2026 Quarter Horse Congress Gets Underway With NSBA Dual Approved Ranch Events

The 2026 All American Quarter Horse Congress got underway on Saturday, September 26, with the first NSBA/AQHA Dual-Approved champions named in Ranch events. The classes were the first to compete in the new CINCH Arena.

Alexa Has The Answer For Matt Gouthro In Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding

When Matt Gouthro found A Freeze Warning for owner Erika Collins-Sterling earlier this year, he told her that the mare reminded him of her current mare, Princess Ice. Since that mare’s barn name is Siri, it was only logical that A Freeze Warning became Alexa. Alexa had the right answer for Matt on Saturday when the duo was named Quarter Horse Congress NSBA and AQHA champions in the Level 1 Junior Ranch Riding. 

“I was out horse shopping in March and I loped one circle on her, and I told Erika that she needed to buy this mare,” Matt said. “She’s just three years old, and I would say she was more like a two year old in her training. She’s just been a little behind all year compared to the other three year olds, so I was just happy for her wherever she placed. She has a presence about her, and a willingness, and really just the way she carries herself just makes her stand out. She reminds me so much of Siri, and she’s going to make a great Non-Pro horse later.”

“When Matt told me she was a baby Siri, I told him to put her on the trailer,” Erika said. “Because that’s a pretty high standard.”

The two mares are also half siblings, both by SG Frozen Enterprise. A Freeze Warning is out of Marque Shootin and was bred by SMIG Stables Inc, while Princess Ice is out of Jacs Electric Gun and was bred by Joseph Treib.

Alexa looks to continue the success that Matt and Erika have had together with horses that include not only Princess Ice but also NSBA 2025 Ranch Horse Of The Year Xtra Wimpys Catalyst.

Matt also earned second place in the same class aboard Whiz A Chicolena, showing for Amanda McGinley.

Other Ranch champions from the first day of the show included Senior Ranch Riding NSBA/AQHA champions Sumac Gunnabeflashy, shown by Bud Lyon for Leslie Vagneur Lange and Amateur Select Working Wesetern Rail NSBA/AQHA champions LC Whiskey Man Do, owned and shown by Karen Johnson.

The Definition Of Success

Celebrations come in all sizes, especially at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. For one Amateur Select exhibitor, being announced as a finalist in the Amateur Select Working Western Rail class was a big celebration that brought tears to her eyes, and a cheering group of friends, relatives and her trainer in the warm-up pen in the CINCH Arena on Saturday.

Kathy Stinnett, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, made her first trip to the Quarter Horse Congress an event to remember. “I showed HF The Goat, and my goal was to make it out of my split, and I did it,” she said. “I’m super excited!”

Kathy has owned the 2017 gelding by HF Mobster and out of Chexy Fancy Step (by Wimpys Little Step) for three years. 

“I had taken a 15-year hiatus from horses, and then Frank came along. When I bought him, I though he was a really cool looking Trail horse, we’re going to have some fun – and then I thought we could see about this Ranch stuff. We started showing in the Ranch events two and a half years ago, and I’ve been with my trainer, Kody Russell, for a year now. This is our first time to show at the Quarter Horse Congress.”

Kathy competed at the Dogwood Classic, the Southland Circuit, the TQHA Lucky 7, Spring Celebration and Fall Circuit before coming to the Congress. They show in Working Western Rail, Ranch Riding and Ranch Trail classes. Best wishes to Kathy for the rest of the 2026 Quarter Horse Congress!

The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 25 To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker App or the All American Quarter Horse Congress website.

Press release by Connie Lechleitner of NSBA:  https://nsba.com/archives/2026-congress-underway

Ranch Events Continue At Quarter Horse Congress

Both Open and Non Pro exhibitors had a chance to shine on Sunday in the Quarter Horse Congress Ranch classes. The morning saw Senior Working Western Rail and Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding classes with Sumac Gunnabeflashy taking the Senior win with Bud Lyon for Leslie Vagneur Lange. The Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding class crowned Iscream For Icecreme and Sean McGinley champions, while Eric Mendrysa and Gunna Be First were named Amateur Ranch Riding champions.

Bud Lyon Takes Top Two Spots In 4-5 Year Old Open Ranch Riding Stakes

Two Stakes classes were the highlight of the day in the CINCH Arena. Bud Lyon could do no better than taking first and second in the Four and Five Year Old Ranch Riding Stakes. He showed CBK Lyle Loves It for Kalyn Sander to the win and Whiskey Glassus for Colleen Kurtz to the reserve award.

“A friend of ours, Kalyn Sanders owns CBK Lyle Loves It,” Bud explained. “Kalyn and her significant other Josh Murphy show the Reining predominantly and they had bred and raised this horse and training him up. They didn’t think that he had quite the ability for the Reining and they asked me if I would want to try him. I watched Josh ride him around my arena for five minutes and told them he is a candidate.

“The next day, he almost dumped me in the arena. Josh had told me he was a little quirky but I feel like he undersold it just a little bit,” he laughed. “He reminds me a lot of Double Tapn when he was that age. He’s a little insecure and can have a vivid imagination at times, but that also gives him great expression and I think the judges find that appealing about him. That’s in addition to the great quality of movement that he has. He has a terrific style and a lot of eye appeal. When he’s on, he’s a homerun hitter. It’s been really fun to have him come along starting with the success he had in the futurities as a three year old, and now to watch him grow up and mature and continue. It’s been a special journey with Kalyn and Josh.”

Jimmy Daurio Earns Limited Title With Unquestionably Smokn

Jimmy Daurio showed Unquestionably Smokn to win the Limited division of the Four and Five Year Old Stakes and placed third in the Open division. 

“He’s a beautiful gray four year old gelding,” Jimmy said. “He is owned by Rebecca Bunting of Wichita, Kansas. We just got him in May of this year. He’s been a very quick study.

“He doesn’t go any faster that you make him. Over the past couple of horse shows, he’s gotten quite a bit of confidence. He’s been a lot of fun to show and trust and hopefully he just keeps getting better.”

Wagner and Karen Johnson Top Non Pro Western Working Rail Stakes

Karen Johnson and LC Whiskey Man Do were tops in the Non-Pro Working Western Rail Stakes. 

“We got him from some folks in Louisiana,” she said. “This is just our fifth horse show together, so he and I are just getting on the same page. He’s got such a steady top line and such a pretty long trot, and he’s really getting to have a nice lope. I just like the horse overall. He’s very fun to show.”

The gelding whose barn name is ‘Wagner’ is by Cat Man Do and out of Sassy Whiskey and was bred by the W.T. Waggoner Estate.

To view the complete show results from the Quarter Horse Congress, visit the Horse Show Tracker app or go to the All American Quarter Horse Congress website.

Press release by Connie Lechleitner of NSBA:  https://nsba.com/archives/2026-congress-ranch-continues