WOW!!! That’s all I have to say is WOW!!! We are so proud and excited for everyone one of our customers that I don’t know where to begin. To start, I am going to go out on a limb and announce our new show challenge for the customers. We are going to start awarding a Horse and Rider of the show award. No there is no true award, and yes this is all in fun. I will be the one choosing the winner of each award, and no it will not necessarily the horse or rider then had the most victories. Criteria to become the winner will include the most focused, and most improved as well as their overall performance. With no further definition needed, the winners are: 2011 Congress Horse of the Show is; Invitemeforchocolate, otherwise known as Shaggy. (to those who are already saying that he is my favorite, bite your tongue. He was great there) 2011 Congress Rider of the Show is; Jasmyn Rivait. It was a close race between her and her sister, but Jazz had such a tough job of showing a new horse that she had never been on before. She gave 100% every time she got out there to work. Congratulations Jazz on a great performance!
Congress 2011 was much unlike the past few years as it was not 70 degrees and sunny throughout the majority of the show. Much of this year included wind, rain, and close to freezing temperatures, which made our preparation somewhat difficult. Our first day on the grounds all we did was gallop the horses around trying to de-energize them somewhat. Before I forget, I would like to thank our barn help Cindy Lang-Vaughn for helping keep things running smoothly back at the stalls, while Jenny, Mandi and I were out lessoning. As I stated earlier all the horses and riders were outstanding this year and we could not be more proud. To avoid me forgetting everything I will just start out with the order in which each horse showed.
Shaggy was a complete rock star this year!! Though he did have a few young horse mistakes, he definitely made up for it in the long run. To start the show Shaggy and I were 7th in the Junior Western Riding and an amazing Reserve Champion in the Junior Trail. He is such a beautiful horse when going over the poles, a tick here and there is easily overlooked when doing his thing. Lauren had a slow start with one bad line in the trail, however finished like a freight train running wide open winning the Amateur Horsemanship by a landslide. An extremely well deserved victory that mark Lauren’s first major win of hopefully many to come. With all the success we have been blessed with in the Horsemanship this marks our first Congress victory in the Amateur, so it was an equally memorable one for us.
Sharese Ravait and her medallions
Next to show was the mighty team of Sharese and Ross (Show your Invitation). Sharese started off with an outstanding pattern in the 11 and under horsemanship only to be plagued by a migraine headache right before the finals which made her have to pull out. Upsetting for her yes, but she did everyone else in that class a favor, as I was feeling that big things may have been coming her way that night! Sharese ended up a finalist in the 13 and under Novice Showmanship, 11 and under Equitation, and the NYATT Horsemanship (the only little munchkin to make that finals mind you) she finished off her Congress with and huge effort in the 13 and under Novice Equitation with a 3rd place finish. We look for huge things for this team in the next year. Ross was not finished there though. Sharese was gracious enough to loan her teammate to fellow Canadian Jeanna Woodley for the Queens Horsemanship they tore through the competition claiming the winning title in that class!!! Way to go Jeanna.
Shyanne Smith and Impulsability
Next on the youth list was the wild and wooly Shyanne Smith and Impulsability, Bam Bam to his friends. Talk about totally out of control!! Shy has only been riding competitively for 14 months or so, however that did not hold her back that week. King of the spin, Bam and Shy were the winners in the 13 and under Horsemanship and… Reserve in the 12-14 Showmanship. Shy gets to ride with me often, however due to Jenny’s work schedule they only get to practice once in a while. What a great feat girls! Not only did Shy Shy have big wins, but Smith Show horses rocked the halter pen with more wins than I can remember as well as Grand Champion Amateur Stallion. We might not be part of that, but it keeps it all in the family, so I like to mention it.
Speaking earlier of Jenny, since I am writing this blog, I get to brag on my talented wife a bit. Though I cannot remember everything perfectly, I am pretty sure that almost every one of her showmanship students made the finals this year. Congratulations honey!! I am so proud of you. I am not sure if it was the outstanding grooming by Mandi and I that had anything to do with it, but we will pretend that it did! Lol
Jasmyn Ravait with her big win in trail!
