Scores using the new system can range from 0 to 100, with the average score being 70. The patterns will be divided into six to 10 maneuvers, with each maneuver being scored from a plus 3 to a minus 3 in half-point increments, a 0 is average. The maneuver score will have equal consideration with the performance of the pattern and the rider’s position and effectiveness.

Tonight’s main event to cap off a full month of horse showing in Columbus, Ohio was The Equine Chronicle Congress Masters 2-Year-Old Event.

Laurel Champlin and her trusty partner of seven years, Look N Hott, aka “JJ,” just claimed double wins at the Quarter Horse Congress in Select Hunter Under Saddle and Select Equitation. 

There’s no doubt that all of tonight’s entries have WILLY BIG DREAMS; but, in order to claim the top spot and that big check, they BETTER B SWEET,  EXTREMELY GOOD LOOKING, and EXTREMELY SALTY. If you’re planning to attend the Masters tonight, don’t worry, it doesn’t require a lot of OLD SOUTHERN MONEY. The price of a ticket is just $10, as is the pay per view live feed. 

Although the Congress may have started out a bit rocky for Rachel Trebesh and her new horse, No Doubt I Shine, they pulled it out in the end to win their first Congress Championship title during their first year showing as an amateur. 

“Every night, after he wins, we have tacos and margaritas, so tonight we will have more!”

Terry and 13-year-old “Promise” went 49th in the draw, so they had quite a long wait to see if their score of 243.5 would hold up. It did, but the race was close at the very end. Jennifer Paul rode Some Hot Potential to come in Reserve, just a half point shy of the leader’s position.

“I sing a song in my head when I show, and it’s the same one. It’s Zac Brown Band’s Quiet Your Mind. It’s got a good one-two beat, and I sing it to myself. It’s got a good little build to it, so when I did my gallop, I was singing that part to myself and hearing the drums in my head. I try to stay in my head and not worry about what’s going on everywhere else.”

“It was the very last horse!” she says. “We were sitting first and second and then Carly went and had a killer go. I’m so happy. I would’ve been fine if I was second, third, or fifteenth.”