“Super Select” 73-Year-Old Rodger Call Wins Congress Hunter Hack With Trusty Go Big Sky
Marcus receives his favorite treat, a mint!
By: Brittany Bevis
The charming gentleman we’ve all come to know as Mr. Rodger Call achieved a milestone this evening at the Quarter Horse Congress when he rode his 14-year-old grey gelding, Go Big Sky, to win Select Hunter Hack. Call fondly refers to himself as a “Super Select” competitor, because he is now 73 years young.
Although he’s had prior success in Hunter Hack at the Select World Show, this is his first Congress Championship in the event.
“I was delighted,” he says. “A year ago, I was Reserve Congress Champion, but I haven’t had many Congress wins myself. So this is a special delight for me.”
Call and “Marcus” currently compete under the guidance of Chuck Briggs, and he feels lucky to have received sage instruction from other professionals in the industry. “David Connors worked with us back in 1991, so I’ve had excellent help from people like Chuck Briggs, David Connors, and Linda Crothers, just a lot of wonderful people.”
Linda Crothers piloted Marcus to a Reserve Champion finish just the other day in Senior Working Hunter. Now, the pair will go right back in the pen for Senior Hunter Hack. Tomorrow, Call and Marcus will compete in Amateur Pleasure Driving, and Charlie Cole will drive in the senior division.
As Call reflects on today’s performance, he is pleased with their pace down the jump line and Marcus’s ability to stay focused during the rail work. “Our fence line was very good,” he says. “I set the pace, stayed with it, and didn’t let him suck back as we were coming to the first fence. For the rail work, my trainer suggested I stay off the rail, because, in times past, he’s wanted to look up over the rail and be distracted. That worked very well. Chuck said it was one of my best rail goes with him.”
We couldn’t conclude the interview without commenting on Call’s fashionable neck tie, embroidered with miniature Bull Dogs, that he chose for his hunt ensemble tonight. “This is my grand dog,” he says. “His name is Dobie. My son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids bought me this tie, and it’s been my lucky tie. It works!
The Reserve Champion in tonight’s class was Dr. April Speyer with Lovin Honor. Third place was Dolly Anderson with I’m Handy Andy. Fourth place was Diane Andersen with Amblin Max. Fifth place was Ann Manion with IE Lukin.
