Uncategorized 

Valentine, Anderson, Cole and Martin Among Tuesday’s Congress Champions

robynd
Image courtesy of NSBA.com.
Image courtesy of NSBA.com.

In one of the first NSBA futurities of the 2014 Congress, Bethany Valentine and Al I Want Is You earned the Congress champion title and NSBA bronze in the Limited Division of the Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity. Valentine and “Wilt” have only been show partners since July, when the gelding was purchased at the Buckeye Classic AQHA show. The seven-year-old gelding is by Allocate Your Assets.

“I didn’t want an English horse in the beginning,” Valentine said. “But then I rode him. He’s just the coolest horse to ride! We love his canter, and he’s just very consistent.”

The 17-year-old Valentine will compete with Wilt in Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18 later in the show, and she will also show in Western Riding and Trail with her other show horses. Valentine shows under to guidance of Lori Gingrich. The pair are pictured receiving their award at left.

In addition to the Limited division of the Non-Pro Maturity Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, a casserole mix of classes during Tuesday’s All American Quarter Horse Congress included champion titles awarded in Equitation Over Fences, Junior and Senior Western Riding, Junior Pleasure Driving and Open Gelding Halter classes.

Cole and Van Lanen pictured with All But Sudden. Image courtesy of NSBA.com.
Cole and Van Lanen pictured with All But Sudden. Image courtesy of NSBA.com.

Highpoint Performance Horses also had a successful show day, with Jason Martin showing Huntin My Zipper to win Junior Western Riding for Rebekah Kazakevicius, while Charlie Cole piloted All But Sudden to win Senior Western Riding for owner Livvie Van Lanen.

“It was sort of a Hail Mary trip,” said Martin of the Junior Western Riding class. “It was only the second time I’ve ridden him in a bridle, and that was because Rebekah forced me to do it. I would have rather ridden in a hackamore. I was nervous going down the line because I wasn’t sure how he would be. But he was good down the line. He’s a really good lead changer.”

The NSBA Horse of the Year wasn’t present to accept his Congress trophy however. “He was showing right after the class in the Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity with Rebekah, so he had to get his hair done,” Martin said.

To read the full article on NSBA.com, click here.