Congress Youth Weekend Sunday Brings Team Tournament, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle Champions

The conclusion of “Youth Weekend” at the Congress brought champions in several classes within the Youth Activity Team Tournament as well as Limited division futurity winners on Sunday.

Love Wins Three Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure

Lauren Love had just a month to get to know her mount in the Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure. She rode Momma Knows Best to win the Limited division, in only her second horse show with the mare, known as Myrtle. The pair also won the Southern Belle Breeders portion of the class. They are pictured at left.

“I showed her for the first time at the NSBA Riders Cup show in Wilmington,” she said. “We worked on a few things and it all came together for us here at the Congress. She’s a pretty fun little horse. I’ve always liked her, because she has been in the barn for a few months.”

Love thought the mare’s barn name was a sign they were meant to do things together. “My first horse’s barn name was Myrtle, so I feel kind of close to her,” she said. “She was really good in the finals today. I could push her and put her where I want to. I’m having a lot of fun showing the futurity horses, and I’m learning a lot. But I still show the all around and I have Horsemanship coming up with Wearin Only Moonlite later this week.”

 Lehn Wins First Congress Championship in Two Year Old Ltd Open Hunter Under Saddle

Troy Lehn has been behind the scenes of several Congress winners over the past couple of years, but he was able to earn the first Congress championship of his career in the irons in the Two Year Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle when he piloted Pretty Assets to the win for Alexandra Chavez. They are seen at right.

“This is amazing,” Lehn said of the win. “This has been a dream of mine for a long time.”

Chavez purchased Pretty Assets, who is by Allocate Your Assets, at the Little Futurity. “We were attracted to her because of her cadence and her natural movement,” Lehn said.

“I knew that she would make a great Non-Pro horse for Alex. She’s had such a great year already. She loves to show. She went in and just did her job today. She still have three more classes to go here, and we can’t wait to show her in the three year old events next year too.”

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