Kenny Lakins/How Bout That Batt and Kathie Kennedy/Kruzin In Style Win Open Congress Yearling Longe Line
Kenny Lakins and Pete Mead with How Bout That Batt
By: Brittany Bevis
In an exciting turn of events, Kenny Lakins was named the Congress Champion in Open Western Yearling Longe Line this evening at the lead of How Bout That Batt for owner Pete Mead. This is Kenny’s fourth time winning the class, in a row, at the All American Quarter Horse Congress! What makes this string of wins even more special is that each time Kenny has won with an offspring of the AQHA stallion, Batt Man. Furthermore, three of those four wins were on behalf of owner Pete Mead.
How Bout That Batt is a full sibling to the winner from last year, Batt Attitude, who also happens to be a half-sister to Mead’s former stallion, Hez Plum Poison, the 2011 Quarter Horse Congress Champion in Longe Line. The two share the same dam, Quiet Impulse. There’s definitely a long tradition of Longe Line excellence in this program.
Kenny Lakins and Batt Attitude
2015
In 2015, Kenny led a pretty, sorrel filly named Batt Attitude to win Open Western Yearling Longe Line. That year, Mead was Reserve in the non-pro division. Click here to read our 2015 EC interview.
Kenny Lakins with I’m Fancy Schmancy.
2014
In 2014, Kenny led a striking, black colt by Batt Man named I’m Fancy Schmancy to win the class for owner, Randy Haines. That year, Haines was named the non-pro division champion as well. Click here to read our 2014 EC interview.
Kenny Lakins with Quiet Ride
2013
In 2013, Kenny led another Batt Man filly, Quiet Ride, to win the class for owner, Pete Mead. Click here to read our 2013 EC interview.
That’s quite the track record! Much like their Longe Line winners in the past, How Bout That Batt will be available in the upcoming Congress Super Sale. However, Kenny let us in on a little secret that they’re breaking the mold next year and this might be one they decide to hang on to for a while… The foal is by the stallion, Keeping It Good.
Another fun fact, if you take a look at our archival photos, Kenny wears his lucky red shirt three out of the four times!
Kathie Kennedy and Judy Davis with Kruzin In Style
In English Yearling Longe Line, Kathie Kennedy led Kruzin In Style to a win for Wayne and Judy Davis. Wayne approached Kathy earlier this year with the hopes that he might be able to score a coveted spot on her roster for the 2016 Congress. “I knew if Wayne said it was special that it really was special,” Kathie says.
Judy praises this beautiful filly’s outstanding conformation as one of her strongest attributes. “She’s strong across her back, and she never pulls herself across the ground.”
“And she’s very good-minded,” Kathie adds. This quiet demeanor was made even more evident by the fact that this filly has never been shown before in competition. Although the run wasn’t perfect, Kathie was pleased with the result. “We had one little bobble, but we kept our composure, and we both handled it well. When it’s their first time, you don’t know what they’re going to do, but she came through in the end.”
