Dan Yeager/Cracking The Code Win Select Horsemanship, Casey Willis/KM Suddenly So Easy Win Junior WP

By: Brittany Bevis

This was a historic night at the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress with two very special wins. First up, Dan Yeager rode Cracking The Code to win Select Horsemanship for the third year in a row, with two different horses! Last year, he rode “Pistol” to be named the Congress Champion. The year before, he won with the late gelding, Cee Money.

Although, Dan admits that it has been hard to replace Cee Money, Pistol is doing his very best. “It’s completely unbelievable. No one dreams of winning three years in a row. It’s so exciting.”

“Highpoint is so fanatic. So far, Pistol has been Reserve in Junior Trail with Brad Ost and third in Junior Western Riding. Next, I will show him in Showmanship and possible Trail.”

Of all the classes Dan competes in, his favorite is Horsemanship, because it provides a challenge with speed changes and transitions. “I really liked the pattern. It started slow, built, and got faster and faster. I like to go fast!”

“Our lead change was really good, and we’ve been working on it all year. Also, I can trust him in the big fast circle back down to the slow lope, so that’s really fun.”

The Reserve Champion was Kathy Tobin with RA Undisputed. Third was Susie Johns with Its A Good Pleasure. Fourth was Anne Wilson with Laziness. Fifth was Debra Craig with PF Put It In Park.

It was also an incredible night for Masterson Farms with a Congress Champion in Junior Western Pleasure, thanks to Casey Willis with Km Suddenly So Easy, and a third place finish with Blair Townsend and Km Weknowsheshot.

Casey rode the 4-year-old mare, by RL Best of Sudden and out of Easy Zippin Machine, named “Penelope,” to the win. Earlier this year, Casey and Penelope won the 4-6-Year-Old Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show. She’s a very special horse for Casey, because he won his first World Championship title with her when she was two years old. She went on to accumulate other top wins at the Tom Powers, Southern Belle, and here at the Congress in 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure last year.

Coming in third behind Casey was Blair Townsend with KM Weknowsheshot, a mare by RL Best Of Sudden and out of We Know Shes Something. Casey describes “Mercedes” as simply “spectacular.”

“I was a little worried about Blair [beating me.] I’m not going to lie!” he laughs.

Earlier this year, Marilyn Masterson rode Mercedes to win at the Select World Show. The team will compete in Select Western Pleasure here at the Congress as well. Blair was thrilled with her third place finish describing Mercedes as “the best horse in the whole world.”

“She has so much natural self-carriage, and she holds her head and neck so level,” Blair says. “She’s so much fun to show. I just point her down the rail and let her do her thing!”

The Reserve Champion was Cole Baker with Loping Radical. Fourth was Kenny Lakins with Lazy Holla Dayz. Fifth was Cody Parrish with Lexus Made Lady.