Jeff Johns Wins Congress Championship AND Reserve in Amateur Western Riding
By: Brittany Bevis
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of speaking with Trevor Johns, who rode Lopin For A Chex to win L1 Amateur Western Riding. He joked that he was tuning him up for big brother, Jeff, who was set to show the same horse in Amateur Western Riding today. Well, big brother did one better, being named the Congress Champion with Lopin For A Chex AND the Reserve Congress Champion with Its A Good Pleasure.
“That was pretty special!” Jeff says. “I went really early on with Its A Good Pleasure. It was probably one of the best rides I’ve ever had, but I thought it might not hold up, because there were still a lot of great horses left to go. I went back, got my second horse, and concentrated on that. I ended up beating myself!”
This is a special win for Jeff, because it’s the first time he’s won Western Riding here at the Congress. Earlier in the show, he rode Its A Good Pleasure to win L1 Amateur Horsemanship. Add that to his brother’s Congress win, his aunt, Kathy Tobin’s, win in Select Trail, and his mother’s third place finish in Select Horsemanship, and this family has had an incredible show.
“It’s been pretty cool,” he says. “It’s been the type of Congress you only dream about, but never expect will actually happen.”
As for his little bro’s prep skills with his horse, Jeff was kind enough to give a little shout out. “I think he might have helped a little bit. I’ll give him a little bit of credit!” Jeff laughs.Third place in the class was Jane Humes with Dunit On The Range. Fourth was Jason Wanderer with Zippos Petite Prince. Fifth was Sarah Orsak with Huntin By Moonlite.
