The 2016 All American Quarter Horse Congress is a wrap and we have a list of the All Around and High Point winners at the show. These awards include six All-Around awards, one each for Open, Amateur, Youth, Youth 15-18, Youth 12-14 and Youth 11 and Under, as well as five high-point awards, one each for Amateur Select, Novice Amateur, Novice Youth 14-18, Novice Youth 13 and Under and Small Fry.
In order to be eligible for an All-Around award, the horse must compete in at least three different categories of events, as determined by the American Quarter Horse Association. Each horse then receives points, based on how they placed in each class.
“All I can say is wow!” says Courtney Archer, who won the Novice Amateur All Around at the Congress. “Just when I think this Congress can’t get any better, they announce that Bob B and I have won the Novice Amateur All-Around. This is something I have always dreamed about and today my dream came true. A big thank you to everyone who helped and supported Bob B and I, it means the world to us.”
2016 Amateur All Around Winner, Angela Fox states, “I have been the Reserve All Around Amateur at the Congress three times with my previous gelding, The Heat Seeker, so I’m am super excited about this win. I bought George (The Company You Keep) just before the Congress in 2014, and brought him just for fun that year, he was three and unshown so we had very little expectations. Last year, we won the Amateur Showmanship and this year two classes and the All Around. I’m pretty proud of him, he’s only five, and it’s just the beginning of his all around career.”
Ellexxah Maxwell who won the 15-18 Youth All Around with Zips Bossy Chip told us, “To win the all around is a true test of hard work and determination. So to win the all around, it feels like a reward for all of the late nights and long hours you’ve put in preparing to show at the Congress.”
“Since this is Dancin N The Dirt’s (Carter) first year doing the hunters, it is an absolutely incredible feeling to have him be the Open All Around horse,” owner Natalie Vargo told us. “Watching him this past year grow and get better and better every ride has been so fun and he really is a pleasure to have. We never dreamed in a million years when we purchased him in early January that he would become so successful in such a short time period. I cannot wait to see him keep getting better the older he gets!”
“I decided to go by the show office out of curiosity and ask if they had tallied the points for the all around,” says Teresa Balkcum, who won the Select Amateur All Around. “The lady had tallied all the points and showed me the notebook and I wasn’t the winner. I said, I don’t recognize any of those people, they must be in the jumping Division, and I started to walk away. The lady asked what classes I showed in and after much discussion and doing another printout of the points, the lady said, ‘You are the winner!’ The day could not have ended any better.”
Balkcum adds, “Pawn Star won his first AQHA Reserve World Champion Title and his first Congress Champion title this year. He is a true all around horse. I want to thank Keith Miller for all the coaching for the last couple of years. He is for sure is an all around horseman and surely proved that this year at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.”
Taylor Burgess who won the Novice 14-18 Youth All-Around with her horse, RL Talk About Sudden adds, “It’s a dream come true. I feel very blessed and thankful. This year’s Congress will be one to remember.”
Congratulations to all of the All American Quarter Horse Congress High Point All Around Champions and Reserve Champions! List of winners provided by the Congress
All-Around Horse
Champion – Dancin N The Dirt owned by Natalie Vargo
Reserve – Kamanyawannadance owned by Peyton B Bivins
All-Around Small Fry
Champion – Emma Grace Gore with Hes Suddenly Handsome
Reserve – Jenna Morse and I Know I Am Invited
All-Around Novice Youth 13 & Under
Champion – Madison Musser with Good Ridin Machine
Reserve – Bella Rosa with One Dynamic Krymsun
All-Around Novice Youth 14-18
Champion – Taylor Burgess with RL Talk About Sudden
Reserve – Cassidy Jensen with Chocolately Special K
All-Around Youth 11 & Under
Champion – Caroline Fredenburg with Zippos Hot Jet
Reserve – Isabella Himes with Assets Miss Reba
All-Around 12-14
Champion – Abigail Hardy with My Secret Past
Reserve – Shea Graham with Lets Talk About AOK
All-Around 15-18
Champion – Ellexxah Ireland Maxwell with Zips Bossy Chip
Reserve- Mallory Vroegh with Krymsun Belle
All-Around Novice Youth
Champion – Taylor Burgess with RL Talk About Sudden
Reserve – Cassidy Jensen with Chocolately Special K
All-Around Youth
Champion – Abigail Hardy with My Secret Past
Reserve – Caroline Fredenburg with Zippos Hot Jet
All-Around Novice Amateur
Champion – Courtney Archer with Aint Gota Lot
Reserve – Sarah Brown with Billy Elliott
All-Around Amateur
Champion – Angela Fox with The Company You Keep
Reserve – Whitney Vicars with Southwestern Gunman
All-Around Select
Champion – Teresa Balkcum with Pawn Star
Reserve – Lisa Neiberger with No Question Im Lazy
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