Kacie Scharf and A Movin Machine Mark Highest Western Riding Score (239) at QH Congress in Past Four Years… Maybe Longer
Kacie and Bennie with their trainers at the 2015 QH Congress.
By: Brittany Bevis
Some stories merit a little investigative reporting… and that was certainly the case when AQHA youth competitor, Kacie Scharf, scored a chart-topping 239 to win Youth 14-18 Western Riding at the 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress with her horse, A Movin Machine.
When it was announced that Kacie would be named the Congress Champion with her horse “Benny,” she was ecstatic. She was doubly surprised when she heard her score. “I didn’t see my score before the award ceremony, because I was third from last to go,” she says. “[My trainer] Chad [Evans] told everyone not to tell me what score I got, so I heard it for the first time when they announced I won the class. I was so shocked at the time that it didn’t really sink in until later, and then I was shocked all over again!”
Kacie’s mother Gayle was thrilled with her daughter’s big win and was curious to see how her scores compared to other Western Riding runs at the Congress. As it turned out, Kacie and Benny marked the highest score of all Western Riding classes at the 2015 Congress.
- 14-18 Youth Western Riding- 239
- Senior Western Riding- 234.5
- Novice Youth Western Riding 14-18- 233
- Amateur Western Riding- 233
- Junior Western Riding- 232
- Select Western Riding- 230.5
- Green Western Riding- 224.5
- Novice Youth Western Riding 13 and under- 224
- 13 and Under Western Riding- 223
- Novice Amateur Western Riding- 221
When looking at the individual judges’ scores, Kacie received a 74.5, 81.0, 78.5, and 79.5. When the low score of 74.5 was dropped, that resulted in a overall total of 239. Then, Gayle investigated further looking at Youth 14-18 Western Riding scores marked at the Congress over the past four years. Kacie’s 239 was still the highest.
- 2014 Youth Western Riding 14-18- Klay McDowall with Certainly A Blaze- 236
- 2013 Youth Western Riding 14-18- Deanna Green with Blazinmytroublesaway- 236
- 2012 Youth Western Riding 14-18- Kaylee Mellott with Only In Showbiz- 223.5
Just for curiosities sake, we looked at scores for ALL Western Riding classes held at the Congress since 2012. There have been a handful of 230+ scores marked over the years, but the rider to come the closest to a 239, with a 238, was Susan Johns who rode Heza Radical Zip to win Select Western Riding at the 2014 Quarter Horse Congress.
Prior to 2012, the Quarter Horse Congress website doesn’t list individual scores, just the overall class results, so Kacie may very well have received the highest score over a much longer period.
We had the opportunity to chat with Kacie, who was very excited to hear the news about her record-setting score. She fondly reflects on Bennie’s performance. “Right when we started our pattern, I had a feeling it was going to go well,” she says. “Benny was being very responsive and listening to me. When we loped off, he went at the speed I wanted him to go, and we made it through the line without any mistakes. I was happy with all his changes, and they were on time.”
“I think Benny is good at Western Riding, because it’s a class he enjoys. Every time we start a pattern and he sees the cones, his ears immediately perk up. He likes to do lead changes; even when he’s out at pasture he’ll do some changes for fun. I enjoy competing in Western Riding, because it’s a little faster pace than Western Pleasure, and I get to have looser reins than in Horsemanship. I also like it because my horse likes it, and that makes it more enjoyable to me!”
When Bennie isn’t practicing his lead changes, he also competes with Kacie in Trail and Horsemanship classes. Recently, the pair was named the NSBA World Champions in Novice Youth Trail and NSBA Reserve Champions in Novice Youth Western Riding. They also placed in the Top 5 in Western Riding at the AQHA Youth World Show.
Bennie is an 8-year-old gelding by A Good Machine and out of Graceful Principles. He and Kacie have been a team for two years now, under the guidance of trainer Chad Evans. “Benny’s personality is very similar to a little boy,” she says. “Most of the time, he’s super sweet and wants to do what’s asked of him. However, he can also be a little mischievous at times and does things like untie himself, stick his tongue over the bit, and destroy his slinky.”
Kacie and Bennie didn’t find Congress success overnight. She remembers one particularly disappointing score she received two years ago. “When I got Benny, two years ago, it was about two weeks before the Congress,” she says. “We decided to show in the Novice Youth Western Riding and Novice Youth Western Pleasure, since it was my last year in the 13 and under division. The Western Riding class was first, and I had probably ridden Benny all of five times. I’d never shown in a Western Riding class, never shown at the Congress, and never shown Benny… Let’s just say the class went about as well as one would expect, and we ended up with a score of 0.”
“It’s crazy to me to see where we were two years ago in this class and where we have gotten. I’m unbelievably blessed to have such an awesome horse, such supportive parents, and such great trainers!”
Congratulations Kacie and Bennie!
