UPDATE-Congress Champion Gelding Wins Go To Roark/It’s Gameday, Turner/Mytesly, Casper/Hesakeeper, Robertson/Amazingunz, Rowan/Big Time Addiction and More!

UPDATE- Ross Roark led It’s Gameday to win Grand Champion Gelding title fro Josh Weakly. The Reserve Grand Champion was Gene Parker with SS Rampage for Darrell Ireland. 

Click here to watch Ross’s winner’s interview! 

By: Brittany Bevis

It’s been a busy day here in the Halter pen at at the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress. First up, Ted Turner led Mytesly to win a tough Performance Halter Geldings class. The Reserve Champion was Ross Roark with Tees Coolest. Third was Jason Smith with Be Elusive. Fourth was Gene Parker with Summer Hotrod. Fifth was Chris Arentsen with Hez Unstoppable.

The 7-year-old gelding named Mytesly has been under the guidance of Ted Turner for four years now and during that time he’s won a slew of Congress Champion and World Champion titles in multiple divisions. As owner, Vickie Strickland, says, “He’s a family horse.”

Ted believes it is this gelding’s overall eye appeal and correct conformation that lends so well to the Performance Halter discipline. “He’s very balanced and pretty. Everything fits, and he’s not overdone anywhere. He’s very pretty through his head and neck, and that’s the first thing the judges see when you track to them.”

Vickie confirms. “He’s perfect! I think he’s just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. He’s built right. He’s exactly what you look for. He’s the ideal Performance Halter horse, and he’s actually really fast, when he shows in Barrel Racing!”

Ronnie Casper completed a clean sweep in the Weanling Geldings category winning the Open division, Limited division, and the Elite Halter Futurity with Hesakeeper for Jeffrey and Joy Stehney. The Reserve Champion in the Futurity was Steve Ferguson with Illicit Intention. Third was GiGi Davis with Exx. Fourth was Jennifer Jubb with Web Gem. Fifth was Dillon Groff with DG Be Vengful.

“This was my first time showing him, and he was very well broke. He showed extremely well for us today,” Ronnie says. “[The horse’s trainer] Jason Smith and I have shown horses for each other for a very long time. I think we both prepare horse the same way, so it’s always easy when I have to show one of Jason’s horses, and it’s easy for Jason when he has to show one for me.”

Jason Smith actually raised this colt. He’s by Ecredible and out of Keep Me In Mind, a Reserve World Champion. “When he was born, I knew this one was going to be pretty good. One time, Joy came to the house. She likes to have a fresh new face in the geldings, and I said this would be the one for her. He finally has all his stuff in order. He’s very structurally sound and correct. He’s very sturdy, but he has this elegance about him.”

There were two first-time Champions in the Yearling Geldings class. Tom Robertson led Amazingunz to win Elizabeth Thompson-Beauchamp’s first Congress title. Purchased in June, Elizabeth fondly refers to “Gunner” as a “Breyer horse.”

“When I call him a Breyer horse, I say that not just because of his sweet personality, but if you piece him together, even his tail set is perfect. The package is ideal. He’s all there.”

Gunner is a double registered, AQHA/APHA gelding by Amazing Gunslinger. Just a few weeks ago, Elizabeth showed the colt to win at the Breeders’ Halter Futurity in Iowa. She will compete in the amateur division here on Monday.

Meanwhile, Amanda Wallinger-Rowan led Big Time Addiction to win the limited division of Yearling Geldings, as well as the Elite Halter Futurity. The Reserve Champion in the Futurity was Doug Landon with Amazing Vaquero. Third place was Justin Bisel with Amazing Secretz. Fourth was Ron Doyle with Toxic Attraction. Fifth was Jessica Richardson with Almighty Eros.

“This is my first time attending the Congress!” Amanda says. “It was a big accomplishment just to get to this horse show and then when you start doing well it’s just an honor.”

Amanda purchased her double-registered colt at the APHA World Show last year. This year, he helped her win a World title in both the amateur and open divisions. “I love to show, so it’s nice to be able to go to a show every weekend if you wanted to!”

Earlier here at the show, Chris Arentsen, showed a filly [Dimplez] by Amanda’s stallion, Acoolest Touchdown, to win the Open and Limited Weanling Fillies as well as the Elite Halter Futurity.

Winning 2-Year-Old Geldings was Andy Staton with Crazed. The Reserve Champion was Dewey Smith with BPF Top Secret Man. Third was Mike McMillan with Payzone. Fourth was Chris Arentsen with HR Elusive Secret. Fifth was Joe Engle with Evolver.

In the 3-Year-Old Geldings, the Champion was Ross Roark with Legacee. The Reserve Champion was Steve Ferguson with DMM Secret Sensation. Third was Jeffrey Pait with Secret Agent. Fourth was Tom Robertson with Gives Me Chillz. Fifth was Dewey Smith with Initially A Cool Kid.