David Miller/The Fire Escape, Lainie DeBoer/What I Know Now Win Progressive, Green, Junior Working Hunter at 2015 QH Congress
By: Brittany Bevis
David Miller was in the irons of the statuesque 5-year-old, The Fire Escape, this morning to win Progressive Working Hunter for owner Lauren Rodeberg. Both Miller and Rodeberg were understandably very emotional following this morning’s win.
“Never in my life did I think I would have a horse like this,” Rodeberg says. “He’s my first Congress Champion, and he’s such an amazing animal.”
Those who keep up with Congress stats might remember The Fire Escape as the former Reserve Congress Champion in The Equine Chronicle Masters 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle, as ridden by Scott Jones. Rodeberg also competes with “Jim,” but solely in Hunter Under Saddle. She will be making an appearance in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHA World Show.
“I will slowly start doing the fences with him… but not yet. I’m letting David have him for now,” she grins.
David and Jim have been very busy this morning, having already competed in Green and Junior Working Hunter. The pair will compete in Junior Hunter Hack on Tuesday. Just like today, Rodeberg will be watching with bated breath as Jim takes the jumps.
“I have a hard time watching,” she admits. “I like watching the Hunter Hack so much better, because there’re only two jumps. The whole time I’m thinking, ‘Don’t tick. Don’t tick. You’ve got this.’ Then, when it’s clean, I can take a breath of relief.”
Jim first got his start as a youngster under the guidance of Nancy Renfro. Then, at the Sun Circuit in 2014, Miller tested the horse’s Hunter skills. “Even though he was just starting out, he wasn’t scared,” she says. “He was so cute with his knees. We knew that was the direction we should head down, because obviously he’s talented. Jim is by the late Good I WIll Be and out of Ruth Ellen’s fabulous, Thoroughbred mare Escapist.”
“His mother is also the mother of The Only Escape, who is a World Champion and Congress Champion,” Ruth Ellen says.
The Reserve Champion in the class today was Cindy Reddish with Amblin Max for Diane Andersen. Rounding out the top three was Alfred Hewitt with Natural Iron Mist for Renee White. Coming in fourth place was Alfred Hewitt again with Lovin Honor for Dr. April Speyer. Fifth place was Tyson Furlong with PS Yes Your Honor for Melissa Frasier. Sixth place was Tyson Furlong with I’ll Only be A Minute. Seventh was Cindy Reddish with Ima Hot Iron. Eighth place was Virginia Beaton with Smile N Nod. Ninth was Ryan Painter with Going In Rockin. Tenth was Taylor Jean Douglas with Pipen Hot Irons.
The winner of Green Working Hunter was Lainie DeBoer with What I Know Now for Margaret Roth. The Reserve Champion was Tyson Furlong with I’ll Only Be A Minute. Third place was Alfred Hewitt with Lovin Honor. Fourth place was Linda Crothers with Hez Playin With Fire. Fifth place was Stacey Roberson with Zip Up My Blumers. Sixth was Virginia Beaton with Smile N Nod. Seventh was David Warner with Pass The Reins. Eighth was David Miller with The Fire Escape. Ninth was Tyson Furlong with PS Yes Your Honor. Tenth was Taylor Jean Douglas with Pipen Hot Iron.
Lainie DeBoer returned with What I Know Now in the next class to win Junior Working Hunter. Then, David Miller claimed the Reserve spot with The Fire Escape. Rounding out the top three was Virginia Beaton with Smile N Nod. Fourth was Taylor Jean Douglas with Pipen Hot Irons. Fifth was Stacey Roberson with Zip Up My Blumers.
