From The Publisher – The Congress Is Different… Here’s Why

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14 – September/October, 2025

By Tom Grabe

Every October, I try to make the trip to Columbus for the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, (sometimes without success) and no matter how many times I’ve been, the experience never loses its magic. It’s easy to think of the Congress in terms of competition—the best riders, trainers, and horses in the world gathering to test themselves on the biggest stage. But if you’ve been there, you know that what makes Congress truly special goes far beyond winning.

For me, it starts with the feeling you get the moment you walk through the gates of the Ohio Expo Center. There’s an energy in the air that can’t be described until you’ve felt it—the hum of activity in every barn aisle, the excitement in the warm-up pen, the echo of late-night classes under the arena lights. It’s the sense that you’re part of something much larger than yourself, a tradition that’s been built over decades and shared by thousands who love the Quarter Horse just as much as you do.

The Congress is where friendships deepen, and new ones are made. In every barn, you’ll see people helping each other—braiding a mane, lending a piece of tack, or simply offering encouragement before a tough class. Exhibitors and families reconnect year after year, swapping stories and sharing meals like it’s a giant family reunion. Those connections, those conversations in the barns and stands, are the things you remember long after the show is over.

It’s also a place to be inspired. Every time I sit down to watch a class, I’m reminded why our sport is so special. Watching the precision of a horsemanship rider, the flow of a western pleasure horse, or the grit of a reiner never fails to leave me in awe. For young riders especially, seeing their heroes compete in person plants seeds of determination that no trophy could ever replace.

Click here to read the complete article
14 – September/October, 2025