Trail, and plenty of it, took most of the day in the Celeste Center as the All American Quarter Horse Congress continued into its final week. Senior Trail saw 175 entries, which saw judges scoring maneuvers for more than eight hours throughout the day.
Tops in Trail
Bonnie Sheren's two entries scored the two highest scores in Senior Trail in the marathon class. Jason Martin showed Heza Radical Zip to the win with a score of 236.5, while Ashley Dunbar-Clock earned 234.5 with Sleeptite.
"This is just unbelievable," Bonnie said. "I'm so fortunate to own these great horses. Troy is just a dream and Sleeptite really stepped up today."
"Troy really added to his score in his lope overs," Jason added. "He has so much expression, and I think he's just a real pleasure for the judges to watch. When we bought him he was known as the Perfect Pony, and he really is."
Heza Radical Zip had earlier won the Senior Western Riding, and added Senior Trail to his accomplishments this year. "I think that really shows what a great horse he is for him to be able to win both these large classes with some tough competition," Jason said.
Jamie Radebaugh Devoe showed Cadillac In Black to win Level 1 Amateur Trail, scoring 233.5 in their run. "We really had some room to work in this pattern and it was fun to show," Jamie said. "I'm pretty excited to get this win."
In the Level 1 Select Amateur Trail, Heidi Oosting and Extend The Previews took the NSBA title and reserve in the AQHA portion of the class. "It was a really good pattern," Heidi said. "I was really happy with it. Winning the NSBA was a complete supply."
With her 12 year old mare, Claire, Heidi competes in Western pattern classes. "I really enjoy showing because I enjoy my horse, and I also love the camaraderie of my barn mates."
In the Hunt
Although go rounds of some of the futurity classes occurred on Thursday, three Hunter classes saw champions crowned.
It came down to a tie between Alicia Porter and Hubbout A Dance and Rebekah Kazavicius and Not Just Anyhoo, with the tiebreaker giving the nod to multiple Congress champions Rebekah and 'Horton.'
In AQHA and NSBA Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation, Michelle Forness and Stretch Machine took the win. "This win is pretty special," Michelle.
"Last year here at the Congress, he got sick and we spent a week at the university getting him over it. This year it was a nice flowy pattern, and I liked it a lot. I think the most difficult part was the forehand turn to the hand gallop, you had to keep collected and moving forward."
In the Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, Miss Goody Hoo Shoes added another win to her list with Beth Case in the irons for Tammy Dyer. The trio had won the Level 1 AQHA and NSBA Hunter Under Saddle.
By Hot Ones Only and out of Goody Goody Gumdrops, 'Benz' shows both of her parents, Beth noted earlier in the week. "She looks identical to Bruno, her dad, but she shows so much like her mother," she said. "She is beautiful, and she has a really good look in the arena when she puts it all together. She's brave, and she takes what you give to her." The filly is for sale.
Performance events continue in the Celeste Center at the Ohio Expo Center through Sunday, October 29, while timed events take place in the Coliseum for the remainder of the Congress. To view complete show results or learn more about the All American Quarter Horse Congress, please visit www.quarterhorsecongress.com.
