Jason English Wins First Congress Championship Title With Gone Viral in L1 Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

Jason English achieved a milestone today at the 2017 Quarter Horse Congress when he won his first Congress title with Gone Viral in L1 Western Pleasure. Gone Viral is a 3-year-old stallion by No Doubt I’m Lazy and out of a mare that’s a full sister to the late stallion, The Rock.

Owner Kari Craft was overjoyed and very emotional following today’s win. She knew from the first time that she set eyes on the pretty stud that she would own him one day; although, it took some persuading on her part… “Jason has had him since August of last year. I bought him in July,” she says. “I saw him when Jason first got him, and I wanted him. Jason laughed at me, but I kept pushing, and I finally got him. It’s been the best thing that could’ve happened.”

Jason agrees, “It’s been great for both of us, because I get to keep him, and she gets to own him.”

Jason didn’t raise this stallion, but he was able to witness his growth from the very beginning. “A friend of mine, Raymond Roberts, raised him. I saw him when he was a weanling, and I wanted him. Then, I saw him as a yearling, and I wanted him, but I didn’t have anybody for a horse that young. Raymond had asked me to ride him a little bit when he was a two-year-old. I took him home, and after four or five days I didn’t want to give him back!”

Jason’s instincts about the horse proved to be right. At the recent NSBA World Show, Gone Viral won four NSBA World titles and two BCF titles. Despite all those big wins, it is today’s Congress Championship that’s the most exciting. “I’ve been coming to the Congress for… 20 years maybe. I’m very excited.”

“Jason is so humble,” Kari interjects. “He’s the same whether he wins or loses.”

Later on in the show, Jason will show Gone Viral in 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure and Kari will show in 3-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure. Next year, the stallion will stand with Gene Parker and will continue with his show career, possibly adding another event or two. “I think he will be [great at Western Riding.] He’s got so much rhythm and cadence to his lope, and he’s so trainable.”