The Congress is well underway, and everyone who has shown or attended the show knows there is always a certain buzz and excitement in the air. Most people will agree it is the toughest place to get your horse ready to win a big prize. It’s also a time to see friends, eat at the Sweet Shop, and watch some high-end competition.
There are also some standard must-do’s at the show including eating the food, shopping, going to McDonald’s on the golf cart, viewing the stall decorations, and midnight rides to name a few.
For some, it is their favorite show of the year; for others, it is a time for no sleep, cold weather, and waiting in long lines to longe their horses and fight the crowds.
While some people may have a bit of a love/hate relationship with certain aspects of this show, we decided to focus on the positive and ask some exhibitors and trainers their favorite things about the Congress. Let’s find out what everyone had to say.
Cori Cansdale – My favorite thing about Congress is the buzz in the air. When you first get there, everyone’s excited and energetic. I love how that energy doesn’t fade as the show goes on.
Darcy Reeve – My absolute favorite thing about Congress is that it’s the first time I get to experience real fall weather. It’s usually still hot in Kansas when I head to Ohio so being able to shop and wear fall clothes and experience fall in all of its glory.
Farley McLendon – Hearing “Good morning and Welcome to the All American Quarter Horse Congress,” Trotting through the gate in the Celeste and the Sweet Shop.
Beckie Peskin – Hmmm, so many things to love and to not love (laughs). I would say the biggest thing for me is I love Ohio, so I love getting back there to see old friends who I only see once a year.
Brent Tincher– I enjoy having the horses perform at their best and seeing my customers succeed.
Shari Tordoff – I love the cool mornings, sunny afternoons, having so many friends and family in town and just being able to hang out and laugh until we cry. I love walking around Congress Hall and shopping for hours. But nothing beats seeing our girls enter the pen.
Greg Tordoff – I enjoy evenings with friends and lots of laughs. I like meeting new people and welcoming them to the Congress. Of course, my favorite thing is watching our girls do what they love.
Olivia Tordoff – I love getting to see my friends and making new friends. I love the cinnamon rolls from the Sweet Shop. I loved hearing Sterling snort as we walk to ride in the cool weather.
Alexia Tordoff – I love seeing all my friends. I love the Crepe place. The Youth Bash is always fun, and I love the butterflies I get in the overhangs just before I show.
Heather Lange – First off, the food. I run. I try to eat healthily, but from the minute I turned in my Congress entries, I’ve been dreaming about fried PB&J, Sweet Shop stew and the brick oven pizza. Next, I love the announcer’s morning message. It’s such a great way to start off my day. Finally, the atmosphere at the Congress is like no other show. From early morning practices to the shopping, to watching a friend have a great ride. The energy and excitement can’t be beaten.
Melissa Shetler – The Congress has always been a prestigious show in my eyes – growing up, I never showed AQHA or even had a registered horse. So showing at the Congress always seemed like such a fantasy. When I started training full-time, it was a bit intimidating at first. But the more I showed there, the more I loved it. For me, it’s about the atmosphere and the thought of being among the best in the industry. As we started making finals, placing in the Top Ten and eventually having some wins there, I finally felt relevant. It’s always been a show for me that proved that the unknowns could become someone. And that hasn’t changed in my eyes. I will always respect the Congress for the opportunities it has allowed me to have.
Natalia DeVencenty – There are so many reasons to love the Congress! The atmosphere and the competition are great, but when it really comes down to it, my favorite thing about the Congress is the mini donut stand.
Ellexxah Maxwell – My favorite thing about Congress is the way it brings people together. Being best friends with people who live far away has its drawbacks. Thanks to the Congress; I’m able to have all of them at one place. Plus, I also love the feeling it gives people. It’s kind of like walking through horse show Vegas when you look at all the stall decorations. They’re so many things that Congress means, but most of all, it means we are all celebrating the quarter horse.
Libby Rinder – My favorite part about the Congress is getting to watch all of the young horses make their debut. They’ve been preparing all year for this event, and it’s awesome to see them show off what they’ve been working towards all year. Many of the horses have been advertised during the year as well as have been ridden around at the shows. Then, at the Congress, you get to see them done up to the nines making their first impression to a large crowd. All of the food, especially the bourbon chicken, and the shopping aren’t so bad either.
