Throwback Thursday- Congress Million Dollar Stallion Avenue

By: Brittany Bevis

With cutting, reining, and roping events already well underway at the 2013 All American Quarter Horse Congress, we thought it would be appropriate to dedicate this week’s Throwback Thursday to a much-loved and missed Congress institution: Million Dollar Stallion Avenue.

It doesn’t seem so long ago that OQHA’s then Executive Vice President Cam Foreman relayed the news that the 2011 Congress would be the first event without a Stallion Avenue since the show’s inception in 1967. A longtime tradition at the Congress, Stallion Avenue was a must-see attraction at the show grounds in Columbus, Ohio. Everyone, from bright-eyed kids with sticky fingers to veteran cowboys eager to measure up the next generation of horseflesh, gathered to get up close and personal with some of the top Quarter Horse stallions in the nation.

An OQHA press statement from 2011 shows that the decision to close Stallion Avenue wasn’t taken lightly.

“It was a very tough decision,” said OQHA Executive Vice President Cam Foreman. “But times have changed, and new technology dominates how we market and promote stallions today. Congress Hall has had the same layout for more than 20 years. It’s very exciting to be able to make some much needed changes.”

Some of those changes included expanded booth sizes, more elaborate commercial exhibits, and a completely new layout for Congress Hall. Although the updated shopping mecca was thoroughly appreciated, there were more than a few people who were saddened to see the history books close on Stallion Avenue.

We spoke with Ann Lanning, back in 2011, to get her reaction to the Avenue’s closing. She also shared a few fond memories from Edgewood/Lanning’s time on the red carpet.

“We can well remember the first time we walked down that carpeted aisle way in Congress Hall housing Million Dollar Stallion Avenue,” Lanning said. “It was in the 70s, and we were just like all of the countless others who were there getting a look at the fabulous Quarter Horse stallions who had achieved star status. What a thrill that was. It was oh so impressive. How exciting it was to view these celebrities of the horse world up close and personal and to have the opportunity to speak to their owners, handlers, and agents. It is a memory we have never forgotten.”

Lanning went on to say how never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that one day she and her husband would find themselves front and center with a horse on Stallion Avenue. Not only did they return with a stallion; the pair was a fixture on the Avenue for many years representing stallions like Mr. Conclusion, Diversified, Sonny Go Tee, Telusive, Kid Silent, Jacks Are Lucky Too, Design By Conception, and Endzone Dancer.

“The memories associated with each and every time that we have been a part of Stallion Avenue are priceless!” she said. “So many friendships have been made, and so many memorable times have been spent with the stallion owners in the many differently decorated and themed presentations concerning each respective stallion. [We had a] camaraderie with other stallion owners on the Avenue, and [it was] a fabulous opportunity to meet and express our gratitude to the mare owners and fans of these stallions we were always so proud to represent. Life is filled with memories of good times, good horses, and good people, and we have been so richly blessed with all of those. Many took place right there on Stallion Avenue.”

If you have any tales of your experiences while visiting Stallion Avenue, we’d love for you to share them with us. Send your memories and photos to b.bevis@equinechronicle.com to be included.

Equine Chronicle.com Readers’ Memories of Stallion Avenue:

Katie Stricker Gilbert– “I can remember, when I was little, my mom and dad would take me so I could see Good Version on Stallion Avenue. I just loved him! My parents bought a mare and bred her to Good Version. The resulting foal was my old show mare, It’s A Good Life. I placed in the top 10 at the Congress five times with her, and we won a bunch of futurites with her too. Fast forward to now, and we have our own stud, Ziprageous. Crossing It’s a Good Life with him has been a match made in heaven! Their first foal is Rode Rageous, the Reichert Equine Sports Medicine Challenge Champion and earner of nearly $140,000! Their two-year-old, For The Life of Me, is a great filly. She will be showing at the Congress this year in the Coughlin 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure with Beckey Schooler. I have to believe that all of this started with our family going to Stallion Ave every year to visit Good Version or ‘Vern!’

 

Scroll below to view a selection of Congress photos from way back in our Equine Chronicle archives. See if you can guess who they are before reading the captions…