Hi everyone, I’m Danica Weber from Dousman, Wisconsin, and I am currently a sophomore at South Dakota State University majoring in Agriculture Communications. I will be your reporter for the first half of the All American Quarter Horse Congress. During the hunter part of the show, I will be showing Crusein For Hotties in the Novice and Amateur Over Fences classes under the guidance of Jenny Welhouse.
#4 Report from Congress : Monday, October 12th, 2015
It sure was a beautiful day here at the Congress and a great day for two woman who have been long-time contributors to GoHorseShow.com! In the Celeste was all fences classes, while in the Coliseum they started off with halter stallions. After the stallions, they moved to the Novice Amateur Hunter Hack. Peyton Bivins of Amarillo, Texas was named Congress Champion in the Novice Amateur Hunter Hack with her horse, Kamanyawannadance. Peyton describes Collin as a once in a lifetime kinda horse and is affectionately known as her best friend.
Peyton has shown him the past four years when he only knew equitation and hunter under saddle, now, this gelding is a multiple Congress and World Champion in the over fences and just so happened to recently add horsemanship to his repertoire. Although Peyton hasn’t competed in the over fences classes in three years, she made it her goal to show in the hunter hack this year.
By the time it was ready for her to show, Peyton said she had the mentality of, “I simply just wanted to have fun and do the best that I could.”
Although she describes her ride as not being a hundred percent, she thanks Collin for taking care of her. With the help of Leslie Lang, Ryan Painter, Chuck Briggs, and Jeff Mellot, she was able to pull it off. You can catch Peyton and Collin later this week in the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, and Horsemanship.
After the conclusion of the Novice, they moved to the Amateur Hunter Hack. Sarah Elder Chabot was champions with her horse, A Well Dressed Man. “He is funny, quirky, but good and so honest in the arena,” Sarah says.
Sarah’s trainer Karen Mundy found her Calvin after he had a very successful junior year. In 2013 Sarah and Calvin won the Amateur Hunter Hack, but, unfortunately, she had a set back when he got a slight injury in his hind suspensory. Sarah was a big part of his recovery time from hand walking to wrapping; she had it all covered!
One thing she learned from the experience was that, “It was hard, especially when you want to show and they seem sound, but in the long run, we knew we needed to give him time and attention. We both learned a lot, became much closer, and I think by giving him the time he needed; he has become an even better horse.”
It sure seems to have paid off, because she was won the Amateur Hunter Hack on Monday and still has the Senior Hunter Hack and Amateur Equitation Over Fences left to go. Sarah says that she couldn’t have done it without Karen Mundy’s late husband, Don Mundy. Sarah says that he was her “hunter hack” coach. This past December, Don Mundy passed away, and for Team Mundy, they decided to dedicate their rides as #ridefordon.
A few years ago, Karen had clients in conflicting classes at the Redbud, so she told Sarah that, “Don has been my ground person for years, he will take care of you.” So Don and Sarah went to prepare for the Amateur Hunter Hack on a previous horse that was notorious for not being good. That day, she won the hunter hack. So from then on, Don was her “hunter hack coach”. In 2014 at the Congress, the same situation arose, and Karen had a youth exhibitor showing in the Celeste, so Don went to help her with the Amateur Hunter Hack. Sarah remembered that she was really nervous. “I was literally so nervous I asked him if we could go on down. Don said, ‘I think we are little bit early, but if you want to go, I will go with you.'”
They were two hours early, but Don and Calvin stayed with Sarah, and they ended up winning the class. So her plan this year was to simply ride as best as she could….for Don!
From injury to a champion, it sure was an impressive but exciting day for Sarah and Calvin as well as Peyton and Collin returning to the jumping arena. Congratulations ladies!
#3 Report from Congress : Sunday, October 11th, 2015
Another early morning here at the Congress. In Celeste, they started off with the Green Working Hunter; in the Coliseum they kicked off the halter classes with the Open Weanling fillies; and the Small Fry trail in Cooper Arena.