Emma Edwards – I am so excited that it’s almost Congress time. As I’m in college, I don’t get to see my boy Jack very often, so I am looking forward to riding and competing with him. Some of my favorite things about the Congress are getting to see so many of my horse show friends, the fantastic chicken and dumplings, and the unique atmosphere. Congress is such an enormous quarter horse show, and it has an electrifying feel with all the hustle and bustle of hundreds of horses. The middle of the night practices are all part of the unique Congress experience. This Congress is extra special as it will be my last youth show ever. It’s crazy how time flies.
Trista Mallow – I have to admit I love all things Congress, except maybe the smell of the barns by the end of the month. Besides that, October is my favorite month of the year. From the late night rides to showing, to the bourbon chicken, the chaos and stress of it all and of course having our store there. I love all of it. My favorite part is getting to see and help all of our amazing customers throughout the month. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing their face when they try on ‘the one.’
Katy Jo Zuidema – It’s hard. From start to finish it’s the hardest we will ever professionally push ourselves. You have to be smart, gritty, talented, physically tough, and good enough minded getting through it. The Congress is something I equally love and hate. I love that it demands so much of my horses and me and my people. I also hate it for those same reasons. To work that hard and be defeated is tough, especially when you’re emotionally and physically exhausted. But to work that hard and be successful is amazing. The Congress can provide the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It’s the risk of either. The fact that it’s hard. That’s what I love about it.
Trae Buckwalter – The Congress is my favorite horse show to attend and show at. It gives me a break from school and the opportunity to spend time with my friends, family, and especially my horse Standing Bar Time, or “Gus.” I love seeing all the creativity, design, and hard work that goes into creating the stall fronts throughout the showgrounds. Another great thing is all the different options for shopping and eating; it’s endless, and I never get bored of either. I’m looking forward to my last Congress as a youth this year.
Sarah Finkel – The Congress is my favorite show of the year. I love the 5 am rides, the announcer who welcomes us every morning, watching the futurities in the Celeste, all the food (especially the sweet shop cookies!), and the feeling of being in the awards lineup. The Congress is an incredible experience, and, as my friend and I always say, the worst day at the Congress is still better than the best day anywhere else.
Jennifer D’Onofrio – An accumulation of hard work sacrifice and a great blessing. It is the sound of hooves in concrete, warm coolers, and fantastic stall fronts. It’s showing off what you have worked for all year, friends you have made and celebrations. It’s Congress coats, cinnamon rolls, and National Anthems. It’s small fry to open, from reiners and cutters to jumpers and performance horses. It’s handling loss, disappointment, and heartbreak and looking forward to next year. It’s goals met and building for the future. It’s celebrating, shopping and planning for years to come. It’s friends from all over the World and celebrating the most amazing creature, The American Quarter Horse.
Lauren Stanley – The Congress is an incredible show for many reasons. The best of the best are there to compete for the coveted trophy and neck ribbon. Only showing at Congress is often a goal for many exhibitors. I love watching the futurity horses because a majority of them will go on to have a career in the all-around pen; so if you’re shopping for your next partner, Congress is the place to look. I am a major foodie, so walking down the food truck alley always puts a smile on my face. They have just about every option of food. It’s the perfect place to reconnect with friends from all over the country. The beyond-this-world stall fronts make for the ideal setting to get together and hang out.
Joetta Bell – Obviously the cinnamon rolls and the coveted Don Bell trophy are at the top of the list. I love Ohio in the fall and the beautiful leaves and cooler weather as opposed to the Texas heat. I love how no matter tired everyone seems and are, they still push through the day to strive to be the best they can be. I love how big the youth classes are and how important the small fry classes are. Supporting our little ones is the future of the industry. I enjoy watching young horses cruise into the Celeste and get their chance to show what they’ve learned in their first years of training. Best of luck and enjoy the ride.
What’s your favorite thing about the Congress? Let us know.
