The Next Generation of Congress Champions…
Photo courtesy of Shane Rux Photography.
By: Brittany Bevis
We received the most adorable photo this morning, courtesy of Shane Rux Photography, from an impromptu photo session that took place right here at the 2014 All American Quarter Horse Congress yesterday. The shoot was spearheaded by the efforts of horse show mom and competitor, Kaleena Weakly, and included as many “weanlings” as they could find.
“Someone posted a photo recently on Facebook, from about 10-15 years ago, that included the Halvorson kids and a bunch of other halter kids,” Weakly says. “That’s how we got the idea. We thought it would be so cool because there were so many babies born in the horse show world in 2014. There are so many kids coming up together, and there were still about five to seven kids that couldn’t show up.”
What’s harder? Taking a win picture of a horse or a photo of 14 squirmy babies? Surprisingly, the entire shoot took less than 15 minutes. “We congregated in the area while everyone met up for about 10 minutes, and then we sat them up,” she says. “I bet we had the picture taken in under 10 minutes. A couple did start crying, but not for very long. It was faster than getting my horse’s win picture last night!”
“It was hilarious. They were all trying to move, and all the moms were trying to back away slowly. We started clapping and singing Patty Cake in sync, and all of the kids looked up, sat still, and froze.”
On behalf of all the mothers, Weakly would like to express her sincere thanks to the folks at Shane Rux Photography for helping out with this special request.
“It was so sweet of him,” she says. “We went up and asked him what day wouldn’t be busy. He said, if there happened to be a line, he would move us to the front so the babies wouldn’t have to wait.”
Kaleena and Jax Weakly celebrating after Jason Gilliam’s win in the Open Western Pleasure Maturity Ltd. Division last night with Caught Me Looking. Photo courtesy of Kaleena Weakly.
Youngsters participating in the photo session included Riggin Hostelter, Madison and Shane Pope, Meghan and McKenna Kaser, Shayne and Caleb Gilliam, Jax Weakly, Cross Sliss, Brim Brockmueller, Channing Mayabb, Carter Thurston, Hayden Knowles, and Clayton Carr. We’re quite certain there are several future Congress Champions in this multidisciplined bunch; their parents are involved in events like Halter, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, All-Around, Roping, and Speed.
“Everybody is still involved in the horse industry,” Weakly says. “Even if the parents don’t show anymore, they are going to be at the horse shows playing with each other, until they have to stay home to go to kindergarten. I’m sure some may be interested in showing. All of the older kids in the back row have already done Lead Line!”
Look for these future Congress Champions in the winner’s circle… in about ten years.
