A few familiar faces and a historic new figure were among the champions named Wednesday at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. The Way To Go talked with a few of Wednesday’s winners.
Historic First Congress Futurity Win
Sara Simons and Rock My Motion made history by becoming the first Appaloosa Horse Club-registered horse to win a Congress futurity championship. In addition to registered American Quarter Horses, Congress show officials opened up futurity entries to registered with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA), International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA), Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) and the Jockey Club for the first time in 2015.
“I can’t even wrap my mind around this,” Simons said after the win. “I am so humbled to win this Congress championship.” Simon showed the five year old gelding, by Hot Chocolatey Chip and out of Shes Radical (by Radical Rodder) for owners Janis and Jordan Semmelmayer.
“When we first saw that the Congress had added the other breeds, we didn’t think it would work for us because the Appaloosa World Show and Paint World Championship Show are so close after the Congress,” Simons said. “But when we saw the show schedule, we were able to come and show.”
With three firsts under the judges, the duo cinched the championship award. “He is just really solid,” she said. “He has super self carriage and a great top line. And he’s fun to show.”
Mitch Leckey piloted KM Perfect Ten to win the Southern Belle Breeders portion of the class for owner Linda Berris.
Piper and Doodle Jump Win Junior, Limited Open Maturity Hunter Under Saddle
Heidi Piper and Doodle Jump (at right) had a busy day Wednesday showing with a great outcome. The pair won the NSBA and AQHA divisions of Junior Hunter Under Saddle, as well as won the Limited division of the Open Maturity Hunter Under Saddle.
“I think he saved his best go for the last class,” Piper said of the gelding. “He felt even better in the Maturity than he did in the Junior. He’s had a lot of showing in two days because I think he went four times yesterday in the Non-Pro, and I know he’s tired. But he was great. I am so blessed to be able to work with him.”
Owner Jenna Jacobs was nervous before her horse showed. “I was nervous because it’s a big show, and you never know what can happen,” Jacobs said. “I’m just so happy that he did so well.”
Jones and Assets Agenda Win Senior Hunter Under Saddle
Scott Jones piloted Assets Agenda to win NSBA and AQHA Senior Hunter Under Saddle. “I couldn’t have asked for a better go,” Jones said. “She was very good.”
The pair had a big incentive to have success in the AQHA class. “We didn’t make the finals of the Maturity yesterday, so that made us more determined to do well in the Senior,” Jones said.
The grey mare is known as Julia, and is owned by Jones and David Miller, seen at left. “She is so good minded, which makes her even better to own,” Jones said. “She is always consistent every time you show her, and she always loves doing her job. She always goes around with her ears up.”
Lakins and One Lazy Investment Win Senior Western Pleasure
Judges for the Senior Western Pleasure had a tough job on Wednesday, with a solid group of Congress and AQHA world champions to choose from. In the end, One Lazy Investment and Kenny Lakins Jr., seen at right, took both the Congress NSBA and AQHA championship. It was the third year in a row the duo has won the class for owner Peek Owen.
“The judges kept looking around,” Lakins said, “you could tell they were having a hard time deciding. That was a tough group of horses.” There was a buzz around the stands as attendees watched the very competitive and sound class of show horses, with several people noting how nice the class was.
“Lazy was really great for me in the class tonight,” Lakins said. “He’s such a good horse, and we’ve won everything from the Masters, to the Three Year Olds to the Junior, Senior and Maturity together. I’ve won more with him than I have any other horse. He’s pretty special.”
Lakins noted that One Lazy Investment is about to expand his show career. “It looks like Virginia (Owen) will be taking him into the all around events, and I think he’s going to be very good at it,” he said. “But I’m sure going to miss showing him in the Western Pleasure.”
Other Congress champions named on Wednesday included Darcy Reeve and A Certain Vino, winning the Limited division of the Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity; Giorgia Medows and OK Pulse Me, (pictured at left) winning the NSBA and AQHA Novice Youth Western Riding 13 & Under; Kara Vickery and Strawberri Wine, winning NSBA and AQHA Novice Youth Western Riding 14-18; and Hayley Freeman and Suddenly Best Man, winning the NSBA and AQHA Novice Youth Horsemanship 13 & Under.
The Congress continues on Thursday with Trail, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and Horsemanship classes on the agenda, as well as Youth Halter Mares. To view complete show results, the show schedule or for a link to the live video feed, please visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com.
