AQHA All Around Winner- Tony Anderman and Solo Invested
By: Brittany Bevis
Now that AQHA has officially released the final standings for 2019, effectively crowning the year-end All-Around award winners for each division, it’s time to celebrate!
First, we chatted with the Select Amateur Champion- Scott Reinartz with Investin A Goodbar. Next up is the Amateur Champion- Tony Anderman with his horse, Solo Invested.
Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com over the next few weeks as we feature several of the horse and rider teams that have achieved one of AQHA’s highest honors.
Tony and “Mac” have been a team for the past four years. They typically compete in all around events like Horsemanship and Performance Halter; but, by far, their speciality is Showmanship. Although this team has always exhibited a special something in this particular discipline, 2019 was a banner year for the boys.
“Winning Amateur Showmanship at the AQHA World Show for the third year in a row, and at the Quarter Horse Congress for the second year in a row, was the most memorable moment from last year,” Tony says.
Originally, Tony had set a goal for himself to win the Showmanship High Point for the year. It was a designation that he hadn’t yet achieved, with Mac, or any other horse. Halfway through the year, Tony realized that he and Mac might be in contention for the All-Around title, so he added a few extra shows to his schedule.
“I think our consistency allowed us to pick up points on a regular basis,” Tony says. “Mac and I also have a good understanding between us, which allowed me to haul him, myself, and to still be successful at the shows that my trainers could not attend. At home, he gets lots of turn out time and time off to keep him happy and ready to go to work once we’re at the shows.”
Looking forward to this year’s show season, Tony’s goal remains the same as always- to be competitive at the Congress and World Shows. In addition to maintaining dominance in the Showmanship pen, Tony would like to improve upon his consistency in Horsemanship and possibly add Western Riding or Equitation to his repertoire.
The break in the show season, due to COVID-19, hasn’t put too much of a damper on the team’s training. In March, Mac had surgery to open up an obstructed airway, so he’s now just getting back into the swing of things.
There are a lot of people Tony would like to thank, who have helped both he and Mac to achieve this title. “I would like to thank Kip Riley and Chris Gray for selling Mac to me. I want to thank my trainers, Clint Ainsworth and Blake Weis. They have really gone above and beyond to help me achieve my goals with Mac. They support us and push us to be the best we can be.”
“My parents and sister are my biggest fans and try to come watch me when possible. There are also a fleet of farriers, vets, assistants, and other equine professionals that help keep Mac at the top of his game. Mac is the horse I’ve dreamed my whole life of owning, and I’m so grateful for every day I get to spend with him.”
Winning this title is somewhat bittersweet for Tony, because his grandmother, Gloria Enger, passed away in February of 2019. “She was a retired AQHA judge, director, and founder of our state affiliate. I wish she was here to see me achieve this, but I know how proud she would be.”
