NSBA exhibitors kept busy in very different disciplines on Tuesday at the Ohio Expo Center as the All American Quarter Horse Congress continued in Columbus. The day’s schedule included crowning the first rail class champion as well as the first Western Riding winners of the show, while the day closed out the final over fence events of the Congress.
Ratliff Wins Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity
In the last class of the night in the Celeste Center, Shelby Ratliff (pictured left) showed Willy Has Potential to the win in a crowded field, and showed some guts by cantering away from a crowd of horses when the gait was called for.
“All I could think about was getting a spot on the rail and not getting lost in the crowd,” she said. “It kind of wears on your nerves to have to wait all day to show. He was really good tonight, and getting the win feels great!”
The Congress continues on Wednesday with Pleasure Driving and first goes of several Western Pleasure futurity events, as well as Junior Hunter Under Saddle and Senior Western Pleasure, and the finals of the $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Maturity, Limited division and the Limited division of the Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle.
Fence Class Winners
Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Hack classes closed out the over fence events at the 2015 Congress. Starting out the day was Christian Beauchemin and Frenchmen, who won the NSBA trophy in Congress Amateur Select Equitation Over Fences as well as the reserve champion in the AQHA portion of the class. Samantha Roper piloted Only Royal Blue to the NSBA win and reserve AQHA champion title in Amateur Equitation Over Fences.
David Miller showed The Fire Escape to another NSBA bronze in Junior Hunter Hack and the reserve champion AQHA award for owner Lauren Rodberg. (Shown at right: Lauren Rodberg, Scott Jones and David Miller)
“He had a pretty easy go,” Miller said. “He settled right in when we went into the ring and went right down the line. Since he’s one of our Hunter Under Saddle horses, he had a really good rail work too. We were able to navigate the traffic well. He was a very good boy.”
Rodger Call showed Go Big Sky to the NSBA and AQHA win in Amateur Select Hunter Hack. “He felt really good,” Call said of his 14 year old grey gelding, whom he calls Marcus. “He was very good on the rail work too. Sometimes he can be a bit naughty on the rail, but today he was very good.
“I don’t have that many Congress wins, so I was thrilled to get this one – especially since I am a Super Select. I think Dolly Anderson and I were the only two Super Selects in the class!”
In the Senior Hunter Hack, Ryan Painter added to Kamanyawannadance’s winnings at the Congress by taking the NSBA and AQHA champion awards. “He’s just so consistent when you show him,” Painter said.
“He canters down the line really well and he canters down the rail just as well. Plus he’s just a beautiful horse. He’s really been on a roll!” Earlier in the week, Kamanyawannadance won the Novice Amateur Hunter Hack with his owner, Peyton Bivins.
Junior and Senior Western Riding Champions Named
Tuesday started off the Western Riding events of the show with Junior and Senior divisions showing.
Blake Weis and Snap Krackle Pop were first in the draw order of Junior Western Riding with 20 horses shown, and set a high bar with a score of 232, which held through the class, and took them to the NSBA and AQHA championship in the class. The duo showed for owner Twylla Brown.
“It was a little nerve-wracking to be first to go, but she was really good,” Weis said of the five year old grey mare known as Brandi. “This is her last year as a Junior horse, so I’m really pleased for her.”
In the Senior Western Riding, Jason Martin piloted Heavenly Mac to the NSBA and AQHA win for Knapp Quarter Horses – even though the pair ran his least favorite, Pattern 3.
“Pattern 3 is just not the best pattern for us,” Martin said. “But horses ride well here. The arena is good and the dirt is really good. We ended up having a pattern that was really forward and very fluid. Mac always shows with a great top line and great expression through his ears.”
For Susan Knapp, watching is harder than showing. “It is always pretty nerve-wracking for me to watch, but Jason and Mac did a great job. His lead changes were amazing,” she said. “Mac is just the kindest horse. He taught me the Western Riding and Trail, because I knew nothing about them. He’s such a great horse.”
To view show results, the complete show schedule or find a link to the live feed, please visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com.
Photo © NSBA
