It was a day for comebacks and big wins for two training stables on Monday at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Ranch Riding events.
Three In A 'Roo'
Trainer Steve Meadows wasn’t sure if A Fancy Blue Roo was going to get to show at this year’s Congress a day ago. “Roo had some swelling in his legs, so we rested him on Sunday and didn’t show him, and we did some preventative maintenance on him to help him feel better and get rid of the inflammation,” Steve said.
The treatments agreed with Roo, who roared back on Monday to win three classes on the day. Steve showed the 12 year old gelding first to win Senior Ranch Riding, followed by two class wins with owner Quincy Clagg.
“Roo is kind of like a border collie – he’s always looking for a job,” Steve said. “He’s won at Roping, Working Cowhorse and even some money Cutting. We love him. This morning, we were Draw 1 in the Senior. I hadn’t ridden him a lot, and I was hoping he was OK. Once he trotted off a few steps, I knew he was good.”
Quincy and Roo followed up their trainer’s Congress championship by winning Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding as well as the 13 & Under Ranch Riding classes. “What I love about Ranch Riding is that you don’t always have to hit every mark at exactly the right time,” Quincy said. “If you tick a log, you won’t really lose points.”
Quincy was coming off a spectacular AQHYA Youth World Championship Show, where she and Roo earned a world title in 13 & Under Youth Ranch Riding, with her other horse, Mr Great Red, earning the silver trophy. “I’ve won at the Congress before, but it was in Hunter Under Saddle, so this is our first time to be Congress champions in Ranch Riding,” she said.
A Win For Red
Steve and the Clagg family returned to the winner’s circle in Junior Ranch Riding with Mr Great Red, who was the unanimous choice of the judges in the class. “Red is four years old, and I’ve been working with him for almost a year,” Steve said.
“We bought him after the AQHA World Show from Lon Crain, and he did a wonderful job starting him. Red is just a laid back horse who just does his job. He’s all about snacks and a nap.” Quincy had shown Red to a third place award in the 13 & Under Ranch Riding.
First Show Back, First Congress Title For Linda Wiebe
Another comeback story took place in the Level 1 Amateur Select Ranch Riding when Linda Wiebe piloted Spook Dot Gun to the win. “I just had my hip replaced in March,” Linda said. “This is an emotional moment for me, because it’s the first time I’ve got to show since my surgery. My trainer, Matt Lantz, has been showing him all summer. It’s also my first time to be a Congress champion.”
Known as Red, the nine year old gelding is by Smart Spook and out of a Gunner daughter. “I’ve had him for three years, and I’ve been doing Ranch Riding off and on for three or four years,” she said. “I absolutely love the Ranch classes. It’s so much fun. It’s a pattern, but there’s a lot of room to interpret it. The possibilities for the patterns are endless and it’s so good for the horse.”
Shelby Lynch and Jac N Jewels Spark Defend Their Title
Shelby Lynch and Jac N Jewels Spark provided the Lantz training stable with another Congress championship, winning the Youth 14-18 Ranch Riding. The duo defended their title after winning the same class the last time it was held in 2019.
“I’ve had him since 2017, and He’s by Jacs Easter Spark. We show in Reining and Ranch Horse classes, and I’ve also shown him in Horsemanship at the Youth World,” Shelby said. “It’s hard not to say that Ranch Riding is our favorite class after this.”
Shelby and her gelding had a busy day, competing in Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding, placing fifth, and then heading to the Reining pen for the Non-Pro Reining, before returning to show in the 14-18 Ranch Riding. “We had to give him a bath after the Reining class, because he was so sweaty,” she said. “Matt Lantz, as well as Shannon and Randy Fowler and my mom all help me with him.”
Ranch Riders will have another busy day on Tuesday at the Congress, with Junior Ranch Riding, Amateur Ranch Riding, Amateur Select Ranch Riding and the 4 & 5 Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes in the Coliseum, and Open, Amateur and Youth Ranch Rail as well as the Open Ranch Rail Stakes and Non-Pro Ranch Rail Stakes in the Celeste Center after Open Reining classes conclude.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 24. To view the complete show schedule, results or view the live video feed, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com.
