Three For Three at QH Congress For Morgan Ratkowski and the Slightly Accident Prone, Better Buy The Minit

By: Brittany Bevis

When the results for Amateur Hunter Hack were complete, it was Morgan Ratkowksi with Better Buy The Minit who had claimed their third Congress Championship title.

Morgan and “Murray” aren’t strangers to the winner’s circle. Murray has eight Congress Championship titles and four World Championship titles to his credit. Morgan has owned Murray for the past five years. But the trip to this Congress has been a bit rocky for this team.

“We went to Lakeside to try to do a Pre-Congress warm up,” she says. “We drove all the way there in the middle of the night, after I had gotten off of work, and he was lame. He had stepped on a rock and had a stone bruise. So, we drove all the way back home. Then, the next day, he got a piece or wood stuck in his neck from scratching on the fence, so we had to get that removed. It was a crazy week!”

So this week, Murray is sporting a few blue stitches in his neck, in addition to his new, blue, neck ribbon. Earlier in the week, this team also won Amateur Working Hunter and Amateur Equitation Over Fences. They also placed fourth in last night’s Hunter Classic.

“He’s amazing. He’s the perfect horse. He doesn’t have to school; he just goes and horse shows.”

Although Morgan and Murray have come to the end of their scheduled class lineup, they might stick around for a few more days. “We were going to be done, but they’re trying to convince us to stay and do Halter so we will be eligible for all around…”

The Reserve Champion was Chad Sandoval with Minute Maximus. Third was Nicholas Furlong with Executive Hotrodder. Fourth was Caroline Harrison with Supermodel N Minutes. Fifth was Morgan Graham with ATM.

Meanwhile, a very excited Haleigh Holliday was named the Congress Champion in 14-18 Equitation Over Fences. The Reserve Champion was Maddy Keyes with Classic Circle. Third was Alexis Hart with Ima Hot Iron. Fourth was Chandler Runnells with Dance If You Wanna. Fifth was Abigail Hardy with My Secret Past.

Winning Level 1 Amateur Equitation Over Fences was Cindy Triscari with Every Once In Awhile. The Reserve Champion was Kirby Sherman with Des Indystinctive. Third was Jordan Gross with Smile N Nod. Fourth was Heather Bell with Another Gray Brother. Fifth was Kerry Hanson with Heavens Hot Guy.

Victoria School and Prin Cess Leia won 13 and Under Equitation Over Fences. The Reserve Champion was Clayton Farrell with Higher Sky. Third was Emily Patton with Are You Captivated. Fourth was Cameryn Kolinoski with Good Time To Cool It. Fifth was Brooklyn Schreiber with Sum Iron For Me.

The Level 1 Amateur Hunter Hack Champion was Renee Ann Hopfer with Hez My Valentino. The Reserve Champion was Brianna Clark with Taxable Assets. Third was Erin Webb with Louisiana Triumph. Fourth was Tiffany Labout with Storm Waves. Fifth was Jordan Gross with Smile N Nod.

Ann Manion rode IE Lukin to win Select Equitation Over Fences. The Reserve Champion was Susan Cannan with Im Huntin Blue Sky. Third was Gretchen Ingersoll with Good By Me. Fourth was Renee Hopfer with Hez My Valentino. Fifth was Mark De Brouwer with The Tailgater.