I got to catch up with one individual who has had an amazing Congress. Lainie DeBoer has brought home three Congress Champions so far. Her first win was in the Senior Working Hunter with Dive. Dive is a six year-old mare, and this is her first year in the senior division. According to Lainie, she is a total princess and has a lot of love for the grey mare. Dive is also a past World Champion. Lainie took Dive to the USHJA Pre Green Championships to represent the Quarter horse breed.
Her next two championships were with, What I Know Now, who won the Green Working Hunter and the Junior Working Hunter. What I Know Now is a four year old gelding that is a total ham. “He is the easiest baby I have ever trained. He is really cocky on the ground, but you get on his back and he is all business. The more I challenge him the better he gets,” Lainie says.
Lainie said that her most memorable win was with her Junior horse because he is owned by Lainie’s mom, Margaret. Margaret received him as a 49th wedding anniversary present from her husband.
As an AQHA judge and trainer, Lainie shares some advice for exhibitors. “The ticket to having the winning ride is to never sway from your program and stay in your personal bubble. I just concentrate on myself and my horse, and when it’s all done let the chips fall where they may.”
Congratulations to Lainie and her mom, as well as everyone else who competed today!
#2 Report from Congress : Saturday, October 10th, 2015
It was an early morning here at the Congress for the Hunter riders. The 2’6 and 3′ foot warm up classes started out the day at 6 am, followed by the Novice Amateur and Novice Youth Working Hunter classes. Small fry showmanship and horsemanship were held in Cooper arena and the Coliseum.
While the EWD classes were in the morning held in the Coliseum. I caught up with an exhibitor who attends one Quarter Horse show a year, that being the Congress. Cindy Bauer shows Supremely Starlite in the Novice and Amateur over fences classes.
“The Quarter Horse Congress is my favorite show because of the atmosphere. The competition is top notch, the late nights and early mornings, and seeing all of my friends. Plus I love showing here! It’s the feeling you get when you canter down center, heading to the first fence, it is one of the greatest feelings you could have.”
Although Cindy doesn’t show at very many quarter horse shows, she does compete on the Hunter Circuit. The reason why this is her only quarter horse show of the year is because she really likes competing at Hunter shows where she gets to participate in medal finals and derbys . Also, Wisconsin does not have very big hunter numbers. Overall Hunter shows better prepare her for national Quarter Horses shows. The Hunter shows seem to be paying off for Cindy because her and Ivy have won year end awards and multiple Modified Adult classics. Cindy had tough luck today at the Congress but she has more classes to show on Sunday.
Sunday starts off with the Green Working Hunter in the coliseum and Open Weanling fillies.
#1 Report from Congress : Friday, October 9th, 2015
This Friday started off at 8 am with the Ranch Riding held in the Coliseum. While the Celeste was open for general riding, Leslie Lange won the Senior Ranch Riding with her stallion, The Immortal.
The Immortal is a nine year-old stallion owned by Leslie and her husband, Tom. He also competes in the trail and western riding and is currently leading the nation in Senior Western Riding. “I started showing, The Immortal, in the class just to have fun with it and also as a diversion from the western riding,” Lange says, who also plans to show him in the class at the AQHA World Show. Earlier this year, Lange and The Immortal were also NSBA World Champions in the Ranch Riding in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August. “He has a decent stop and good turn arounds, as well as being a good mover, so I started showing him in it.” Leslie noted this impressive stallion also has roping and speed points. Click here to check out their ad in the October issue of GoMag.
Ranch Riding has been one of the fastest growing classes in AQHA since being introduced in 2013. Leslie believes that this class grew so quickly because it is individually scored, and it’s good for bringing in a new group of people. As an AQHA Professional Horseman and judge, she recommends that exhibitors ride precise patterns and get horses broke and obedient to have a winning ride!
Other Congress Ranch Riding winners:
Junior & Amateur Ranch Riding Winners: GQH Summer Camp with Karen M Johnson
Youth Ranch Rising: Crank Up The Band with Abby Gettinger
To really show the diverse nature of Quarter Horse breed, the Hunter warm ups will kick off Hunter weekend, starting Saturday at 6 am. Stay tuned for more reports from the show!
