Chuck Briggs/Dancin N The Dirt and Lori Bucholz/Larks Happy Days Win Congress Sr and Am Pleasure Driving

By: Brittany Bevis

This morning at the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress is all about free moving horses, fine-tune handling skills, and of course those fabulous outfits! The first two Congress Champions of the morning were crowned in the Senior and Amateur Pleasure Driving.

First up, Chuck Briggs drove Dancin N The Dirt to win Senior Pleasure Driving. “Carter” is a very decorated former Congress Champion. Last year, he won four Congress titles and was Reserve in two classes to win the All-Around title. The six-year-old, 17 hand, gelding has also been named the Reserve Super Horse at the AQHA World Show.

Earlier here at the show, Carter placed third in Senior Hunter Hack, eighth in Senior Working Hunter, and he was named the Reserve Champion in Youth Hunter Hack and third in Youth Working Hunter with Natalie Vargo. Unfortunately, Natalie didn’t get to watch, because school was calling her back home, but she will be returning tomorrow to compete in Equitation.

Chuck was thoroughly pleased with Carter’s performance today. “He’s really steady,” he says. “He’s so smooth and elegant and has such a great top line. Also, he’s such a great mover.”

Chuck informed us that fellow trainer, Brian Holmes, taught Carter how to do Pleasure Driving, and Chuck agrees with Brian’s assessment that the event helps to prepare and maintain horses that compete in all-around events. “It gives them something to do and gives them something else to think about.”

Next, Lori Bucholz drove Larks Happy Days to win Amateur Pleasure Driving. 15-year-old “Fonzi,” aka “Arthur Fonzarelli,” was very excited about his Championship finish, so much so that he gave the camera a big smile following the awards’ presentation! “He really is a happy horse!” says trainer, Lainie DeBoer. His Pleasure Driving trainer, Kevin Dukes, agreed as he gave Fonzi a big pat for a job well done.

While the Fonz is an 11-time AQHA World Champion, he doesn’t have many Congress Champion titles, simply because he hasn’t made the trip to Columbus very often. “This might be his third or fourth Congress,” Lori confirms. “They used to have Novice Amateur Driving, which are words that should never be included in the same sentence! We won that one year, probably back in 2008, but I’ve never won Amateur Driving here. This is pretty nice.”

Lori fondly calls Fonzi her “construction foreman,” because he knows his job and is only too happy to efficiently perform under pressure. “It was kind of crowded in there, more than what we’re used to at a normal show. Part of [class strategy] was staying out of traffic and making sure I found a spot on the rail to get seen. He’s so responsive to me, and, I’m so responsive to him, that I knew exactly when to suck back or go a little faster. I knew my spot on the rail was going to be good.”

Earlier here at the show, Lori and Fonzi placed third in Select Working Hunter, won the NSBA portion of the class, placed fourth in Equitation Over Fences, and fourth in Hunter Hack. In Pleasure Driving, Lori believes his winning attribute is his consistency. “He’s so steady, and his top line is phenomenal. You look at him, and he’s always the same. In Driving, consistency is key. And, of course, I think he’s the most beautiful horse in the world!”

The Reserve Champion was Scott Reinartz with Investin A Goodbar. Third was Susan Kempfer-Weeks with Millennium Cowboy. Fourth was Cathy Corrigan Franks with Living Large. Fifth was Mary Judith Reed with The Grateful Red.