ellexxah Ireland Maxwell with Zips Bossy Chip
Reserve – Nya Kearns with Beyond Captivating
Hi-Point All-Around 15-18
Champion – Deanna Green with Blazinmytroublesaway
Reserve- Harley K Huff with GW Jack Bar
Hi-Point All-Around Novice Amateur
Champion – Charlotte Clark with Thee Alpha Bett
Reserve – Stacy F Funston with Ima Hot Iron
Hi-Point All-Around Amateur
Champion – Maria S Salazar with Winkin For Chocolate
Reserve – Gabrielle L Capron with KM Zip Me Suddenly
Hi-Point All-Around 50 & Over
Champion – Dan Yeager with Cee Monkey
Reserve – Christian Beauchemin with Frenchmen
Photos © NSBA, Shane Rux
