As it turns out, if your name is Lauren, today was a good day to compete in showmanship at the Congress.

“In general, what he gives you that day is all you’re going to get. Today, he was right on. He did really well and showed really good.”

By: Brittany Bevis This afternoon was all about western pleasure at the 2013 Quarter Horse Congress. First up, youth exhibitors took to the arena for the Youth 12-14 Western Pleasure. In the end, Deanna Green and her Palomino mare, Blazinmytroublesaway, aka “Buttercup,” won the top title. The Reserve Champion in the class was Brooke Granzow […]

“Winning with Bud at the Congress is so special. When I came out of the class, and heard my score, I started crying. I was so happy.”

“He went unanimous in all three of his Amateur classes. I’m not going to be able to live with him,” Kaleena jokes. “He’s just going to be unbearable!”

This year, the competition certainly did not disappoint. Nearly 200 entries were shuffled through ten splits, two semi-finals, and a finals to determine the winner this evening.

In order to qualify for Grand and Reserve today, “Premo” was named the Congress Champion in Amateur 2-Year-Old Stallions. Given that Premo was named the Reserve Grand Champion Amateur Stallion in 2012, Prince was definitely hungry for that Grand Champion title today.

There is another reason that Thurston’s smiling face was also filled with tears this afternoon. What sparked the initial conversation was a pink breast cancer pin she wore on her hunt coat during the class.

“She’s really good in her neck, and she’s really tight-built. You really don’t have to worry about making her go slow. She just goes slow naturally.”

The crowd applauded a touching moment when Starnes’ proud husband gave his wife a kiss while she was still on horseback.