Happy Birthday to Brenda Frankie, a first-time Congress Champion!

A chorus of Happy Birthday wishes rang out across the Coliseum today at the 2011 All American Quarter Horse Congress when Brenda Frankie led her horse, LR Johnny Ringo, up to accept the Congress Championship in the WCHA Non-Pro Yearling Geldings Stretch Bradley Memorial Halter Stakes.

Today is Frankie’s 49th birthday, a fact that she is proud to announce, since today will undoubtedly go down as one of her all-time favorites. Although her present didn’t come wrapped up in a package with a pretty bow, she was more than happy to accept the Congress bronze as is.

Frankie has only been showing horses since 2001, but she has been making the annual trip to the Congress each year with her mother since 1974.

“This is the first time that I have ever won first at the Congress,” Frankie says. “I couldn’t be happier! It’s really an honor to win this.”

LR Johnny Ringo, aka Ringo, is a yearling gelding by Western Gunslinger and out of a mare called Sneakin Out at Night. Ringo will compete again on Monday in the Amateur Yearling Geldings and in the Open Yearling Geldings with Randy Jacobs on Wednesday.

“He is very elegant,” she says. “He just has that charisma. The first time I saw him, I thought gosh he’s pretty! He is very nice-necked and good-headed. He is just a stunner. We actually had a choice between two horses, but when they brought this one out, it was done.”

Frankie wants to be sure to thank the World Conformation Horse Association for the creation of these classes and the Congress for hosting an event such as this. Frankie feels that WCHA is a wonderful opportunity for those who show halter horses to compete under educated judges.