Southeastern exhibitors earned Congress’ top honors this year; many brought home championships and reserves as the largest breed show in the world celebrated its semicentennial anniversary.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress took place Oct. 6-30 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. According to the Congress media package, the Ohio Quarter Horse Association hosted its first Congress Nov. 3-5 1967; it was a three-day affair. A half century later, the event has seen exponential growth; the temporary inhabitants of the expo center resembled the population of a small city, and the Congress stretched across more than three weeks. This year, the show’s 50th anniversary brought in about 18,000 entries from around the globe and more than $2.5 million in associated revenues for central Ohio, according to a Congress press release.
In the versatile spirit of the breed, the horses in attendance competed in a plethora of events: team roping, Western Pleasure, cowboy mounted shooting, pole bending, horsemanship, hunter under saddle and equitation over fences, to name a few. The following is a sampling of riders and owners from the region who brought home championship and reserve placings from across the spectrum of disciplines. Southeastern exhibitors earned Congress’ top honors Southeastern exhibitors earned Congress’ top honors Southeastern exhibitors earned Congress’ top honors Southeastern exhibitors earned Congress’ top honors
Special thanks goes to Congress photographer Shane Rux Photography of Clearwater, Fla. for the use of official photos.
UNADILLA, GA.
Priscilla Wilson, of Unadilla, Ga., rode “Total Reycall” to the NCHA $25,000 Limited Novice Horse Non-Pro Cutting Championship. Wilson also won the Congerss Non-Pro Cutting Futurity with “Puddy IsAs PuddyDoes.” (Photo by Shane Rux)
GREENVILLE, N.C.
Emily Trapp, of Greenville, N.C., placed reserve in the AQHA Novice Amateur Equitation Over Fences on “Kiss My Blue Asset.” (Photo: contributed)
WARRENTON, VA.
“Dual for Innocence,”
owned by Tina Taylor,
of Warrenton, Va.,
Won The Congress
Cutting – Limited
Rider with Kaitlyn
Blanc, of Culpeper,
Va., aboard.
Taylor said she was
out of the placings
in the class but
allowed Blanc to
give it a shot.
“Pippa” carried
her to the win after
having been out of
the pasture for only
about three months.
The mare is in
training with Jim McDounough of
Culpepper, Va.
(Photo contributed)
WILMINGTON, N.C.
Teresa Balkcum, of
Wilmington, N.C., took both the AQHA and the NSBA Amateur Select Huntseat Equitation and titles on “Pawn Star.” Balkcum also earned her first Congress all-around title with the Amateur Select High Point award.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
DENVER, N.C.
Tayler Tierney,
of Denver, N.C.,
rode to reserve on
“Got Milks A Whiz” in
The NRHA Rookie
Reining. The two were
also champions this
year in the Youth
Reining at the AQHA
Nutrena East All
Novice Championships.
The 2009 gelding is
by “Conquistador
Whiz” out of a
“Dunit N
Continental” mare. (Photo: Contributed)
BENTON, LA.
Steve Wheat, of Benton, La., and “Suddenly Charming” brought home wins in the AQHA Youth Western Pleasure 11 and Under and the NSBA Youth Western Pleasure 11 and Under.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
SIMPSONVILLE, KY.
Page Bowman, of
Simpsonville, Ky.,
(right) aboard “Tom
E Boy,” rode to
reserve in the
NCHA Non-pro
Cutting Classic.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
BUTLER, KY. Nathan Peoples, of Butler, Ky., rode Lauren Owens’ “Lightning Sky Bar” to reserve in the AQHA Senior Pole Bending.
(Photo: Brent Puhl)
PLEASANT VIEW, TENN.
Morgan Parisek, of Pleasant View, Tenn., earned wins in the following events with “Better Buy The Minit:” NSBA Non-Pro Working Hunter Classic, AQHA Amateur Equitation Over Fences, NSBA Amateur Equitation Over Fences, AQHA Novice Amateur Equitation Over Fences and NSBA Novice Amateur Equitation Over Fences.
(Photo: contributed)
EVANS, GA.
Meg DePalma-Whelan’s “Sleepin”
won the AQHA and
NSBA Green HUS events with Keith Miller, of Reidsville, N.C., in the irons.
The pair also won the NSBA
Two Year Old Open HUS Stakes
DePalma-Whelan, standing far right, resides in Evans, Ga.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
MELBOURNE, FLA.
Marissa Robertson, of Melbourne, Fla., took reserve on “KM Win With The Best” in the AQHA Novice Youth Western Pleasure (14-18). The horse is owned by her sister, Krista Robertson.
(Photo: contributed)
SOMERVILLE, TENN.
Marilyn Masterson, of
Somerville, Tenn., took the
AQHA Amateur Select Western Pleasure title aboard
“KM Weknowsheshot.”
(Photo: contributed)
GEORGETOWN, KY.
Lyndsey Cruise, of Georgetown, Ky., and “Made By Magnum” won the NRHA (National Reining Horse Association) Non-pro Reining.
(Photo: contributed)
CHESTER, S.C.
Leslie Willis, of Chester, S.C., won the AQHA Senior Barrel Racing aboard “Gimme Damoney.”
(Photo: contributed)
RICHMOND, KY.
Larken Jones,
of Richmond, Ky., took the AQHA Senior Pole Bending and the AQHA Amateur Barrel Racing wins on “Time On The
Money.”
