Ryan Small and Only Yours had a clean sweep of both western pleasure classes at the Congress. On Sunday, they won the NYATT Western Pleasure and followed that up with the 15-18 Youth Western Pleasure on Monday evening.
These two wins are Small’s first Congress wins which can now can be added to his third place bronze at the AQHYA World Show this year and his 2010 Reserve World Championship in the Youth Western Pleasure. This team is also a three-time Reserve Congress Champion in the pleasure as well. We congratulate Small for finally winning big at the Congress in his final year of youth.
Affectionately and appropriately named, “Queen Bee”, this five year-old mare by Invitation Only loves the spotlight. Ryan told GoHorseShow right after his 15-18 win that his mare loves her job. “She likes to put her ears forward and for me to turn the reins loose. She always has a great expression out in the arena and likes to show off. She knows when it is game time.”
Nineteen year-old Small said that he enjoyed both wins equally but that he preferred showing in the Celeste because the arena is bigger and he wasn’t as crowded and didn’t have to worry as much about rail position.
“I was definitely more nervous in the team tournament class about the placings because they didn’t call out the individual placings out in that class, but I was really happy with both wins. A win at the Congress is a win no matter what class it may be–I’m glad I finally reached this goal in my show career.”
As for the future, the Small family has Queen Bee offered for sale, however trainer Cole Baker will be showing her later this week in the Open Maturity as well as the Junior Western Pleasure at the World Show.
GoHorseShow congratulates this team on their first Congress wins and wishes Small luck in college and with his future futurity horses down the road.
