Today’s Congress Champions Include Jennifer Michaels, Tony Anderman, and Jason Gilliam

By: Brittany Bevis

Several big winners have been crowned today at the Quarter Horse Congress in some huge classes.

First, Jennifer Michaels led PSU Willy Be Krymsun to win Select Showmanship. Michaels and her 7-year-old gelding, “Will,” have been a team for the past three years.  They currently compete under the guidance of Christopher Gray.

Jennifer and Will won at the Select World Show two years ago, but this is their first Congress Championship. “We won two years ago at the Select World. We just went to get our feet wet. I’d never experienced a World Show before. We showed here last year in Trail; but, previous to that, it was many years ago that I’d showed at the Congress.”

In a word, Jennifer describes what she’s feeling as “elation.” “There’s no words for something like this. It’s unbelief.”

As far as her finals pattern is concerned, she can’t pick out a certain piece that was her favorite. “I liked every piece of it. I can’t pick out one more than the other. He was totally with me. The trotting, walking, stopping, pivoting, and setting up. He was my machine today, and he did his job.”

Today, Jennifer says her trainer gave her some specific advice that really helped for the finals. “He said I was too far in front of my horse, and I had my elbow out. He said that I didn’t have my horse with me. He was too far behind me, and if he’s too far behind me, I’m not going to get my maneuvers.”

The Reserve Champion was Laina Banks with Strawberri Wine. Third was Leena Volmer with Izzy Got It. Fourth was Lisa Neiberger with No Question I’m Lazy Fifth was Joe Whitt with Rumors Only.

In the Amateur Showmanship, Tony Anderman led Solo Invested to a big win. Tony and his 14-year-old gelding have won at the AQHA World Show and the NSBA World Show, but this is their first win at the Congress, completing their trifecta.

“This was the last big thing I hadn’t won before,” Tony says. “I’d never been higher than fifth in Showmanship at the Congress.”

Tony purchased his pretty, bay gelding from Kip Riley in February of last year, so they haven’t been a team for that long. Luckily, they have a double-team of trainers ready to help lend their expertise.

“I’m very lucky, because they’re both obviously insanely good. Clint Ainsworth had two Showmanship winners yesterday, and Chris Gray had one this morning. I’m really lucky to have the best of the best behind me. Clint really tried to tell me that I can do it. I don’t need to dial it back, but I don’t need to try to do something crazy. Chris really helps me with a lot of the specifics of the horse, because he knows it so well. His advice is more task oriented. With those two, I feel like I’m ready to go show.”

The Reserve Champion was Whitney Vicars with Who Invited RL. Third was Jessica Baird with Amazin Dream. Fourth was Hailey Thornton with Best To Be Boss. Fifth was Angela Fox with HP The Rusty Fox.

Jason Gilliam was in the saddle of Hil Have A Taco to win 4 and 5-year-old Trail Stakes and his second Congress Championship title of the show. The Reserve Champion was Blake Weis with Cool Cruzen Lady. Third was Brad Ost with Ramblin Mann. Fourth was Whitney Lagace with Mommadinraisenofool. Fifth was Whitney Lagace with Rockin The Blues.

Just a few days ago, Jason rode “Taco” to win the Green Junior Trail for Lori and Katie Grossnickle. Now that Taco has two Congress titles under his belt, Lori says all the pressure is on her daughter, Katie, for the upcoming Amateur Trail and Non Pro 4 and 5-Year-Old Trail Stakes.

The Grossnickle family jokingly refers to Taco as the #BestTradeEver, because he was the result of a fortuitous switch with Shelley and Kim Donovan. “We had a daughter of Too Sleepy To Zip that we’d raised, and she wasn’t working out for us. We talked to the ladies and they suggested a trade for Taco, who’s named such because he was born on Taco Tuesday. The 4-year-old gelding is by Charlie Hilfiger.

“[Our trainer] Brent Maxwell got on him, loped him around a few times, and said that we might want to consider this trade!” Lori says. “He’s so sweet. Even in Western Riding, he’s effortless, and he has a great topline. Even in Western Riding, he moves out. Some judges might not like that, but I do.”

The Reserve Champion was Blake Weis with Cool Cruzen Lady. Third was Ramblin Mann with Brad Ost. Third was Whitney Lagace with Mommadinraisenofool. Fifth was Whitney Lagace with Rockin The Blues.