It was an early morning for the Congress Small Fry Showmanship exhibitors. The pattern had lots of transitions, turns, setting up and backing and kept the ages nine and under exhibitors on their toes.
Thirty-six young exhibitors competed and the last one standing in the middle of the Cooper Arena and bringing home the Congress Bronze Trophy was nine-year-old Allie Paul and Hours Yours And Mine. “Blondie” is owned by Kaleena Weakly.
“Allie and Blondie winning the Congress was truly a dream come true for me,” says Kaleena Weakly, who kindly let Allie show her famous mare.
With Kaleena Weakly and trainer Jason Gilliam on board, Allie and Blondie made their debut in Wilmington, Ohio. The Congress would be just Allie and Blondie’s second show together. The adorable team drew up first in the working order this morning.
“I wasn’t nervous at all to go first. I was happy because when I was done I could watch all my friends show,” Allie told GoHorseShow.
The saying, “She may be little but she is fierce” best describes little Allie Paul. She is one little girl with the heart of a champion and the determination and the work ethic to go with it. Allie and Blondie’s outstanding performance earned them three firsts and one second under the four judges.
“Blondie is really easy to show and always listens to me,” Allie told us. “When I was the last one standing in the arena today, I was very excited and proud of Blondie. She had lots of treats waiting for her back at the stalls.”
Last year, Allie Paul and her beloved horse, Genuine Sheik, won the Small Fry Showmanship, so this year makes it back-to-back wins in the same class but with different horses.
The Paul’s found out in August that Genuine Sheik, Allie’s horse that she won the Small Fry Showmanship with last year. would have to be on stall rest for the next couple of months and wouldn’t make the Congress. It was at that time when Allie’s dad, trainer Judd Paul, came up with the idea of pairing Allie up with World Champion Hours Yours And Mine.
Great job, Allie! We are proud of you! View Kaleena’s video of Allie’s Congress Championship go here.
Small Fry Showmanship Final Placings
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Congress Champion / Allie Paul and Hours Yours And Mine
Reserve Congress Champion / Emma Gore and He’s Suddenly Handsome
3rd / Bethany Reiterman and BMQ Genuine Solution
4th / Dakota Hultberg and Don’t Buck The System
5th / Taylor Thayer and One Special Version
6th / Brenda Schrader and Mystified Me Good
7th / Addison Hubbard and Nature Investment
8th / Nathan Carson and So Leaguer To Please
9th / Evan McColley and Vital Sassoon
10th / Taylor Ale and Life’s Good
