Reeve/A Certain Vino, Wade/Huntin Big Dreams Finish at Top of Non Pro Maturity WP Ltd. Stakes
Darcy Reeve and A Certain Vino
By: Brittany Bevis
To be a limited finals, the Maturity Non Pro Western Pleasure Stakes was stacked with some heavy hitters this afternoon at the 2015 Quarter Horse Congress. Claiming the top spot was Darcy Reeve aboard A Certain Vino. Coming in Reserve was Angela Wade with Huntin Big Dreams. Third place was a very happy Virginia Owen with One Lazy Investment. Placing fourth was Alexandra Chavez with Hot Lopin Goodbar. Rounding out the top five was new momma Jamie Oakley with Flashy Looking Touch; Oakley has an almost three-month-old baby here at the Congress in tow!
For Reeve and Vino, the 2015 Congress is all about having fun and celebrating the fact that “Vino” has been able to return to the show pen after an injury he sustained in 2014. This evening, Ty Hornick, will get his turn to show Vino in Senior Western Pleasure.
Angela Wade and Huntin Big Dreams
“Ty showed him once, a couple of weeks ago, at a little Ohio show,” Reeve says. “Ty has been such a huge part of his career, and we thought it would be a fun change-up. This year is all about fun and enjoying him. There is nothing to prove anymore.”
Trainer Adam Wainscott promising Huntin Big Dreams a slice of pizza if he performs well in the class…
12-year-old Vino is as spry and smooth-moving as ever accumulating his 25th Congress Championship title with today’s win. Because they’re taking things slow, Vino will only compete in Western Pleasure classes this year. However, Reeve hopes to add Western Riding back next year, and she has plans for other members of the family to get in on the fun as well.
“I would absolutely love to see my dad show him in Select, and I have a 6-year-old nephew who really wants to do walk-trot,” Reeve says. “Vino loves kids.”
If his new blue ribbon wasn’t proof enough, how is Vino doing after his injury? “We’ve slowly brought him back, and I think he’s doing better now than he ever has. He’s holding the ground longer too.”
Virginia Owen and One Lazy Investment
“He has stepped up his game. I don’t know what it is about this horse. Every time he comes to this show, he is just better and better. Karen was jogging him last night in the Open Maturity Western Pleasure prelims, and that’s the best I’ve ever seen him jog.”
This Saturday, Karen Hornick will show Vino in the Maturity Western Pleasure Finals and Reeve will show once again in the Non Pro Maturity Open Finals. She also plans to show her other horse Ima Petite Classic in Amateur Trail and Western Riding.
