Kenny Lakins and One Lazy Investment Are 2013 Congress Champions in Senior Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

It was a true nail-biter until the bitter end with the determining factor for the top two spots resting on the placings of the final judge. There is a new Congress Champion Senior Western Pleasure team in town, and their names are Kenny Lakins and One Lazy Investment.

Multiple Congress and World Champion, A Certain Vino, was the Reserve Congress Champion in the class tonight. Rounding out the top three was Adam Wainscott with Huntin Big Dreams.

We caught up with Lakins to chat about those last stressful moments before the judges’ placings were announced.

“You know, to be honest, Adam and I were standing there, and we were [wondering if we could do it,]” Lakins says. “I had a really good ride. Lazy was great, so I thought, ‘whatever happens, happens.’ I was happy with the way he went.”

The high pressure atmosphere of competing at the Congress coupled with an emotional roller coaster of show nerves can get the best of even the most seasoned professional. However, Lakins was pleased with his horse, his ride, and decided to let the chips fall where they may.

“Really, to be honest, I wasn’t all that jittery,” he says. “Adam said he felt like he was about ready to have a come-apart! You know, I’ve had so much success with this horse. I was so happy to finally [win], and it felt good.”

Lakins and seven-year-old “Lazy” have a storied history here at the Congress winning the Equine Chronicle Congress Masters as a 2-year-old and the 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure the following year. Lazy also has a World Championship in Amateur Western Pleasure with Tanya Relander and was the unanimous Congress Champion in Youth 14-18 Western Pleasure with Virginia Owens in 2012.

Unfortunately, Virginia is still at school and was unable to attend the finals this evening. However, Lakins confirms that her father, Peak, certainly got an earful when he called to give her the good news.

“He said she was just screaming on the phone when he told her,” Lakins says. “She was watching on the Internet. She’s coming to show next Tuesday in the youth.”

Lakins was thrilled that he and this very “special horse” were crowned the victors in what has been described as one of the stoutest Congress Senior Western Pleasure classes in years. He was also quick to note and commend the quality of his competition.

“It’s just one of those things where [the judges] felt like he was probably better tonight,” Lakins says. “I’ve worked really hard to try to make Lazy better, to see if I could get to this spot. Tonight, I guess they thought he did.”

A big congratulations goes to Kenny and Ashley Lakins and Peek and Virginia Owens on this incredible achievement.

Senior Western Pleasure:

1-One Lazy Investment/Kenny Lakins

2-A Certain Vino/Karen Hornick

3-Huntin Big Dreams/Adam Wainscott

4-Legal Machine/Gil Galyean

5-Blazinmytroublesaway/Rusty Green

6-All The Sudden/Candy Parrish

7-Only Because I’m Good/Carl Yamber

8-Only Yours/Shane Dowdy

9-Miss Famous Maker/Cole Baker

10-Only Intuition/Randy Wilson