Cruising: 2026 QH Congress Pleasure Drivers Make Their Mark
By Delores Kuhlwein
October at the All American Quarter Horse Congress equates to All Around competition, and included in that realm is Pleasure Driving, a chance for trainers and non pros to highlight their horse’s movement and athleticism.
It’s not the easiest class, and daunting for some, or as Melvin Yoder explained after winning the Senior Pleasure Driving, sometimes it curls your toes.
We talked with three of our Congress pleasure drivers this week:
–Lisa Ligon, who drove Remington Reignz to a Junior Pleasure Driving Congress Championship for Aaron Rhomberg
–Melvin Yoder, who catch-drove Give Me A Good Alibi to win Senior Pleasure Driving for fellow trainer Marion Troyer for owner Maryn Klaus
–Amateur Brenda Campbell, winning her first Congress with her daughter Shelly Boyle’s horse, Jack And Koa, in Amateur Pleasure Driving.
Lisa Ligon and Remington Reignz
Trainer Lisa Ligon says Remy is the biggest goober in the barn, always playing with something, and he’s kind of a fan favorite.
To drive him, says Lisa, “Feels wonderful. He trots so smooth and he gets right up there, and he’s soft and steady, and he’s a lot of fun.” Lisa has also had great success with Remy in the Hunter Under Saddle, winning Reserve in the Twos and Reserve in the Threes at Congress, and to round out their day on Tuesday, they earned a 7th place in a salty Junior Hunter Under Saddle class.
For his owner, Aaron Rhomberg, Lisa is thankful for him allowing her to have “free rein” with Remy, and she’s also grateful for the help of her best friend, Dale Sullens, “because he’s my ride or die and we’re always helping one another. He got to win the level one working hunter, so we brought two horses and each horse has won a trophy.”
As far as driving fans go, Lisa says it’s a lot of fun, but you have to make sure you do all your homework. “It’s really great when it’s done correctly.”
Junior Pleasure Driving
Champion: Remington Reignz with Lisa Ligon for Aaron Rhomberg
Reserve: Easy Peazy with Tyler Haney for Flentje Enterprises
Bronze: All The Best Things with Marion Troyer for Shelly Boyle
Fourth: Hott Southern Moxie with Adam Winter for Shannon Mancino
Fifth: Lopin For Money with Kevin Dukes for Sydney Frank
Sixth: The BestOf Thymes with Chuck Briggs for Rodger Call
Stacey Stinson and Without Permission
After the Junior, the Amateur Select Pleasure drivers took the arena, with Stacey Stinson and Without Permission adding another Congress Championship to their reperatoire:
Watch our EC TV interview with Stacey and “Noah Marie” from 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress! Stacey Stinson and Without Permission are Congress Champions in the Amateur Pleasure Driving
Amateur Select Pleasure Driving
Champion: Stacey Stinson and Without Permission
Reserve: JoAnn Marsenik Haney and Giv Romance A Chance
Bronze: Shannon Mancino and Hott Southern Moxie
Fourth: Brenda Campbell and All The Best Things
Fifth: Elizabeth Bartlett Gorski and Flatten The Curve
Sixth: Rodger Call and The BestOf Thymes
Melvin Yoder and Give Me A Good Alibi
It’s a common sight to view Melvin Yoder in Trail classes, Western Pleasure classes, or even Ranch classes, but to drive against his fellow trainer, Marion Troyer, and beat him with one of his own program’s horses was cause for a little ribbing and a lot of celebration in Wednesday morning’s Senior Pleasure Driving.
Melvin says he only drives for Marion, and he does so about twice a year. “He gives me the good ones,” says Melvin after winning the Senior with Give Me A Good Alibi for owner Maryn Klaus. It’s a familiar discipline, as he used to go get milk with the horses growing up.
What he likes about the driving is it’s fun if you have a good one, he says. “One that’s a little challenging is not as fun, but this was really fun. He was awesome, his road gait was so good, and he’s totally a great trotter.”
Senior Pleasure Driving
Champion: Give Me A Good Alibi with Melvin Yoder for Maryn Klaus
Reserve: Without Permission with Marion Troyer for Stacey Stinson
Bronze: DGS Legacy with Jessica Johnson for Robin DeGraff
Fourth: Al Call You Later with Tyler Haney for Hislop Performance Horses
Fifth: Jack And Koa with Shelly Boyle
Sixth: Happy As A Lark with Kevin Dukes for Megan Hunt
Seventh: Flatten The Curve with Scott Kauffman for Elizabeth Gorski
Brenda Campbell and Jack And Koa
In Select Amateur Shelly Boyle’s current profile in the Equine Chronicle, she explained that her mom, Brenda Campbell, is her biggest fan, always behind her with support, and as Brenda began to drive Shelly’s horses, Shelly said, “Nothing would make me happier than to see her win a big prize one of these days.
That dream came true Wednesday morning, when Brenda Campbell piloted Jack And Koa to win the Amateur Pleasure Driving at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
“I have not driven very long,” reveals Brenda. “This is my first Congress to drive, and I did drive in the world show one time two years ago. Shelly showed the senior and she had him all warmed up for me.”
Today, Brenda says, Jack was easy to drive, and she didn’t have to do a lot, especially at the road gait. “He loves to road gait and he was easy. And I just have to thank Shelly and Marion, because they have Jack at his best right now and he’s just wonderful.”
View Shelly’s profile The Heart Behind the Hardware: https://www.equinechronicle.com/the-heart-behind-the-hardware-shelly-boyle/
Amateur Pleasure Driving
Champion: Brenda Campbell and Jack And Koa
Reserve: Maryn Klaus and Give Me A Good Alibi
Bronze: Kara Flentje and Easy Peazy
Fourth: Shelly Boyle and All The Best Things
Fifth: Ashley Hislop and Al Call You Later
Sixth: Megan Hunt and Happy As A Lark
