L1 Congress Champions Include Beth Case, Haley Purkapile, and John Pauluzzi

By: Brittany Bevis

This evening, a number of Congress Champions were named in Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure classes. First up, Beth Case rode Miss Goody Hoo Shoes to win L1 Hunter Under Saddle.

This pretty filly is only two years old and is by Hot Ones Only. She’s owned by Tammy Dyer. “She’s out of Goody Goody Gumdrops, a Western horse. My Western Rider is actually out of the same mare. This mare’s babies all have great front legs, every one of them. But, she looks identical to her dad. They could be twins.”

When asked why Beth chose to pin her hopes for this class on a two-year-old, she had a simple answer. “I didn’t have another Green horse, so I figured I’d show my two-year-old!” she laughs.

Coming up next, Beth will show “Benz” in 2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, a class that promises to go well for this duo, considering the fact that they just came off a double win at the NSBA World Show in Open 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle and the BCF 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle.

“She’s beautiful, has a great front leg, and a really cool look when she puts it all together. She’s not spooky. She’s brave, and she takes whatever you give her.”

The Reserve Champion was Katy Jo Zuidema with Al Wayz On Your Mind. Third was Keith Miller with N A Heartbeat. Fourth was Jennifer Goss with Me Myself and Sky. Fifth was Nya Kearns with Red Code Review.

Next up, Haley Purkapile rode Ready Set Lope to win her first Congress title in L1 Amateur Western Pleasure. “This is my first time showing at the Congress, so it’s kind of overwhelming. It’s so exciting to finally get to show here. I started showing POAs when I was five or six. This is my first summer fully showing Quarter Horses.”

Haley received “Charlotte,” a pretty mare by Certain Potential, as a birthday present in June of this year, and she’s so excited that she gets to continue her training with Rusty and Katie Green. “Rusty actually had my ponies!”

Earlier in the show, Haley and Charlotte placed 6th in the Non Pro Limited Maturity and 8th in the Non Pro Open Maturity.

The Reserve Champion was Jennifer Bennett with Cool Aidy. Third place was Kina Tavary with Pass The Black Gold. Fourth was Hannah Clarke with Talk About Lazy. Fifth was Bailey Anderson with She Flat Mystical.

Finally, in the L1 Amateur Select Western Pleasure, the Congress Champion was John Pauluzzi with Certainly Flatlined. John and “Peter” currently compete under the guidance of Jay and Kristy Starnes, to whom John credits much of tonight’s success.

“Last year was my first Congress in 30 years,” he says. “Jay and Kristy are the ones who resurrected me from the depths, literally!”

“30 years ago, we did things differently. It was toes up and heels down. Now, it’s toes out and heels in. It’s a completely different world, and they’ve had to teach me how to ride again.”

John has owned “Peter,” a gelding by VS Flatline and out of A Certain Illusion, for the past two years. Earlier today, they placed fourth in the 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure. Coming up next, they will show in the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Open finals, and Kristy Starnes will compete in the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. After the Congress has concluded it will be on to the AQHA World Show, where John and Peter will compete for the first time in Oklahoma City.

The Reserve Champion in the class was Tracy Alderman with Eazy Dayzie. Third was Betty Jo Carr with OHK Goodbars Krymsun. Fourth was Susan Vonessen with Too Cool To Be Hot. Fifth was Gina Gray with Lopin Pretty.