Andrea Kengis Foss of Mequon, Wisconsin says that she believes that she was “born to love horses.” From the My Little Ponies she played with to the big rocking horse she rode when she was little–all she ever wanted to do was spend time around these majestic animals.
Quarter Horses have been such a huge part of Andrea’s life as a family. She has happy memories of when she was showing with her siblings–Flora, Gina and Richard Brama.
“We still talk and laugh about the times we shared together traveling all over the country showing together,” Foss recalls. “Don’t get me wrong, we were really competitive with each other, but we were also each others biggest supporters and best friends.”
Her father, Dr. Janis Kengis and her step-mother, the late Angie Brama gave her the opportunity to own and show some amazing pleasure horses like Buddy Gee Bars, MZ Zipolena, Sonny’s Sweet Sadie and Little Bit of Assets.
When Kengis was about four years-old, her dad, Dr. Janis Kengis, had a couple of wild POA ponies at their farm, and this petite cute blonde would beg to ride them.
“One time he was leading me around on a pony named Hotshot, and the pony took off, and I went galloping bareback down our gravel driveway to the barn,” Andrea recalls. “My mom was screaming for me to just fall off because she was afraid I was going to get smashed into a tree. I finally did just let go–even after the scary experience and huge bruise, I still was obsessed and never afraid of horses.”
When she was ten years-old, her dad purchased their first Quarter Horse, Raider Script. That is when she started working with a trainer and going to open shows and Wisconsin Quarter Horse Shows.
“I think that one of the most memorable showing experiences was qualifying for the Youth World in Western Pleasure on MZ Zipolena. I didn’t start showing her until January, we lived in the Midwest, and I was only in 13 & Under, so points were hard to find–especially in the winter.”
Foss continues, “We would drive all night from one show to the next on the weekends to find the biggest classes. I spent a lot of time in airports and missed a lot of school. I ended up qualifying with a couple of points to spare at a local show in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. It was such an exciting time and also resulted in Zipolena and I leading the nation. I was 5th at the Youth World that year–it was a big deal for a little kid–I was showing in a really tough class against 19 year-olds who I looked up to.”
Her favorite memory at the horse shows was going to the Congress every year. “I still love the fall and the feeling that October brings when the Congress rolls around. That was definitely my favorite show. We had so much fun as kids, and we were given some very big responsibilities,” she remembers. “I loved going to the shows and staying in hotels with all our friends–like the Green Oaks during the Youth World. It was such an awesome time all the way around. We were able to have a blast in some dusty nowheresville town just because our horses brought us there.”
For those who do not know Andrea’s father, Dr. Janis Kengis, he has remained highly involved with the breeding aspect of AQHA and APHA. Up until Potential Investment’s recent passing in December due to complications with colic, her dad and trainer Steve Heckaman were co-owners of this talented show horse and breeding stallion.
The Kengis’s owned Potential’s dam and co-owned Potential since he was born. They also stand the paint stallion, Fleet Machine.
“My dad has spent the last 15 years searching for the best mares to breed to both studs, and we have a great band of broodmares currently having foals,” Andrea says. “He and Steve were on the never ending quest to find great mares to breed to Potential and recently he purchased some excellent Thoroughbred mares who are having babies now. My dad and Steve continue to closely work together promoting Potential’s offspring and Mark Baus works full time for my dad training and showing in both AQHA and APHA circuits. He has been really successful with the offspring of both studs.” (Pictured left to right: Flora Brama, Andrea Kengis, Dr. Janis Kengis, and Gina Brama)
Andrea does mention that she misses showing horses but says she is lucky enough to still be involved with horses through her dad’s breeding business, and she loves to be able to see all the babies grow up.
“We have a really great team working with us. Mark and Melissa Baus run our show barn in Minnesota and are doing extremely well with our young prospects, and Steve Heckaman continues to be a really influential part of our breeding operation. So, it is definitely a plan to show again and get my son, AJ, in a cowboy hat before my husband gets a hockey helmet on him!”
Up until Andrea had her son, she worked with her mom in the clothing store, Next Door, that she owns. It is a women’s boutique specializing in denim and contemporary clothing. They have the best selection of denim in Wisconsin and carry lines like True Religion, Seven, J Brand and many more. Andrea was often seen on the local television stations giving her expertise regarding the best jean’s styles to fit a person’s body.
“I did all the buying and was very involved at the store,” Andrea says. “You can check us out at www.shopatnextdoor.com. I miss showing and will return to it someday, but there is nothing more right now that I would rather be doing than staying at home with AJ.”
Andrea says that she met her husband, Tony, through a mutual friend. “When I first met Tony, I didn’t think that any kind of relationship would develop, but within two weeks of meeting him, we were on a plane to Europe together and the rest is history,” she admits. “I guess I was more interested than I thought! We now have a eight month-old son named Anthony Janis.”
This proud young mom says that her son, AJ, is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to her. “He is such a joy, and I can’t wait to see how he develops into a little boy. He looks so much like me right now and really has a fun personality. I just love being a mom more than I ever could have expected!”
