10/20 Congress Champions Include Taylor, Weakly, Trahan, Fox, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Today’s classes at the Quarter Horse Congress began with Kent Ray Taylor riding Snap It Send It to win the 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure.

“Bailey” is a relatively new horse for Kent, just purchased before the Sun Circuit this year on the advice of one of his trainers, Blake Weis. But it wasn’t exactly love at first sight.

“Blake sent me a video of her, and I responded by saying that I didn’t think she was very pretty. However, he was pretty insistent that this was the horse I needed to buy. I said that if he could promise that she changed leads really well, I would buy her. Now, she’s amazing, and I can’t thank him enough. That’s why I trust my trainers 1,000%.”

“Aaron Moses has had her in training this whole time. I’m very fortunate, truly. I have amazing horses, and I couldn’t be happier. Without Beth Case, Jameson [All Good] would be good, but not great and without Aaron, Bailey would be good, but not great.”

Bailey is by VS Code Red and out of the great show mare, Snap Krackle Pop. Initially, Bailey wasn’t purchased to show in Western Pleasure, but she’s proven to have an aptitude in the class. “We bought her to do Western Riding and Trail. She’s super sweet and she changes leads incredibly. But in Western Pleasure, I think she has the most incredible front leg and she’s so soft. If you notice her topline, her neck is level the whole time, and she’s licking her lips. It’s not hard for her at all. There is no intimidation, and she never gets overbridled.”

Coming up next, Kent will show Bailey in the Open Non Pro division of the class and Aaron will show her in the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. Then, it’s on to the AQHA World Show to compete in the Versatility Challenge, a class that should suit this pretty, gray mare to a tee.

Reserve in the class was Nancy Wilkerson-Ditty with Forever Kool. Third was Nick Weiss with Moonlite Imagination. Fourth was Marlee White with Sure Am Southern. Fifth was Carrie Oakley with Made N May.

Over in the Halter pen, Josh Weakly led Bigger Dreams to win Amateur Yearling Stallions. Reserve was Christopher Perniciaro with Irrefutable. Third was Lorgan Lorenz with LFL Eligiance. Fourth was Joy Stehney with GLS Uptown Secret. Fifth was Millie Corder with Ima Perfect Bet.

Josh purchased “Blake,” a black colt by My Intention in August of last year. “He has grown and filled out since last year. He did exactly what he needed to do. He was a very mature baby early on. He’s balanced and has a pretty face, everything we look for in a baby.”

Coming up next, Bailey will compete at the AQHA World Show with Ross Roark in the open division and with Josh the amateur.

Amateur 2-Year-Old Stallions was won by Scott Trahan with Evinceble. Reserve was Mariah Gipson with I Got Cool Luck. Third was Robin Robinett with Juz Sayin. Fourth was Terra Beckham with The Image Consultant. 

Dan Fox led Romeiro to win Amateur 3-Year-Old Stallions. Reserve was Tammi Smith with Whoisit. Third was Lynn Flowers with Escort. 

Romeiro has won at the Congress in the amateur division for the past three years in a row. Dan has had the beautiful stud since he was just a yearling. He’s by PF Premo and out of Miss Land Lock.

“I’ve got five studs, and he’s the easiest one to show. He’s a total gentlemen. We got him in the breeding pen this year, and it didn’t change his attitude at all. We have seven babies coming next year, and that will be his first foal crop.” Some of Dan’s most anticipated crosses include an I Got A Cool Secret/My Intention mare.

“What I love about this stallion is his total correctness. He has got three features that are just huge: his small head, great neck, and great legs.”

Dr. Ted Filandrianos led I Am The Party to win Amateur Aged Stallions. Dr. Ted raised the 5-year-old stallion he calls “Benji.” He’s by Invitation Only and out of Heza Radical Chip. Benji is actually a performance sire and excels in Western Pleasure, Trail, and Western Riding. Thus far at the Congress, Jonathan Meilleur rode Benji to place fourth in Green Trail.

“He doesn’t care if there is a  mare or stallion next to him. He’s the same all the time. Jonathan’s daughter is 9 years old, and she leads him around. People tell me he’s probably one of the best-minded stallions they’ve ever been around.”

“Also, he’s a true form to function stallion. He’s beautiful as far as his muscle tone, hocks, and legs. He has everything that make him a performance horse, but he’s not just a pretty face. His first foal crop will be coming next year.”

Kathryn DeVries Mitchell led True Blue Bayou to win Amateur Performance Stallions. Reserve was Suzonne Franks with Incognito Sirprize. Third was Marie-France D’Hondt with Figured Im Invited. Fourth was Alex Chavez with The Born Legacy. Fifth was Patti Thompson with Al Get Your Shine On.

In a repeat performance from last week, Evinceble was the Grand Champion Stallion once again, this time with owner Scott Trahan at the lead. Reserve was Romeiro, led by Dan Fox.

We chatted with Scott Trahan about Evinceble last week when he was named the Open Grand Champion Stallion with Tom Robertson at the lead. Click here to read.