Kathy Tobin and More Radical Win Congress Select Western Riding With a 230

By: Brittany Bevis

Kathy Tobin and her 12-year-old gelding, More Radical, scored a 230 to win Select Western Riding this afternoon at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. After a little bobble in Trail earlier this morning, Kathy and “Rodney” were looking for a redemption round.

“Trail was a little rocky this morning, but he was saving his good go for this afternoon!” Kathy says. “He warmed up really well. Jim [Searles] helped me ride him around and get him warmed up. Then, when I got on, he was really good. Right from the get-go, he seemed happy. He doesn’t normally have very many problems, but you never know. He could decide that something is scary…”

Luckily, Rodney kept his wits about him and helped Kathy complete a seamless Western Riding pattern with fluid transitions and smooth quality of movement. Kathy has won Hunter Under Saddle Congress Championships in the past with other horses, but this is her first win with Rodney, and her first in a Western discipline, not counting previous Reserve Championships in Horsemanship.

Earlier in the show, Kathy competed with her other horse, Suddenly A Good Bar, to place 11th in Trail and 9th in Horsemanship, but she and Rodney saved the best for last. Rodney is by Radical Rodder and has been in the barn of Jim and Deanna Searles for quite some time. “[My sister] Susie Johns bought him first, and then I’ve had him four years, I think. He started his career out as a Western Pleasure horse with Kenny Lakins.”

Kathy has been training with the Searles’ for over 20 years. “It’s been wonderful,” she says. “It’s about the confidence they have and their patience with explanations. They’re very good at seeing what you’ve done wrong and then explaining how to fix it.”

The Reserve Champion was Perry Jackson with Cutelicious. Third was Jamie Devencenty with Blazin Wilma. Fourth was Cathy Corrigan Frank with TAMU Zippin Asset. Fifth was Robin Otto with Don’t Skip This Diva. Sixth was Diana Davidson with My Vital Valentine. Seventh was Vickie Kent with Won Lopin Rv Machine. Eighth was Isabel Scobie with Range To A Te. Ninth was Angela Stanhope with Born Hot Feelin Good. Tenth was April Souwand with Only A Party For Two.