When the final day of NSBA class competition ended Saturday night at the Congress, NSBA’s first million dollar rider celebrated with a special win, Beth Case celebrated a three-pete and the get of two stallions and produce of a famous dam followed in their famous families’ footsteps.
Million Dollar Masters
Gil Galyean had become the first NSBA rider to win $1 million in earnings earlier in the week, and was honored for his achievement during the Masters Two Year Old Western Pleasure. Although modest about reaching his achievement, Galyean put an exclamation point on the celebration in the best way he could by turning an excellent ride into the 2015 Masters champion title aboard VS Lady In Red. Galyean rode for his nephew’s wife, Kristen Galyean. They earned $30,000 for the win.
“Becky and I had seen her last year as a yearling, and we liked her, but she was big,” Galyean said. “I remember thinking that I hope she doesn’t get too big. I don’t think she’s grown since then, and she’s a nice size.”
The red roan filly has royal bloodlines, sired by Kristen Galyean’s VS Code Red and out of the award winning Cool Krymsun Lady. “Denton DeBuhr did most of the work on her until late summer. It was a team effort. She just kept coming along and got better,” said Gil Galyean.
“I was cautious about my expectations for her, but she has a good feel, a really steady top line and she lopes and takes a big step, which I really like. I never rode this mare’s father (VS Code Red), but watching him go, I see some of him in her, and I see some of her mother in her too.”
VS Lady In Red’s sire, VS Code Red, by Blazing Hot and out of the great mare Vital Signs Are Good, debuted at the Congress in 2009, when Kristen Glover Galyean became the first Non-Pro to win the Open and Limited Two Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity as well as the Non-Pro Two Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity. went on to several Congress titles and NSBA world champion titles.
VS Lady In Red’s dam, Cool Krymsun Lady, is herself a multiple AQHA world and Congress champion. “Cool Krymsun Lady is probably the most talented mare I’ve ever shown,” said Gil Galyean.
Reflecting on the recognition of his career achievement, Gil Galyean said: “I’m proud of that. I hope it shows young people that if they stay with it, they can make a great living working in the horse industry.”
Wade Parks and One Good Cuervo won the highest placing Limited Rider bonus of $10,000 in the Congress Masters Two Year Old Western Pleasure, showing for owners Robert and Melissa Shearer. The duo placed eighth overall in the class.
“We’re really proud to bring this horse here and do well,” Parks said of his APHA mare. “This horse is pretty special to us because we’ve had it with us since it was a weanling. I just love her.”
Déjà Vu with Beth Case and A Boy Named Hoo in Hunter Masters
There was a familiar feeling to the Masters Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle when Beth Case piloted A Boy Named Hoo to the win for Tammy Thompson Dyer.
It was the third Congress Masters title for Beth Case, and even more fitting that she was also in the irons for her first Master win aboard A Boy Named Hoo’s sire, Hot Ones Only. The duo earned $15,000 for the win.
“We knew he was going to be a nice horse, but we started him late because he was growing so much. We had kind of babied him. He had an issue overreaching so we had pulled his shoes until we got here,” said Sharnai Thompson.
“We’ve been going back and forth on whether we would show him. Beth didn’t know it, but I had been riding him every night in the arena. As of this morning she wasn’t going to show him, but then I showed her the video of how nice he was going. I told her you’re either going to be really mad or really happy – and she decided to show him.
“After I watched him go tonight, I told Charlie (Cole) I love my horse and I love my rider, and I don’t care how he places.”
By Hot Ones Only and out of These Irons Are Dancin, A Boy Named Hoo was given the barn name Patrick because NASCAR driver Danica Patrick was in the barn when he was born.
“He moves like his mother, and he acts like his dad,” Case said. “It’s a great combination. He doesn’t want to get in any trouble. He has a great trot and he’s so flat up front. He’s freaky good legged and really soft.”
Kristy Starnes showed Al Fool Ya to win the highest placing Limited rider bonus, showing for Capall Creek Farm LLC.
“We kind of started him late and brought him along slow,” Starnes said. “He was fun to show and did everything I asked of him. Annie Smith of Capall Creek will be showing him in the Non-Pro three year old events next year and I’ll show him in the Open three’s.”
Final Futurity Winners Awarded
Saturday saw the final futurity and stakes winners of the Congress schedule crowned.
In the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity, Beth Case was in the irons of Not Just Anyhoo for the win, riding for Rebekah Kazakevicius. It was the first Congress win for Case aboard the gelding known as Horton.
“I’ve tied twice to win with him and lost the tiebreaker both times,” Case said. This time there would be no tie, Case was the unanimous choice of judges Nancy Renfro, Stephanie Lynn, Jessica Gilliam and Cindy Hale.
“It feels good to get a win with him. He has all the parts – he is a phenomenal jogger and a great loper,” Case said.
Another three year old continued his winning ways at the Congress when For One Night Only and Rusty Green took the win in the Three Year Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity, riding for Capital Quarter Horses LLC.
“This horse just continues to amaze me,” said Hillary Roberts. “I don’t usually like surprises, but this has been a really good one.” Roberts was surprised with a gift of the Invitation Only-bred gelding at the 2014 Congress, where she and Green showed him to wins in Open and Non-Pro futurities.
“He just kept getting better the more we went,” Green said. “It’s kind of funny. He can start out a little dull, and then he just turns it on. He’s a cool horse.”
In the Two Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, Sharnai Thompson showed Al By Myself to the win. It was the mare’s second win at the Congress, with Beth Case showing to win the Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes.
“Charlie (Cole) was in the barn by himself when she was born, so he named her Al By Myself, and gave her the barn name Celine,” Case said. “When we came into the barn that morning there was a sign on the door that said ‘This horse’s name is Al By Myself and Celine.’ Charlie hates to foal out, so it was funny that she was born on his watch.”
The win prompted some friendly rivalry with Jim and Deanna Searles. The Searles manage stallion Allocate Your Assets, Celine’s sire. “We had to give Tammy Dyer a hard time since she owns the stallion Hot Ones Only and has a champion by Allocate Your Assets,” said Jim Searles. “But it’s all good. We are excited for each other.”
Final Amateur Class Winners Named
Earlier on Saturday, the final Amateur class winners were named in AQHA and NSBA events.
Vickie Shriver and This Art To Be Good took the AQHA and NSBA win in Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle. “In our first go, it felt OK but I wasn’t that pleased with it,” Shriver said.
“When we went in the finals, my trainer Becky Schooler told me to go for it. Really my goal was to be in the top ten. I’m so tickled to win this. He is such as sweetheart. I have some health problems, and he just canters me around,” Shriver said of the seven year old gelding she calls AJ, who is by Good Times and out of an Art I Sweet mare.
In Amateur Select Hunt Seat Equitation, Jo Ann Niffenegger made her final ride with Crown Royal Hour a memorable one by winning the AQHA and NSBA champion titles.
“This is our first trip back to the Congress in 17 years,” Niffenegger said. “This was a class I really wanted bad, because I dropped a rein in it at the AQHA Select World Show in September. I was very pleased with our go here.”
Niffenegger has sold her mare, who is by Radical Hour and known as Tipsy, “She gets to celebrate with apples and bananas.”
Darcy Reeve and Ima Petite Classic took the Congress AQHA and NSBA titles in Amateur Western Riding. “He has so much feel and he’s so smooth to ride, it’s like riding on a couch,” Reeve said of her gelding, known as Kramer. “Showing him is so much fun. We had a really good go today.”
The Congress concludes on Sunday with Cowboy Mounted Shooting. To view complete show results, visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com.
