Afternoon Congress Champions Include Green/Momma Knows Best, Tierney/Pretty Assets, Green/Johnnie On The Spot

By: Brittany Bevis

Miss Deanna Green has had a very busy day here at the Quarter Horse Congress. First up this morning, she piloted Blazinmytroublesaway to win Novice Youth 14-18 Showmanship. Then, a quick costume change later and she was in the Western Pleasure pen to compete in the 15-18 division. She won that class with a near unanimous finish aboard Momma Knows Best, aka “Myrtle the Turtle.”

“I just started riding her in March, and we’ve gone to just about every horse show since then,” Deanna says. “She has a lot of personality. She’s always all up in what you’re doing.”

“She really makes you work for it. She’s not one of those horses that you can just pull out of the stall and show. She takes a little bit of prep; but, when she’s on, she’s on. She was really good today.”

Deanna’s favorite part of riding Myrtle comes when it’s time to lope, because of her consistent movement in both directions. “I love loping her,” she says. “You can put her anywhere you want. The more you push her, the more she throws her front leg out. Also, she has a beautiful topline. She’s one of those horses that just has a really good feel. And, I can show her wherever I want to show her. Wherever my best spot is, I can put her there.”

This is Deanna’s last class here at the Congress. Next year, she’s excited she will be competing on the Auburn Equestrian Team in both Horsemanship and Reining. “I’m really excited about it,” she says. “I ride some with Steve and Carol Metcalf, and I have a cutter. Also, I ride a lot of cow horses, and it really helps my Horsemanship spins.”

The Reserve Champion in Showmanship was Claire Hickman with Lazy Lopin Louise. Third was Maggie Finn with Prepare to B Shocked. Fourth was Cassidy Jensen with Chocolatey Special K. Fifth was Natalie Vargo with Visible Investment.

The Reserve Champion in Western Pleasure was Katie Bussing with Cool Lookin Moonie. Third was Samantha Aderhold with Beyond The Best. Fourth was Natasha Blanchard with Only A Breeze. Fifth place Bethany Valentine with One N Only Krymsun.

Meghan Tierney rode Pretty Assets to win 3-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle and their second Congress Championship title of the show. Earlier, they were named the Congress Champions in 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle. This evening, they improved upon their performance by being the unanimous choice of the judges.

“That’s a dream come true,” she says. “It’s definitely a check off my bucket list. She’s won the Congress every time she’s been here. She won the Congress in Longe Line and then as a two-year-old and now she’s won it as a three-year-old.”

Coming up next, Meghan and “Lacy” will compete in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and in the Open division with Keith Miller in the saddle.

Meghan praises her mare’s overall eye-appeal and exotic movement describing her as “mesmerizing.”

“She’s such a competitive animal,” she says. “You trot in and feel she wants to win. You can feel she knows she’s amazing, and it radiates off of her. With the big white face and white legs she has such a presence in the show pen. You can’t help but watch her. She’s got a real strong hock and a beautiful, lofty front leg. I think she keeps getting better with age, like a fine wine!”

We had to cut our interview short because Meghan is one in-demand lady. In addition to showing here at the Congress, she also has a full schedule of braiding jobs to complete. “When I won the limited, I walked out and someone gave me my braiding belt because I had to run over and braid the two-year-olds that were going to be showing that night. Everyone kept stopping me and saying, ‘You’re not working right now after you just won at the Congress!’ Actually, I have to run over and do one for Dean Bogart real quick. Just because I win, doesn’t mean other horses can’t show!”

Finally, Katie Green rode Johnnie On The Spot to win the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Stakes for Capital Quarter Horses, LLC. The Capital team purchased his filly in June from Ken and Marilyn Masterson and have been on the road campaigning her ever since. We asked Katie what struck her about this mare the first time she saw her.

“First off, her look is so exotic and beautiful,” Katie says. “You want to like her before she even does anything. Then, she jogs and lopes phenomenal, especially for a two-year-old. She’s pretty special.”

Thus far, “Johnnie” has had a fabulous start to her career racking up wins at the Tom Powers Futurity and NSBA World Show. “She’s everything we hoped she would be,” Katie says.

Later on in the show, Susan Roberts will pilot Johnnie in the 2-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure and then it’s on to the AQHA World Show.

This was a special win for Katie because she’s never won a two-year-old division class at the Congress before, and this is the only horse she’s showing here this year.

The Reserve Champion was Gil Galyean with Made The Ladies Look. Third was Jay Starnes with Cherri Bomb. Fourth was Kristy Starnes with Certainly Flatlined. Fifth was Pat Heeley with Whose Your Bay Bae.