As I stated earlier, our Rider of the Show Jasmyn Rivait had an overwhelming task in front of her at the start of this years show. She showed So So Good, otherwise known as “Taco”, for the first time ever. Why not learn on a new horse, it’s only the biggest horse show in the world! Jazz was a bit hesitant at first, not totally sure what to do with such a great horse, but Taco took great care of her by earning 7th place in the 12-14 Trail. Jazz also showed her Dad’s horse Oliver (Classical Version) in the showmanship making it all the way to the finals. Though I did not get to watch, Jenny told me she was outstanding. Big words from the coach there Jazz.
Sticking with the Rivait Family dear old dad was his usual outstanding self in the showmanship making it to the finals of the Amateur; probably one of the toughest classes of the entire show. Rob also had one of his best patterns to date on Oliver in the horsemanship as well as in the trail. Rob ventured out as well with a last minute decision to show the famous Taco and was smoking through the Novice Amateur Trail. He did not make the top 10, however we thought he should have. Because of the late entry he was stuck with an early draw in a huge class. Unfortunately I think that may have been a bit of the reason.
Where do we go next, how about the little Clay bird as we call him. Clay Arrington and Vern (RV One Good Version) laided out his usual outstanding performance in the trail earning 4th place in the 11 and under Trail, and 3rd place in the NSBA. Though we did not help him in the Pleasure class, Clay was Reserve Champion in the 11 and under aboard RV Radical Zipper, his grandfather’s horse. Way to go buddy!! You rode awesome!! Clay was nice enough to loan JR back to Ronnie for a huge victory in the Select Trail. Go team RV!!
Ruth and Mayers Lindley (Photo courtesy of Gordon Downey)
We had three new teams at this year’s Congress. The second was Mayers Lindley and RL Sudden Touch. Sid and Mayers roared through the 15-18 Showmanship splits finishing up 6th place for the day. How amazing for their first performance together. Like I told you at the back drop Mayers, “you are slowly but surely becoming a “somebody” in the all-around world”.
More Showmanship success came from Stephanie Willsey and Paige Wacker. Both girls were finalist in their perspective age classes. As stated earlier I was unable to watch any of the showmanship, however Jenny was so happy with everyone. One of her prouder moments at the end of the show came with Tiina Volmer and her partner, Take The Last Luke. They earned 5th place in the Amateur Showmanship. This was Kermit’s first trip to the big city, and he handled it like a pro.
Superstar Select Kim Allen and Zips Fancy Talk had a repeat performance in the Select Western Riding earning 9th place this year. I cannot remember whether she was 9th or 7th last year, but no matter she did a wonderful job this year. Kim also made the finals in the Showmanship and Horsemanship. Diesel was not feeling as well this year, so that gave Kim a harder job than usual, but as expected she came through like always.
Our other superstar select Darlene Schwab was not about to let anyone out do her this year in the horsemanship. I told her that she had better not be average, and by goodness she was anything but! Darlene went in there, out for blood and she totally rocked it! Though she and Lenny came out with 7th place this year, I could not be happier. Great job team Canada!!
Old Faithful Zips Hidden Resource and Rachel Wetherell showed up as a force to be reckoned with. This team is consistently laying out great performances, and this year was no different. Rachel piloted Harley to the finals in the Showmanship as well as the Horsemanship. They had better watch out at the World Show, because I for see this team rolling over some competition in OKC.
Working Amateur Beckie Peskin and Rocked on the Rail laid out their usual athletic pattern in the Horsemanship earning a finalist ribbon. Unfortunately this marked the end of this duo’s performances with Owen selling and Beckie moving on to become a mother. Congratulations to Kevin and Beckie on their upcoming little one. Jenny can’t wait to baby-sit!! Don’t think this is the end of the former Congress Queen. We have already started looking for a replacement for her to start back on.
Finishing off the list is the third of our first time teams. Tom Clopp steered Deelivered to a great pattern in the showmanship. Though he did not make the finals, Tom and Dee looked great together and made a lot of heads turn in the process.
Emma Frid supporting Breast Cancer Awareness (Collar compliments of the Wacker Family)
Look for Team Frid next at the World Show in Oklahoma City. We just hope we can have anywhere near the same success in November as we did this October