Rusty Green and Rock County Kid Win Green Western Pleasure at 2014 QH Congress

By: Brittany Bevis

After five tough cuts and a finals, 115 entries were narrowed down to just one. Rusty Green and Rock County Kid were named the Green Western Pleasure Congress Champions for owner Sharnai Thompson.

Just yesterday, Thompson showed “Rocky” to qualify for the finals of the Three-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure that will take place next week.

Thus far, Rocky has had an incredible year winning at the NSBA World Championship Show, Little Futurity, Tom Powers Futurity, Western Pleasure Super Sires, and Show For Dough. This additional Congress Champion title is another accolade to add to his winner’s mantle.

Maggie Grandquist of Rusty Green Show Horses describes Rocky as a horse with a great personality and a lot of expression. It’s that expression, combined with his size and quality of movement, that owner, Sharnai Thompson, believes helps him stand out in a crowd of talented Western Pleasure horses.

“He’s huge, and he keeps getting bigger,” she says. “I think his size makes him a really pretty horse, and he stands out. When you’re the biggest horse in the pen, and sometimes the slowest, it’s really cool.”

“He’s a blast to show. I’ve ridden some really nice horses, and he’s got one of the best feels ever. He’s really fun to show. Like Maggie said, he’s got a lot of personality, so he keeps you on your toes.”

Green Western Pleasure-

1-Rock County Kid/Rusty Green

2-The Cape Crusader/Tim Zuidema

3- Fullmoonouttonight/Jeff Long

4-Suddenly Extreme/Andy Cochran

5- My Impulses Are Good/Ashley Lakins