3-Year-Old HUS and WP Futurity Winners Are Keith Miller/Pretty Assets and Casey Willis/KM Suddenly So Easy

By: Brittany Bevis

The 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure Futurities wrapped up this morning at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. First up, Keith Miller rode Pretty Assets to win her fourth Congress title of the show and her third Congress Championship in 2016.

“First, she won Longe Line as a yearling, and then last year she won the Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle with Troy Lehn,” Keith says. “Then, we bought her and this year she’s won the Limited and Open Non Pro 3-Year-Old, was Reserve in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, and just won the 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle. The pair received a check for $5,026.44 for the win.

“I think she has the whole package,” Keith says. “She’s really expressive with her ears, and she trots great. She’s really soft, and I think that’s what sets her apart from the other horses. Also, she’s got a great canter. I think the Hunt Seat people like her and the Western people like her too, so she fits the universal bill, and she’s flashy to boot.”

Today, Keith was in the irons for owner, Meghan Tierney, who we had the opportunity to chat with a few days ago when she won the 3-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle. Check out her interview on our The Equine Chronicle Facebook page.

Joining us for today’s interview was Keith’s daughter, Baby Charlotte, who has served as an adorable good luck charm throughout the 2016 show season. “We have been so lucky this year,” he says. We took her to her first horse show, the Little Futurity, when she was six days old. It’s been a good year, so I say it’s her!”

Charlotte loves riding in the saddle with Dad, but she doesn’t have her own pony just yet. Keith has his eye on Brim Brockmueller’s pony “T-Rex,” who he hopes they might be able to inherit in a few years.

The Reserve Champion was Valerie Kearns with Alonzo Mourning for Hannah Aho. Third was Beth Case with A Boy Named Hoo for Tammy Thompson Dyer. Fourth was Scott Jones with Iron I A Legacy for Kelly Smith. Fifth was Nancy Sue Ryan with Wihoutyoualbeblue for Capall Creek Farms.

In the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity, Casey Willis rode KM Suddenly So Easy to a big win for Masterson Farms, LLC. Casey and “Penelope” received a neck wreath, medallion, trophies, award saddle, and a check for $8,687.10.

This is a class that has been on Casey’s bucket list for years. “The Open Three-Year-Old Western Pleasure is a class I’ve wanted to win here for a long time,” he says. “It’s probably the toughest class here, as far as competition.”

“She had a little recovery from an injury back in the summer, but she’s come back very well.”

Casey reflects on this mare’s breeding when he talks about her capability in the Western Pleasure pen. “I see her personality in the way she carries herself. A lot of that is from her dad, Rl Best of Sudden. Also, I see a lot of her grandmother in her, which is Zippos Amblin Easy. She just has a lot of talent.”

“She was very good off the rail today. She let me put her anywhere I wanted her to be. Also, she jogged very good today. It was a very good day.”

Looking forward to next year, Casey is excited for Marilyn Masterson to compete with Penelope.

The Reserve Champion was Cole Baker with Loping Radical for Marcie Budine. Third was Gil Galyean with VS Lady In Red for Kristen Galyean. Fourth was Rusty Green with Scoot Over for Capital Quarter Horses, LLC. Fifth was Cody Parrish with Lexus Made Lady for Abi Tuiasosopo.