Parrish Powered: Two Great Mares Turn the Western Pleasure Tide at Congress on Tuesday
On Tuesday in the Celeste Arena at the 2026 All American Quarter Horse Congress, celebrations were all around as Cody Parrish piloted Liite Em Up, by Machine Made and out of KM Hot Number, bred by Parrish Quarter Horses, to win the Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Stakes NSBA for Robert and Lisa Thomaier with a payout of $2664.72.
Later in the day, his dad, Bret Parrish rode Good Miss Lazy, by Lazy Loper and out of Good Miss Sunny, bred by Vicki Pugh, to win the Maturity Open Western Pleasure Stakes NSBA for Jan Pittman, winning $3395.04.
Both truly special mares are excelling in the Parrish program, and when we caught up with Cody after his Congress Championship, he explained it was awesome to win with the team they have. “We raised her (she’s a full sibling to Gun Smokke) and have her momma and she’s one of our best mares. She has not let us down yet.”
He reveals that they brought the four year old mare, Ruby, along slow and steady to take their time, not showing her until this year’s Madness in Ohio. “I showed her in the maiden there. We wanted to build a long-term future and take our time and do it right by her.”
The limited class allows for that kind of step into showing, to give a horse more trips around the pen and not feel pressure while building confidence. “It’s one of my favorites (classes). I try to make sure we have one for it all the time.”
Cody thought what is appealing about Ruby is not only her talent, but her presence. “I think she’s so pretty, she shows up and it’s hard not to notice her in there, and as you can see, she has plenty of personality,” he laughed as Ruby tried to inspect her unfamiliar neck ribbon.
Congratulations to Parrish Quarter Horses, Robert and Lisa Thomaier, and Jan Pittman on a great Tuesday at the Quarter Horse Congress:
Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Stakes NSBA
Champion: Liite Em Up with Cody Parrish for Robert and Lisa Thomaier -$2664.72
Reserve: RL Dream Take Flight with Taft Dickerson for Katy Barrett -$1918.60
Bronze: Makin Me In Lace with Kenny Lakins for Brandy or William Napier-$1385.65
Fourth: I Wrote The Code with Aaron Moses for Kristin Kern-$1065.89
Fifth: Despurado with Gil Galyean for Laina Banks -$906.00
Sixth: KM WeKnowHesFirst with Blake Britton for Masterson Farms -$746.12
Seventh: Got Real Troubles with Houston Huff for Patti Greene -$639.53
Eighth: MoneyNeverMadeTheMan with Jay Starnes for Patty Bogosh -$532.94
Ninth: No Doubt Im A Oh K with Mark Zeitler for Richard and Betty Jo Carr -$426.36
Tenth: Hayday with Liz Baker -$373.06
Maturity Open Western Pleasure Stakes NSBA
Champion: Good Miss Lazy with Bret Parrish for Jan Pittman-$3395.04
Reserve: Waffle House with Aaron Moses for Holliday Revocable Trust-$2444.43
Bronze: When N Where with Anthony Montes for JVM Partnership-$1765.42
Fourth: The Drinkz R On Me with Katy Jo Zuidema for Lyle Hanson -$1358.02
Fifth: The Cooki Monster with RJ King for Capital Quarter Horses-$1154.31
Sixth: Certainly Persistent with Jay Starnes for Richard and Betty Jo Carr-$950.61
