Equine Chronicle Masters 2-Year-Old Winners Are Gil Galyean/VS Lady In Red, Beth Case/A Boy Named Hoo

By: Brittany Bevis

This evening’s main event at the 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress focused squarely on the industry’s top riders and most promising maiden two-year-olds. Interestingly, both of the horses that won the Masters classes tonight have direct bloodlines that trace back to previous Masters winners.

The Equine Chronicle Masters 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle kicked off promptly at 7:00 pm with a selection of beautiful Hunter Under Saddle horses. Claiming the title of Masters Champion was Beth Case in the irons of A Boy Named Hoo for Tammy Thompson Dyer. “Patrick” certainly had the bloodlines to suggest he could make a run at a Masters title, but it wasn’t until earlier today that the decision was made to show him in the class. “He is by Hot Ones Only, a Masters Champion, which Beth did, and now he is a Masters Champion, which Beth did!” Tammy says.

Tammy’s daughter, Sharnai, thinks Patrick favors his sire in looks and ring presence, but takes after his mother, These Irons R Dancin, where movement is concerned. “His mom is These Irons R Dancin, which Trish Yamber showed the same year as Bruno [HOO]. Then, at the AQHA World Show, when Bruno won Junior Hunter Under Saddle, the mare was Reserve. I think Patrick moves like his mom and acts like his dad, which is a great combination.”

“He’s really a saint. He’s doesn’t ever want to be in trouble. He pulled it out. He didn’t have to do what he did tonight, but he did.”

Because Patrick has been growing so much lately, (they’re convinced he’s grown a few centimeters while here at the Congress) they were unsure if he would be completely prepared come Masters night.

“We’ve always known he was going to be a nice horse, but he’s grown a lot recently, so we knew he was either going to be a late two-year-old or a three-year-old,” Sharnai says. “I swear he’s grown since he’s been here. He is so good legged, so he had a bad habit of overreaching and pulling his shoes off. So, we took his shoes off, but being here on the concrete was hurting his feet, so we’ve been trying to baby him through that. During the whole week, we have been trying to decide whether to show or not.”

“This morning, I wasn’t going to show,” Beth confirms. What Beth didn’t know is that Sharnai had been riding Patrick in the Celeste Arena for the past three nights, to acclimate him, just in case they decided he would be ready on show day. “I didn’t tell Beth,” she says. “I got him out this morning and had someone video me while riding. I said, ‘You’re either going to be really happy or really mad, but he looks really good.’ So off we went!”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Kristy Starnes, the highest placing limited rider, with Al Fool Ya. Third place was Scott Jones with Al Ways Couture. Our Equine Chronicle readers might remember an article posted earlier this week about Al Ways Couture’s full brother, All Blue Couture, who passed away here at the Congress. Fourth place was Dawn Baker with Natural Ride. Fifth place was Jennifer Reams, the second highest placing limited rider, with Al Hunt You Down.

Equine Chronicle 2-Year-Old Masters Hunter Under Saddle–

1- A Boy Named Hoo/Beth Case

2- Al Fool Ya/Kristy Starnes (1st limited)

3- Al Ways Couture/Scott Jones

4- Natural Ride/Dawn Baker

5- Al Hunt You Down/Jennifer Reams (2nd limited)

6- Aloha Sky/Carly Veldman Parks (3rd limited)

7- Hoos Got Legs/Katy Jo Zuidema

8- These Irons Rchipped/Jamie Murrow

9- GTG Thnxforcoming/Amber Clark

During intermission, an auction was held where items from Carolina Moon, Lagrange Leather, and Shorty’s Caboy Hattery were auctioned off to help raise funds for Nellie’s Catwalk For Kids. Approximately $54,000+ was raised!

In the Equine Chronicle Masters 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure, Gil Galyean rode VS Lady In Red to win the Champion title for owners Kristen and Wesley Galyean. “Lady” is by Kristen’s stallion, VS Code Red, and out of one of Gil’s favorite mares of all time, Cool Krymsun Lady. “This is the mare’s second offspring to win the Masters,” he says. “We won the Masters here with Suddenly A Cool Lady and now with this one.”

“My wife, Becky, had gone up to Wesley and Kristen’s place, and we saw Lady out in the field as a yearling,” Gil says. “She looked great. She was real big, and I remember saying that I hope she didn’t get too big. Well, she hasn’t grown since then!”

“When it came time to make the entries, I was cautious. I hate to paint too much of a blue sky and make it sound like it’s better than what it’s going to be, but I knew she had a real good feel, was strong in her top line, and lifts ups and takes a big step when she lopes, which I like.”

Gil is the first to recognize that tonight’s win is the result of a team effort at Gil Galyean Show Horses and praises Denton Debuhr for his early work laying the mare’s foundation.

Just prior to the results being announced, Gil was recognized in the arena for achieving the milestone of becoming the first rider to hit the $1 million mark in NSBA earnings, which he did so here at the Congress. He was joined by his wife, Becky, and members of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, Quarter Horse Congress, and NSBA as he was presented with a commemorative jacket for the occasion. Gil has never been one to toot his own horn, so to speak, and in like fashion he hopes this accomplishment will serve to inspire others.

“Obviously, I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he says. “There are a lot of great young trainers coming on, and I hope it shows them that, if you stay with it, you can make a good living in the horse industry. We’re lucky to have great shows like the Quarter Horse Congress and the American Quarter Horse Association that allow us to work in this industry.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Jay Starnes with It’s Best To Be Me. Third place was Brian Cox with Abbrakadabra. Fourth place was Casey Willis with KM Suddenly So Easy. Fifth place was Rusty Green with Up All Nite Long.

Equine Chronicle Masters 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure–

1- VS Lady In Red/Gil Galyean

2- It’s Best To Be Me/Jay Starnes

3- Abbrakadabra/Brian Cox

4- Km Suddenly So Easy/Casey Willis

5- Up All Nite Long/Rusty Green

6- Best Of Midnight/Angie Cannizzaro

7- Extremely Hot Totsee/Kenny Lakins

8- One Good Cuervo/Wade Parks (1st limited)

9- Made Just Right/Carl Yamber (2nd limited)

10- Envy My Goods/Jeff Long

11- Girlz Got Game/Jim Chafin (3rd limited)

12- Lei Z Lucy/Randy Wilson

13- Hashtag Huntin/Pat Heeley

14- Cmon Man/Katy Jo Zuidema

15-Just Becuz I’m Lazy/Cole Baker