It’s always exciting when a newly crowned Congress Champion can come fresh off a win and duplicate their performance at the AQHA World Show to be named a World Champion as well. That’s exactly what Maria Salazar did this afternoon at the 2019 AQHA World Show when she rode her 6-year-old gelding, “Moonlightin,” to win Amateur Equitation. However, this achievement is even more special for Maria, because it’s her first World Championship title. 

“For a stud, it says a lot about him. I’ve been around a lot of studs and trained a lot of studs, and I would’ve never thought that a stud would’ve gone around for several different riders. There have been a few of us show him here, and we all won trophies with him.”

“Great horses with great people can go on forever. It’s all about the way they’re started, the way they’re maintained, and the trainers making good decisions for the horse’s future, for a lifetime, not just for a year.”

“I thought this class was just extremely competitive. When they started out calling 15th place and the horses started loping up to get their awards, you really realized how talented they all are.”

“That’s his victory dance! It’s him. He’s playful. He’s only 34 months and he looks like he’s a 5-year-old. You’ve got to give these young horses a little slack and remember that they are just babies. He’s a giant baby though!”

“He’s so special. He and Blake are such a dream team. I could never imagine owning a World Champion. He will have a home for life with us.”

This win makes it the fifteenth time that either Jason Martin or Charlie Cole has won Senior Western Riding at the World Show. What has helped contribute to their decade of dominance? Attention to details.