Always a bridesmaid and never the bride…Dan Yeager and Cee Money can no longer say that. With a first, a
second and two thirds, Yeager and Money cemented their first Congress win
together Thursday in the Select Amateur Showmanship. Money had already won four Reserve Congress
Championships, three earlier in the week and one in 2013, but they
finally broke the reserve streak for their first Congress Championship
together. This is Yeager’s second Congress Championship win, his first being with Sterling Version in the Novice Amateur Horsemanship in 2006.
“Charlie (Cole) and I have done most of the work on teaching him showmanship,” Yeager told GoHorseShow right after his win. Dan, who lives in Dallas, is under the guidance of Highpoint Performance Horses. “Money has been doing the showmanship for about a year and he is really responsive and seems to enjoy the class. He always has his ears forward and very light and wants to do the job. Showmanship is not one of Charlie’s favorite classes to teach, but he likes me so that is all that matters,” Dan says laughing.
Yeager bought the striking five year-old bay gelding prior to the 2013 Congress from Washington state trainers, Mike and May Edwards. Money is by Watch My Potential and out of Im One Tuff Cookie. “He is such a great mover and sweet horse,” Yeager told us. “He is kind of quirky and will run all over you for treats. He is a very curious type of horse with lots of personality.”
The duo beat out 60 other exhibitors to win the Select Showmanship. While Yeager is primarily known as an all around exhibitor, he is beginning to make a name for himself in the pleasure events. They are back-to-back Reserve Congress Champions in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. “It may look like we just sit up there but the western pleasure classes are very challenging to me. It is difficult to keep a good pace and there is way more to it than you would think. I have to push Money to get him to extend and he just seems to enjoy showing in the class.”
Earlier in the show, Highpoint assistant trainer, Brad Ost and Cee Money were Reserve Champions in the Maturity Open Western Pleasure Futurity Limited Finals. A few days ago, Dan and Money were Reserve Congress Champions in both the Novice Amateur and Select Amateur Western Pleasure.
“They have been knocking on the door to win some big awards in the western pleasure,” says Charlie Cole. “We have been campaigning Dan and Money more as big time pleasure competitors and he has been knocking on the door of a big win in the class. Money is a super nice horse and has a way of going that AQHA has been promoting.”
Yeager adds, “He is so versatile and I look forward to showing him in the trail, western riding and horsemanship next year as well. He is really green but learns fast and he is a really fun horse that I plan on keep and showing for several years.”
We would like to congratulate Dan on having an amazing show and look forward to watching them in several new events starting next year.
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