Congress Champions Include Cook, Smith, Hinely, Hornick, Tordoff, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

This evening’s Congress Champions spanned a wide range of disciplines and age divisions, but they’re all fabulous females! First, Bailey Cook rode Cool To Be Invited to win Level 1 Amateur Horsemanship. The Reserve Champion was Shannon Cairone with On My Level. Third was Kaylee Swanigan with Good As Expected. Fourth was Kate Evans with Eyed Be In A Jam. Fifth was Eilish Anderson with Black Ty Invitation.

This is Bailey’s first Congress title. “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet…” she says. “We’re going to Disney World!” adds her trainer, Bruce Vickery. Bailey and “Tom” compete under the guidance of Bruce and Anthony Montes. Bailey has ridden with Bruce for six years. She even bought her first show horse from him.

Bailey believes Tom’s ability to power through the extended trot portion of tonight’s pattern is what allowed them to come out on top. “There was a lot of extended trot in the pattern, so I really focused on getting him to really stretch out to set us apart. I always focus on keeping my upper body back, staying confident in my neck position, and looking up.”

Coming up later in the show, Bailey and Tom will be showing in Amateur Trail, L1 Amateur and Amateur Western Riding, and Amateur Horsemanship.

The winner of 11 and Under Western Pleasure was Paige Smith with The Pineapple Xpress. The Reserve Champion was Emma Gore with My Only Good Shoes. Fourth was Elivia Papcun with Certainly Not. Fourth was Ariana Nemeth with Jacks Are Sleepy Too. Fifth was Ava Hathway with Kcees Cruise Missile.

This win is very special for Paige, because she just turned 12 years old yesterday. Paige’s partner for today’s class was her 6-year-old mare named “Apple.” Paige and Apple have been a team for two years and compete under the guidance of Steve and Jennifer Reams. Paige says her trainers gave her some great advice before she entered the pen to compete. “They told me to push, have fun, and be brave.”

Coming up next, Paige will show her other horse, Red Carpet Rita, in 11 and Under Hunter Under Saddle. When asked what her favorite class is, Paige says, “I just can’t pick!”

Although Paige is only 12, she has some big goals for the future. She wants to go to the Youth World Show next year, and she wants to grow up to be a horse trainer or a veterinarian.

This Congress marks the end of an era for Olivia Tordoff and Too Blazin Cool. The numerous Congress Champion earning team won the Maturity Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes for the final time. In 2019, the pair plans to focus more on all-around events. “I think this will be his last Hunter Under Saddle futurity year,” Olivia says.

Olivia and “Willy” are already well on their way, having won 15-18 Equitation here at the show. “It’s a challenging class, because contact isn’t his favorite thing. It’s a challenging thing to balance having a horse ready for Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation, but he was so good.”

“I think the thing that sets Willy apart is how slow his legs are. He has a really big split in behind and a really flat knee. Although he’s not the biggest trotter, or horse, he makes up for it with his movement.”

Coming up next, Olivia will show Willy in NYATT Hunter Under Saddle, 15-18 Hunter Under Saddle, and she will compete in 15-18 Horsemanship with Lookin Lazy.

Taylor Hinely was named the Champion in 13 and Under Western Riding with Hot Chips A Blaze. The Reserve Champion was Caroline Fredenburg with Ima Tuff Barpasser. Third was Nicole Goosen with Platinum Sunsation. Fourth was Lyla Bellar with Potentially Money. Fifth was Lily Corbin with A Well Oiled Machine.

This was Taylor’s first win at the Quarter Horse Congress, but certainly not her first time attending. As the daughter of horse trainer, Kellie Hinely, Taylor practically grew up around the rings here in Columbus, Ohio. Taylor admits that she wasn’t sure if her pattern was good enough to take the top spot today. “I was so nervous, and I wasn’t sure. I thought we might have split the log and had some early changes.”

However, her fears were unfounded, because she and her trusty sidekick were named the Congress Champions, just moments before they had to go back into the pen to compete in Equitation.

Karen Hornick was in the saddle of Made N The Shade to win the Maturity Limited Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Nick Mayabb with Made Just Right. Third was Sara Simons with Rock My Motion. Fourth was Ty Hornick with RL Sudden Melody. Fifth was Kristy Starnes with Certainly Flatlined.

This was Karen’s first time showing “Mikey,” who’s owned by Natasha Blanchard and in training with Rusty and Katie Green. “I rode him a couple of times the other day. It says so much for their program with picking horses and how broke they are that you can just get on and push the buttons. Katie said, ‘You do you.’ That was her advice! I really like his softness in his neck and self-carriage. I didn’t feel like I had to carry him at all. He’s so strong. He’s a beast.”

Coming up next, Natasha will show Mikey in the Non Pro Maturity and Amateur Western Pleasure; Karen will show in the Open Maturity, and Rusty Green will show in Junior Western Pleasure.