The competition was deep and the payouts were big in Ranch classes held on Tuesday at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. 

It was definitely time for a reckoning for Steve Meadows, who started the day with a win in the NSBA/AQHA Level 1 Senior Ranch Riding aboard Time For A Reckoning, riding for Katie Mae Green. He became the second member of the Meadows family to earn a 2026 Congress championship after his daughter Noel won the Limited division of the Three Year Old Ranch Riding Futurity on Monday. In the NSBA/AQHA Level 1 Amateur Select Ranch Riding, Valerie Sturgeon took Whizkeys Shining Gun to the top of the class for a Congress NSBA and AQHA championship. Lane Kail added another Congress win with SS Walk The Line, this time winning the NSBA/AQHA championship in Amateur Western Working Rail.

Bud Lyon and 'Romeo' Are On A Roll

The featured Congress Stakes class on Tuesday was the Open Ranch Riding Stakes. This class saw a deep and competitive group of 64 entries vying for the Open and Limited champion titles.
Perennial champion Bud Lyon took NSBA’s 2023 Horse Of The Year Sumac Gunnabeflashy to the Open win for owner Leslie Vagneur Lange, earning a $4,776.72 payout. Known as ‘Romeo,’ the 2017 sorrel gelding had already won Senior Ranch NSBA/AQHA Senior Ranch Riding and the NSBA/AQHA Open Senior Working Western Rail at this year’s Quarter Horse Congress. They came into the Congress hot, fresh off wins at the Fall Championship Show in Ocala, Florida, in NSBA Senior Ranch Rail and NSBA Senior Ranch Riding earlier in the month.

Jimmy Daurio and 'Blue' Capture Steep Limited Open Ranch Riding Stakes Title

Jimmy Daurio piloted another perennial champion, Cowpuncher Cadillac, to win the Limited division of the class and was also named the reserve champion in the Open division. In total the duo earned $6,623.72 for the two portions of the class.

Jimmy and his partner David Renier bought the striking bay stallion when he was four years old. “We bought him sight unseen,” Jimmy explained. “I saw a video and a picture of him, and I knew he was beautiful, but I had no idea what we were getting. He has far exceeded any expectations we had and has been amazing. He’s been a blessing to us.

“He’s nine years old now, and because he’s been shown so much, sometimes he thinks he knows what he’s doing and might get a step ahead of you if you’re not paying attention, but today he was right with me. He always shows great, and has great expression and great movement.

“He’s been so good to us, and very consistent. David and I ride totally different and that says a lot about him too that he shows so well for both of us.”

Jimmy and David also stand the stallion and are excited about the next generation. “We have probably 40 foals on the ground, and the ones we’ve seen are all beautiful and great minded. The oldest ones are three years old this year,” Jimmy said.

Having a Limited division to compete in meant a lot to Jimmy. “I think it’s great to give everybody an opportunity to get in there and win some money and be recognized, even if they aren’t on the top Open horse. It’s great to be able to be recognized,” he said.

The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through October 25. To view complete show results, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com or view the Horse Show Tracker app.

About NSBA

Established in 1983, National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and ten breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.

National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its ten alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year.

To learn more about NSBA, please visit nsba.com.