A Million Dollar Man, A Three-Pete and Equine Family Legacies Highlight the Last Saturday of the Congress

When the final day of NSBA class competition ended Saturday night at the Congress, NSBA’s first million dollar rider celebrated with a special win, Beth Case celebrated a three-pete and the get of two stallions and produce of a famous dam followed in their famous families’ footsteps.

Million Dollar Masters

Gil Galyean had become the first NSBA rider to win $1 million in earnings earlier in the week, and was honored for his achievement during the Masters Two Year Old Western Pleasure. Although modest about reaching his achievement, Galyean put an exclamation point on the celebration in the best way he could by turning an excellent ride into the 2015 Masters champion title aboard VS Lady In Red. Galyean rode for his nephew’s wife, Kristen Galyean. They earned $30,000 for the win.

“Becky and I had seen her last year as a yearling, and we liked her, but she was big,” Galyean said. “I remember thinking that I hope she doesn’t get too big. I don’t think she’s grown since then, and she’s a nice size.”

The red roan filly has royal bloodlines, sired by Kristen Galyean’s VS Code Red and out of the award winning Cool Krymsun Lady. “Denton DeBuhr did most of the work on her until late summer. It was a team effort. She just kept coming along and got better,” said Gil Galyean.

“I was cautious about my expectations for her, but she has a good feel, a really steady top line and she lopes and takes a big step, which I really like. I never rode this mare’s father (VS Code Red), but watching him go, I see some of him in her, and I see some of her mother in her too.”

VS Lady In Red’s sire, VS Code Red, by Blazing Hot and out of the great mare Vital Signs Are Good, debuted at the Congress in 2009, when Kristen Glover Galyean became the first Non-Pro to win the Open and Limited Two Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity as well as the Non-Pro Two Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity and went on to several Congress titles and NSBA world champion titles.

VS Lady In Red’s dam, Cool Krymsun Lady, is herself a multiple AQHA world and Congress champion. “Cool Krymsun Lady is probably the most talented mare I’ve ever shown,” said Gil Galyean.

Reflecting on the recognition of his career achievement, Gil Galyean said: “I’m proud of that. I hope it shows young people that if they stay with it, they can make a great living working in the horse industry.”

Wade Parks and One Good Cuervo won the highest placing Limited Rider bonus of $10,000 in the Congress Masters Two Year Old Western Pleasure, showing for owners Robert and Melissa Shearer. The duo placed eighth overall in the class.

“We’re really proud to bring this horse here and do well,” Parks said of his APHA mare. “This horse is pretty special to us because we’ve had it with us since it was a weanling. I just love her.”

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