10/14 Afternoon Congress Champions Include Bradley, Hess, Ott, and Morgan

By: Brittany Bevis

This afternoon’s classes at the All American Quarter Horse Congress have been of the English variety. First, Tabitha Hess rode Levites to win her second Congress Championship of the show in Level 1 Youth Equitation Over Fences. Earlier in the week, they won the Level 1 Youth Equitation Over Fences.

16-year-old Tabitha and 7-year-old “Strauss” love competing in their favorite classes of Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences, under the guidance of their triple training team- Amy, Virginia, and Jenna. “My favorite class is maybe Working Hunter, or Equitation, I can’t decide! I just started out riding English and have kept with it.”

While Strauss is full of personality on the ground, Tabitha says that he’s a true show horse when he enters the pen. “On the ground, he’s really social and so spoiled; but, when you ride him, he’s so calm.”

Coming up next, they will compete in Youth Hunter Hack. The Reserve Champion was Madison Scheiner with Cloaked In Honor. Third was Isabel Evans with One Last Laugh. Fourth was Kennedy Newton with One Hot Signature. Fifth was Kennedy Kapp with Artful Cha Cha.

Best buds, Eleanor Ott and Liv Winter, scored the top two spots in Small Fry Equitation with The Only Leadin Lady and A Diggin Hot Time, respectively.

10-year-old Eleanor, was in the saddle of 8-year-old “Millie”to win her first Congress Championship title at her first Quarter Horse Congress! Assisting in preparations for today’s class was her trainer, Beckey Schooler, who also introduced Eleanor to her now best friend, Liv.

“We were at a horse show in Michigan and our trainers [Beckey Schooler and Adam Winter] were talking and they asked if we’d ever met. We’ve been best friends ever since.”

Both ladies say that their favorite classes are Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle. Eleanor says it’s because she likes going fast. Liv says it’s because she has a big horse- a 13-year-old gelding named “Wilson.”

In today’s pattern, Eleanor wasn’t particularly nervous, because she knew that Millie would be there every step of the way. “I normally go into the class just trying to do my best and have fun. Patterns aren’t that hard for me, because I know my horse is very nice and will listen to my feet. The forehand turn kind of scared me a little, but not that bad.”

Now that these ladies have won at the Congress, we wondered if they have any big dreams for the future. “My big dream, when I was younger, was to come here and win, and I actually accomplished that, so I really don’t have a big dream yet, but I’m sure I can come up with one!”

In 14-18 Hunter Hack, Caroline Bradley rode Whatmadeusaythat to the win. The Reserve Champion was Karrington Christmas with Pearl Snapp Shirt. Third was Julia Furlong with Executive Hotrodder. Fourth was Abigail Hardy with My Secret Past. Fifth was Haleigh Holliday with Lasting Exposure.

Caroline rode her beloved 9-year-old gelding “Bones,” who just happened to be born on Valentines Day. Caroline says that befits his personality, because he’s a big lover. He also loves competing at the Congress.

“He loves this show. The Congress is his show. He gets in the Celeste, and he just knows. He does his job.”

This year’s performance was certainly an improvement upon what happened two years ago here at the show. “Two years ago, we won this class. It was 10:30 at night, and it was my first Congress. I had no idea what I was doing. Also, before the class, I was riding a different horse, and I had a rotational fall. I had to go to the ER. I didn’t break anything, but I had a lot of internal bruising. So this year is a lot better!”

Also here at the show, Caroline and Bones were the Reserve Champions in Youth Working Hunter 14-18 and 6th in the Non Pro Classic.

12-year-old Brylee Morgan rode her 7-year-old gelding, Shiningforthegirls, to win 13 and Under Hunter Hack. Reserve was Corinne Kolinoski with Good Time To Cool. Third was Hannah Jackson with Moxie Girl. Fourth was Paisley Chamberlain with Sonnys Hot Fantasy. Fifth was Maggie Britt with Minute Maximus.

Heading into this show, Brylee had no expectations because this is her first year competing with “Shiner.” So, she was extremely excited to discover that she had been named a Congress Champion.

“Our first fence was really good,” Brylee says. “He jumped it so pretty and bold. We did a beautiful lead change and went into our line a little strong, so I had to slow him down little bit. Then, our stop was really good too. We’ve been working on that.”

Brylee’s mother and trainer, Brea Morgan, let us in on a little secret. Shiner is actually an ex-racehorse that was purchased from a rescue organization.

“We bought him to be a lesson horse,” Brea says. “We found him on a rescue website. He was an ex-racehorse. We’ve had him for two years. He was a bag of bones when we got him. We put some weight on him, and he moves exceptional and has the best attitude and personality. He tries so hard. My dad rode him for about a month, and I said I was stealing him to be her next horse. We will keep him forever.”