Laura Gilmer

GoHorseShow would like to congratulate Twylla Brown of Perry, Missouri on the purchase of Mostly Chocolate (Chucky) from youth exhibitor, Katie Jo Jones. Chucky will not need to move barns as the new team will be showing in the Select Amateur events under the guidance Kendra Weis and her son Blake of Moberly, Missouri.

GoHorseShow is excited to report that the McMullen family has sold Huntin For Money (Honey) to the Frank family who is under the guidance of Scott and Karen Graham of Cave Creek, Arizona. "Honey has been bought mainly for my daughter, Sydney," the new owner, Cathy Frank told GoHorseShow.

Mary Huddleston is not your regular teenage girl. She just placed sixth at the Congress in the Novice Youth 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle with her horse, Assets In A Artbeat, and she also maintains straight A's in school. Mary is also in a fight for her life trying to overcome her second bout with a rare type of bone cancer known as Ewing's Sarcoma.

From humble beginnings showing at local shows and in 4-H in Iowa, the Knapp Family's involvement with horses has evolved and turned them into one of the most successful families who show and breed champions in our industry.

It's rare to win a Congress Championship. It is even more rare to have your boyfriend or girlfriend win one as well. It's even more rare for both championships to come in less than 24 hours. That is exactly the case with Travis Sancken and Jenny Bivins.

Eleven year-old Josh Briggs of Pilot Point, Texas has been around horses all his life. His parents, John and Jill Briggs, run one of the most successful all-around training operations in the industry. So, it isn't all that surprising that their children love showing horses too.

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 the 15-18 Youth Western Pleasure on Monday evening. These two wins are Small's first Congress wins, and we congratulate Small for finally winning big at the Congress in his final year of youth.

At over six feet tall, 18 year-old Cori Flowers of Elburn, Illinois is definitely a commanding presence in the show arena. This talented rider just placed third in the NYATT Showmanship and ninth in the team tournament horsemanship with her horse, Goodbarshandsumasset (Moe). She still has the Horsemanship 15-18 and Equitation to go before she is finished showing at the Congress.

AQHA President Peter J Cofrancesco III has been a fixture at the All American Quarter Horse Congress his entire life. Cofrancesco's heath has been questionable over the past few months, and many wondered if he would be able to make the trip from Sparta, New Jersey to Columbus this year. Not only did Cofrancesco make the trip, he sat down for an exclusive interview with GoHorseShow.com and talked publicly for the first time about his health.

Novice Amateur Erena Lanza had never shown a western event at the Congress before this year and didn't start showing AQHA until June of 2010. But that didn't keep her from being crowned Congress Reserve Champions in the Novice Amateur Western Pleasure out of 120 exhibitors with her horse, Wolf Pack Ranger.

A fairly uncommon occurrence happened in the halter events at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Chester and Anne Prince's yearling stallion, PF Credibley Supreme, was awarded Grand Champion Stallion. A yearling stallion standing Grand at the Congress is something that has not happened in the modern halter era.

The Cherry family of Oklahoma City have had an amazing Congress so far. Chad Cherry won the Amateur Heeling and the Amateur Cinch Shootout and was third in the Amateur Heading. This was Chad's first time to compete at the Congress. His wife, Molly didn't show this year, but she was a great cheerleader for both her husband and their 11 year-old daughter, Gentry.

Fairy tales do come true---just ask AQHA newbie Drew Boies and his roping mare, Ravens Silver Angel. Boies and Raven placed seventh in the Amateur Heeling last week at the Congress. While that might not impress some; we encourage you to read the story of this roper and his four year-old grulla mare from Ocala, Florida.