Earlier this year, the All American Quarter Horse Congress opened up the futurities to all breeds. There was much discussion and controversy over the move, since this show is known as, “The Quarter Horse Congress”. Overall, however, the decision seemed to be a positive step to open up the competition and bring more people to the show.
On Wednesday, a multiple World ApHC Champion, Rock My Motion, made history and proved he can compete with the big boys. Trainer Sara Simons of Aubrey, Texas won her first Congress Championship with an Appaloosa with three firsts and a second in the NSBA Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Stakes. GoHorseShow watched the performance, and Simons and “Tex” immediately stood out and had a dominating performance. The five year-old bay gelding by Hot Chocolate Chip is owned by Jordan Semmelmayer of Orange County, California.
“He is so easy going and a ham,” says Semmelmayer, who talked to us in the Celeste Arena. “We brought him here because he has pretty much won everything at the Appaloosa shows, and we wanted to see how he would do here. I think he moves like a quarter horse, and I was so excited when they allowed other breeds to compete here. I’m very lucky because he is a really special
guy. I’ve owned him since he was two years-old, and I immediately knew he was special.”
Simons adds after her win, “He has a lot of self carriage, and I believed he would fit in nicely with the other horses here. I thought we had a chance to be competitive.”
Sara’s mother, AQHA/APHA judge Andrea Simons (pictured right) mentioned that AQHA Director of Judges Alex Ross told her “that is how a pleasure horse is supposed to move.” The horse exhibited great movement with excellent forward movement and had a true jog and forward lope.
We congratulate Sara Simons on her first Congress Championship and we would like to thank Andrea Simons for telling us about this special horse.
