Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Wins Go To Thompson and Painter

By: Brittany Bevis

The Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle classes saw several familiar faces in the winner’s circle today at the 2014 All American Quarter Horse Congress. First up, Sharnai Thompson was named the Congress Champion with Only Blue Couture in the Three-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes. The pair received a check for $3,202.74 for their efforts. The Reserve Champion was Alexandra Chavez with Only Smokin Hot; the pair received a check for $2,305.97. Rounding out the top three was Dawn Sechler with Next Ones On Me.

Then, in the open limited version of the class, Ryan Painter rode Only Smokin Hot to the Congress Champion spot for Alexandra Chavez. They received a sizeable check for $4,464.52. The Reserve Champion in the class was Tami Thurston with Best In The Moonlite; this pair received a check for $3,214.45. Rounding out the top three was Heidi Piper with BMQ Revelation.

We caught up with Chavez and Painter as they were celebrating after their big win.

“We got Duke from Beau Baird,” Chavez says. “I got him because I wanted a horse I could practice English on. I wanted to be able to have one at home that was safe and good-minded for the Hunter Under Saddle. Since Dawn Baker showed him last year at the Congress, I decided it would probably be a good program. Then, I took him home and Troy [Lehn] has been riding him for while.”

Duke, aka “Marmaduke,” is quite an imposing presence in the show ring with his long sweeping stride and impressive height. But Chavez assures us he is nothing but a gentle giant.

“He’s so cool and so good-minded for a three-year-old; he just packs me around,” she says. “At the NSBA World Show, Ryan had won in the 3-Year-Old limited class and he had to go show in the Hunter-Jumper pen, so he took his saddle off him. I just got on bareback and rode him up to the judges for the placings!”

Duke’s pilot for this evening, Ryan Painter, was very pleased with the performance delivered from the 3-year-old gelding by Hot Ones Only. It was easy to tell by the smile across his face that this horse has a special place in his heart.

“He’s just easy, kind, soft, and so comfortable to ride,” Painter says. “It’s like sitting on a sofa. To be a hunt seat horse, he lopes great. You can just sit there and cruise on him.”

Earlier in the show, Chavez and Duke were named the Reserve Congress Champions in both the Three-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle limited and open divisions. Up next, Painter will show Duke in the open division finals of the Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Futurity.

This dynamic duo has a creative way to ensure their winning streak stays on track the rest of the week. “He has blue braids, and we match [with blue lapels on our hunt coats],” Chavez says. “It’s the color of ribbon we wanted!” Painter adds.

Three-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity Ltd.-

1-Only Smokin Hot/Ryan Painter- $4,464.52

2-Best In The Moonlite/Tami Thurston- $3,214.45

3-BMQ Revelation/Heidi Piper

4-You Will Be Seein Me/Rhonda Spratto

5-Designated With Detail/Jessica Johnson

Three-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes-

1-Only Blue Couture/Sharnai Thompson- $3,202.74

2-Only Smokin Hot/Alexandra Chavez- $2,305.97

3-Next Ones On Me/Dawn Sechler

4-Rios Marecedes/Tammy Dewey

5- Natural Mead/Brenda Looney