(Photo: contributed)
CABOT, ARK.
Lane Smith, of Cabot, Ark., piloted “Tangos Blonde Hope” to the win in the Congress Pole Bending Sweepstakes. The mare is owned by Larry Martin.
(Photo: contributed)
MELBOURNE, FLA.
Krista Robertson,
of Melbourne, Fla., and “KM
Win With The Best” took
reserve in both the AQHA and
NSBA Novice Amateur Western Pleasure classes.
(Photo: contributed)
OCALA, FLA.
Rebekah
Kazakevicius, of
Ocala, Fla., and
“Not Just Anyhoo”
won the AQHA and
the NSBA Amateur
HUS events.
“Horton,” a four-year-
old gelding by “Hot
Ones Only” also won
the Junior Pleasure
Driving with trainer Charlie Cole, of Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas. He also won the AQHA and the NSBA Junior HUS, as well as the NSBA Maturity Open HUS Stakes with trainer Beth Case, also of Highpoint
Performance Horses. (Photo by Shane Rux)
KING GEORGE, VA.
Kaylynn Debernard, of King George, Va., and “Shiners Surprise” won the Youth Ranch Riding and the NSBA Youth Ranch Riding events. The horse also took the NSBA
Junior Ranch Riding
title with trainer
Steve Meadows, of Staunton, Va.,
aboard.
(Photo: contributed)
STATESBORO, GA.
Jarrett Cartee, of Statesboro, Ga., rode “Lopin On A Goodbar” to the win in the AQHA Novice Amateur Trail and the NSBA Novice Amateur Trail.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
NEWNAN, GA.
Erin Mask, of Newnan, Ga., won the AQHA Youth Weanling Fillies with “Why Not.” She and “Only Classic Chips” took the top spot in AQHA Youth Performance Halter Mares. Mask and “Figured Out Vegas” also took reserve in both the AQHA and the NSBA Youth Ranch Riding.
(Photo: contributed)
NICEVILLE,
FLA.
“No Doubt Im
Somethin,” owned by
Erin Brack, of
Niceville, Fla., came in
reserve in both the AQHA
and the NSBA Junior Trail events. He took the same
honor in both the AQHA and the NSBA Junior Green Trail classes. The gelding was ridden by Joni K Naas, of
Bayminette, Ala., in these events. Brack is standing second from left.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
NEWMARKET, TENN.
Emma Graf, of
Newmarket, Tenn., won the
AQHA Youth Jumping on “One Sweet Mercedes.”
(Photo: contributed)
GREENEVILLE, N.C.
Emily Trapp, of Greenville, N.C., placed reserve in the AQHA Novice Amateur Equitation Over Fences on “Kiss My Blue Asset.”
(Photo: contributed)
SHERRILLS FORD, N.C.
Emilia Reutimann,
of Sherrills Ford, N.C.,
won the NYATT (National
Youth Activities Team
Tournament) Reining on
Cbk Roosters Resolve.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
PIEDMONT, S.C.
Ella Kate Phillips, of
Piedmont, S.C., and
“Bad Ask Redneck” won
the AQHA Youth Pole
Bending 13 and Under.
Phillips has had the five-year-old gelding since May; this
was her first Congress. She and her horse also finished fourth in the second go of the National Junior High World Finals this summer.
(Photo: contributed)
CEDARTOWN, GA.
Denise Seiz, of
Cedartown, Ga., and
“Mo Faye Rey” were reserve champions in the NCHA $5,000 Novice Non-Pro Cutting.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
MELBOURNE,
KY.
“Who Do You Think
U Are,” or “Huey” in
the barn, won the
AQHA and the NSBA
Amateur Hunter Hack
events piloted by
Courtney Billingsley,
of Melbourne, Ky.
The pair also
won the AQHA and
NSBA Amateur Working Hunter events. With
Huey are, from left:
Billingsley; her mother,
Denise Firth; her father,
Frank Firth holding the
family’s first grandchild,
Brantley Nash Chism, at his first Quarter Horse Congress; and her sister, Ashley Firth (Brantley’s mother). The only one missing was Billingsley’s husband, Marcus Billingsley, who stayed home to take care of the farm and the dogs during the show.
(Photo: contributed)
BUFORD, GA.
Ashlyn Miller, of Buford,
Ga., (right) and “Smart Powder Badger” took reserve in the
$2,000 Limited Rider (Any Ride) Cutting.
(Photo: contributed)
CANTON, GA.
Annie Vorhies, of
Canton, Ga., took reserve on “Pact With Assets” in both the AQHA and NSBA Youth Hunter Hack (13 and Under).
(Photo: contributed)
TAMPA,FLA.
Alicia Rapp,
of Tampa, Fla.,
took home a victory
aboard “Kelvin’s Spark,”
or “Merle” around the
barn, in the AQHA
Amateur Reining.
(Photo by Shane Rux)
RALEIGH, N.C.
Anna Ahlers, of Raleigh,
N.C., won the AQHA Novice Youth Working Hunter aboard “One Bold
Invitation.”
(Photo: contributed)
CHATTANOOGA,
TENN.
Alexis Stephas, of Chattanooga, Tenn., won the Open Bridleless Cutting on “Once You Go Black.” The two also took reserve in the NCHA $25,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro Cutting.
(Photo: contributed)
