Saturday at the Congress was a busy day with exhibitors showing everything from Showmanship, to Western Riding, to Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure on what has become known as “Youth Weekend” Meanwhile in the Lausche Building, the Congress Super Sale drew a large crowd as horses sold to the highest bidder.
Lilly Jones And Jason Earn NSBA Showmanship Title
Lilly Jones and Chilln Ona Dirt Road earned the reserve Congress title and the NSBA bronze in Youth 11 & Under Showmanship. “We call him Jason – he’s named after the song,” Lilly said.
“We’ve known each other since we were both three years old.
“We had to do a sharp corner and you had to get the exact right spot. I haven’t shown this class in a long time, so that was a little bit difficult. I liked my trot, stop and trot again.”
Lilly and Jason have had a successful weekend at the Congress. They won 11 & Under Hunt Seat Equitation, were fourth in 11 & Under Hunter Under Saddle and eighth in the Level 1 13 & Under Horsemanship
Jesse Jones Wins First Congress Title
Traines Jesse Jones and Arturo Maestas may have changed their training stable from APHA and ApHC horses to primarily AQHA stock in the past year, but Jesse has jumped in right where he left off. He showed Justa Machine to win the Level 2 Senior Western Riding for owner Emma Grace Graves, and earned his first Congress championship in the process.
“We bought Ziggi here last year. He had actually won a lot before we got him and we’ve been keeping him going. He’s quite quirky, but he’s a very good boy,” Jesse said.
“I was really happy with our go. I got a little nervous at the end because he wanted to have a little spook to him, but he held it together and was very good. He was also reserve champion the other day in the 13 & Under with Emma.”
Charlie Cole And Bailee Win Level 3 Senior Western Riding
Snap It Send It has made a big name for herself over the past few years, and now she’s teaming up with trainer Charlie Cole and owner Julia Blackburn-Baskin Arora. Charlie showed the gray mare known as Bailee to win Level 3 Senior Western Riding at the Congress.
“We bought her at the AQHA World Show last year,” Charlie said. “This year we’ve been trying to figure out and get with her, and we’ve added Horsemanship for Julia. It’s been an adjustment for both of us as we figure each other out. Today, I loped off and we were together.
“Blake Weis has been really helpful, and the transition has been much easier because he has been so helpful and open. He’s an amazing rider, and there are things I’m sure I do different than he does.
“I don’t think you can get a much more striking horse – she is just so eye catching and beautiful, and then you add to that her quality lead change – she’s just the whole package.”
A Quick Addition Makes Samuel Lotta A Congress Champion
Samuel Lotta wasn’t originally planning to show his mother’s horse, the Whos Who. “My mom has had him for about a year, but our trainer Taft Dickerson talked me into showing her,” Samuel said.
“We’ve only been working together a few days. I thought our finals was pretty good, and I was confident. When it got down to the three final horses left, I had a feeling that I might be the winner. Conway is a sweetheart, he’s very soft and he listens really well.”
Now that he’s a Congress champion, Samuel is considering continuing to show in Youth Western Pleasure. At 16 years old, he has two years left in the youth program.
Deanna Willis Wins Maturity Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure
The Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity was presented by the friends of the Harter family in memory of Brittany Harter. It was fitting that Deanna Willis won the class, because she was good friends with Brittany and the Harter family.
“Brittany and I grew up together, and the Harters are family to us,” Deanna said. “Hillary Timchak and I got together and organized this sponsorship with OQHA as a way to honor Brittany and the Harter family.”
Deanna showed The Lopin Illusion, a horse that she and her husband Casey Willis have not had very long. “We got him at the Big A from Jay and Kristy Starnes,” Deanna said. “We loved everything about him. Jay and Kristy do an amazing job with their training program, and we’re just trying to maintain what they did with him. He’s been a blast, and a great show horse.
“Sonny is six years old, and he’s by The Lopin Machine and out of A Certain Illusion. He lets me put him wherever I want, on the rail or off. He does his job.”
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Bella D'Onofrio Takes Two For Western Riding
In addition to the other champions we talked to, we wanted to mention a special feat that Isabella D'Onofrio accomplished on Saturday. She showed two horses in the Level 12 Youth Western Riding, Whata Moonlite Ride and If It Aint Southern. She guided her two mounts to the Congress championship and reserve championship titles in the class, with the two horses earning tying scores of 230.5 each. Congratulations, Bella!
The 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 22. To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker or quarterhorsecongress.com. You can also view the show’s live video feed at quarterhorsecongress.com/livestream
