“Disney World has nothing on the Congress. It is the happiest place on Earth,” says Kathryn Bunting, a 17 year-old youth competitor from Wichita, Kansas. Her mother, Rebecca adds, “The daily grind of having two teenage kids disappears when we go to the Congress.”
Some exhibitors and trainers may not describe the Congress in quite the glowing light, but Jeanne Tiller (“The Grandmother”), Rebecca Bunting (“The Mother”), and Kathryn Bunting (“The Daughter”) are three generations who have shown and bonded through showing horses together. “Attitude is Everything” is their motto which is clearly shown by their desire to have fun, be successful and spend time together as a family. They were inspired to continue following this motto due to Kathryn’s grandfather, who always lived by this slogan until he passed away in 2009.
All three ladies are under the guidance of Barbie Evans with whom they have a long history. They show several horses including A New Dimension, Invite Who, Just Zip By, Gotta Lotta Lazy, Take Me Home Tonite, The Coolest Man and Machine Power. Machine Power is a new horse that Kathryn will be campaigning in her final two years of youth competition.
The matriarch of the family, Jeanne Tiller, was raised in Colorado and started showing as a young girl in the 70s (pictured right). “I have been around horses all my life, starting with a 23 year old gray mare that taught me how to ride at age five. I picked up the showing bug with a group of friends when I was in high school and college. I eventually got married and took a hiatus from horses until children came along and we moved to Wichita,” says Jeanne, who proudly has 12 grandchildren. “I started all my children riding, but Rebecca is the one that took to it like crazy. Barbie (Evans) was competing at the same time and Rebecca and Barbie were both friends and competitors, and now it is quite fitting that she is our trainer.”
Jeanne recently made the finals with her horse, Take Me Home Tonite (pictured below left), at the AQHA Select World Show in the western pleasure. She also placed second in the Super Select division at the Select World Show. At the Congress, she is showing in the Novice Amateur western events.
“My mother is awesome,” Rebecca told us at the Congress. “I’m a sloppy second when it comes to my mom. I love showing with her. I had three siblings and she was not able to show when I was a youth – although she came to as many of my shows as she could. After my father died in 2009, I thought there was no reason she could not pick up where she left off over 50 years ago.”
Her granddaughter Kathryn adds, “I love watching my grandmother. She’s the coolest grandmother I know. She has this black and silver vest with spikes and chains that she absolutely rocks. It’s really nice to see her come out of the arena smiling.”
Rebecca and Barbie Evans’ friendship dates all the way back to when Rebecca was 12-years-old. “We both trained with Karen Russell and spent almost every summer traveling to horse shows. We were both really good kids, but had a ‘lets see what happens if we do this…think we’ll get into trouble?’ streak in us. We both loved the showmanship, horsemanship and trail classes and we were each others biggest cheerleaders.”
One amazing fact is that 30 years ago this year, Rebecca won the Youth 15-18 and NYATT Showmanship at the 1986 Congress (pictured right). “When I won the 15-18, it was 2 in the morning. I was a nobody from Kansas standing in a showmanship line up with all the kids that were leading the nation,” Rebecca remembers. “I remember Karen Russell, and my mom sitting across the arena from where we were lined up and Karen kept smiling. When they called my name, I was shocked and it took the person standing next to me to tell me, ‘It’s you….hey, you won!’ Then, a few days later, I won the NYATT Showmanship. It was so surreal. That was the only time growing up that I ever went to the Congress.”
Rebecca shows in the Amateur and Novice Amateur events and talks about what it’s like to now be trained by one of her friends from her youth days.
“I had not seen Barbie in 26 years. In 2012, I was at the Prairie Classic in Oklahoma City looking for a horse for my daughter Kathryn, when I decided to stop and watch a trail class. Barbie loped by me and we stared at each other…and it clicked. She about blew the course because I was giving her a small wave as she loped over the poles,” Rebecca (pictured left with her horse, Gotta Lotta Lazy) recalls and laughs. “I love training with Barbie. We’ve known each other for so long and showed together when I had a very successful youth career. It was an easy transition because she already knew what my strengths and weaknesses would be getting back into showing after such a long hiatus.”
Rebecca adds, “I also think it’s so amazing that one of my closest friends growing up now has the opportunity to have such an impact on my daughter, as Karen Russell did with Barbie and me.”
Kathryn has had a very successful youth career, placing fourth two years ago at the AQHYA World Championship Show in the Youth Showmanship with her horse, A New Dimension (Gunner). Kathryn and Gunner have been partners ever since she was in the fifth grade. This year, the duo ended up sixth in the same class at the AQHYA World Show. Bunting is looking forward to finishing out her youth career with her new horse, Machine Power. (pictured right)
Kathryn says, “It can be a real balancing act between my equine pursuits and school. I’m extremely grateful that my school is supportive, and I am also thankful that I get to share this experience with my mom and grandmother. Supporting each other and celebrating our success has strengthened our relationship.”
Barbie Evans loves these three ladies like family and admits that they keep her busy. “We really are all like family and we go to each other’s weddings and events outside of horse shows. It’s not just about showing horses, it’s about shaping and changing lives. I consider Kathryn one of my kids too and I care about them more than just in a client/trainer relationship. It’s all about family.”
These three ladies still have several classes left at the Congress, and we wish them the best of luck during the rest of the show.
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