Friday, A Certain Vino showed in his final class ever at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress with his longtime owner, Darcy Reeve.
The pair ended up third in the Amateur Western Pleasure in a very deep pen, finishing their Congress career with an impressive, if not record breaking, 29 Congress Championships.
Darcy said of showing in her final Congress class on Vino, “Entering the Celeste today for the finals was a feeling I will never forget. Vino gave me his all today and I am so proud of him.”
In addition to their third place finish in the Amateur Western Pleasure, Vino and Darcy were also Reserve Congress Champions in the Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity.
Rounding out this year’s Congress accomplishments, Vino is taking home the bronze for the fifth time as Senior Western Pleasure Congress Champion with longtime trainer, Karen Hornick piloting.
Without a doubt, Vino is retiring at the top of his game, and Vino fans told us that he looks as good this year as they have ever seen him look.
GoHorseShow wanted to spend some time with those who know Vino best, and take a trip down memory lane, as Vino says his final goodbye to the Congress, one last hello to the AQHA World Show, and prepares to embark on a new journey: retirement.
Favorite Wins
With a horse as decorated as Vino (in case you didn’t know, he is the most decorated western pleasure horse of all time) it is easy to get bogged down in stats.
The list of 29 Congress Championships is quite long (and we won’t even ‘go there’ when it comes to his litany of other notable accomplishments), and while each win is undoubtedly sweet, those who have piloted Vino have some favorites.
“My absolute favorite memory of Vino and the Congress is when we won the Amateur All-Around in 2013,” Darcy said. “I showed in the western riding and the western pleasure and next thing I know I am getting a call from Charlie (Cole) saying he entered me in the pole bending.
Darcy went on to share that her instructions were simply to walk the poles, but as she was making her final “run down” Vino got a little excited when the packed stands began to cheer and put on a little show.
“He tried to buck me off on the way back,” chuckled Darcy. “He just always gets so happy when people are cheering!”
Darcy also said her first win in the Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity in 2007 is a very memorable one.
“That was one of the deepest classes I’ve ever shown in,” she said. “It was also the first time I wasn’t showing in the Limited, and it was my first Congress Championship. I won a trailer that year. It was definitely a special win.”
Karen also shared her favorite Congress wins with Vino.
“My favorite memories at the Congress were our first win in the Open Maturity Western Pleasure and our win in the Junior Western Pleasure,” she said.
Karen piloted Vino to those championships in 2007 and 2008 respectively (with many more to follow).
Charlie Cole who showed Vino for about five years in the western riding, shared with us his favorite memory with Vino, which, ironically, involves neither the Congress nor the western riding but is memorable nonetheless.
“In 2009, we were at the Sun Circuit and Karen couldn’t make it out,” he said. “The Reeves let me go ahead and show him in the western pleasure and we won the circuit. I still have the jacket from that. I really am super honored to say I’ve had the privilege of riding A Certain Vino, who I consider to be the most famous pleasure horse in history.”
Big Wins, Bigger Personality
Generally, the greatest horses also have the biggest personalities and with Vino it is no different.
Karen describes him as “Dennis the Menace” and it is fairly well known that Vino tries to pull shenanigans on everyone, except Darcy and Karen.
Darcy said of Karen’s relationship with Vino, “Everyone calls Karen ‘Mama Goose’ and that is exactly how Vino feels about her. He loves and respects her.”
Meanwhile, Ty laughed, “He doesn’t really like me and always is trying to bite me. I’m like the bad cop.”
Darcy also shared that one of his nicknames is “bad pony.”
“He is really picky about his own feed in his own stall but walking him down any barn aisle way he will literally rip the lead out of your hand to get to a hay bale,” she laughed. “And we used to try to get him to stop, but now we just let him do it.”
Vino is also notorious for faking being tired on the longe line or while being ponied.
Oh Vino…
Yet, despite the shenanigans, there is one thing that everyone agrees with when it comes to the stunning black gelding: he loves to show.
Karen said, “He just loves to show. I want him to be remembered for having so much natural ability. I never had to do drills or other things to try and make him what he is – he has great expression and his ears are always up.”
Darcy echoed, “I think about this a lot. When people ask what sets him apart. It really is the fact that he loves to work. He will race to the arena and drag back to the barn. He really wants to win just as much as anyone else and he just has all the parts and components to do it.”
“He commands your attention,” said Cole. “And you always knew how super talented he was and that if you had a good ride on him, you’d get a big prize.”
Ty summed it up saying, “It has been a good ride. He is a once in a lifetime horse and the most legendary western pleasure horse of all time. There will never be another one like him. He was definitely before his time.”
What’s Next…
Following the AQHA World Show, Vino will retire at the Reeve farm in Kansas. And for a horse that likes to work, retirement may be a challenge.
Karen mused, “I can’t imagine him being turned out. He is going to be a wild man that probably bosses everyone around.”
Oh Vino…
To try and avoid the old cliche is impossible in this case, so we won’t, and leave you with a quote from Pope John Xxiii who said, “Men are like wine– some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.”
We think that describes Vino perfectly!
Good luck at your final AQHA World Show Vino and enjoy retirement!
