Katie Grossnickle Wins Amateur Trail; Ben Debrouwer wins Select Trail

By: Brittany Bevis

The Grossnickle family’s 4-year-old gelding, Hil Have A Taco, won his third Congress Championship title of the horse show today in Amateur Trail. Earlier in the show, Jason Gilliam rode “Taco” to win the 4 and 5-year-old Trail Stakes and the Junior Level 1 Trail. Today, it was Katie Grossnickle in the saddle for the big win.

By now, our readers likely know the story of the #BestTradeEver than came about with a mare that the Grossnickle family had bred and raised, but weren’t meshing well with. A trade with Shelley and Kim Donovan solved that problem and Taco had a new home. Of course, Taco was named such because he was born on Taco Tuesday. However, he hasn’t won any of this classes here at the Congress on a Tuesday!

“That’s alright. I don’t care if he ever wins on a Tuesday,” Katie laughs. “Every night, after he wins, we have tacos and margaritas, so tonight we will have more!”

What makes this win even more special is that Taco was purchased exactly one year ago today, here at the Congress. Coming up next, Katie will show in the 4 and 5-Year-Old Non Pro Trail Stakes, and then it’s on to the AQHA World Show for Green Trail, Junior Trail, and Green Western Riding.

Heading into today’s class, Katie felt plenty of pressure, considering that her horse had already won two Congress Championships, and she was first to go in the working order. “I tried not to think about it, but I definitely knew the pressure was on, just with how well he’s done and then because I had to go first.”

 

“There wasn’t really any part of the pattern that I didn’t like. He had a lot of expression with his ears and he helped me out in a few spots. He has a lot of spur, so when you take it out, he’s walking. Brent [Maxwell] said to keep pushing. It’s nice. I’d rather have that than having to hang on.”

 

The Reserve Champion was Daniel Carlson with Code Red Charlie. Third was Libby Rinder with Hot Rockin Potential. Fourth was Angela Wade with The Perfect Kryme. Fifth was Meaghan Whelan with Hotroddin Ona Harley.

Ben Debrouwer has been showing at the Congress since he was a youth kid, 1979 to be exact. This is his first Congress Champion title. Ben’s partner for today’s class was his 10-year-old Zippos Mr Goodbar gelding, “Ranger.” They compete under the guidance of Terry Cross and have done so for the past three years. Just yesterday, Terry had a big win in Senior Trail, but Ben wasn’t feeling any extra added pressure to bring home another title. He was just happy to compete with his horse.

“Actually, the pressure was off. The barn had already won, but it still feels really good,” he says. “I didn’t have to update the app on my phone, because there were enough people around me telling me, so I could act like I didn’t care, but I obviously did!”

Ben believes it is Ranger’s consistent pace and smooth maneuvering skills that helped him achieve today’s win. “He came in and did a real nice, steady gait. We lined up really went for the trot poles. He was guiding extremely well. We did a really good job of marking our points when we walked the course, and the horse followed. He went right where I put him, and he hit all his marks right on. I was really impressed with that.”

“He’s pretty consistent with his speed and he’s real steady. He really looks at the obstacles, no matter how many times he’s done them. He acts very fresh, and I think the judges like that.”

The Reserve Champion was Phillip Roos with The Hot Intern. Third was Theresa Kohman with I’m Pretty Lazy. Fourth was Sherri Hennis with Extreme Krymsun. Fifth was Debra Craig with PF Put It N Park.