Non-Pros Dig Deep For Emotional Congress Wins
Lorrie Partridge had two emotional wins in Amateur Select Level 1 and Amateur Select Ranch Riding with Lida Spook. All photos courtesy of NSBA.
News from NSBA at the All American Quarter Horse Congress:
Emotional Amateur Select Win For Lorri Partridge and Nitro
The Non-Pros have been busy at the Congress, and for some, it’s been an emotional journey.
Lorrie Partridge shed happy tears at the conclusion of the Amateur Select Ranch Riding after winning the class with her horse, Lida Spook. She was tearing up again after winning her second Congress championship the next day in Level 1 Amateur Select Ranch Riding.
“This is only my third time ever showing at the Congress in Ranch Riding,” she said. “I showed last year in the Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding and we were reserve, and to come back this year in the Select and win, it’s a dream come true. It’s really a blessing from God.”
Lorrie bought ‘Nitro’ three years ago from the Rafacz family and started her journey in Ranch events. “I really feel like it’s all from my dad,” she said. “He died the day after I bought Nitro. My dad loved horses, but he hated horse shows. He would say that those trophies don’t pay for groceries. I feel like Dad went to Heaven and said ‘I was pretty hard on her, so let’s give her a good horse.’”
Lorrie has shown in All Around competition for many years, “I had taken a break from the All Around and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and then I got Nitro. Not too long after that, Pinetree Quarter Horses found me a really great All Around horse, so I continue to show both. I have a great horse show team with Anthony Douglas helping me with the Ranch classes and Pinetree Quarter Horses.”
She has a passion for patterns. “I love Ranch Riding and Ranch Trail. I love the technicality of it. It keeps me up at night before I show, but I do it!” she said.
Lorrie had a plan and was pleased with her go. “I loved my pattern,” she said. “I got to showcase his extended trot, and he was floaty and on. I had confidence going in, and I knew the way I wanted to lay that pattern out. I wanted to show how handy he was, and be able to capitalize on all the good things that he has. I had a great go, I loved him for it, but I thank the judges for seeing it too, because they have to love it too.”
Tearful Win For Erika Sterling
Erika Collins Sterling and Xtra Wimpys Catalyst at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Xtra Wimpys Catalyst and Erika Collins Sterling tore up the competition in Amateur Working Western Rail, winning the AQHA and NSBA portion of the class after four splits and a final, and had a tearful moment after realizing their achievement when she left the arena with her trophies and champion belt buckle.
“I’ve only had ‘Zorro’ about nine months and he was a Reiner, so this was his first venture into the Ranch Riding,” Erika said. “I’m also pretty new to the Ranch classes. I’ve been doing it about a year and a half. Last summer was the first time I had loped in a Ranch pattern. I come from the All Around world, but I took about a ten-year break. It’s all new and a bit overwhelming at times, but I’m really enjoying myself.”
Erika, Zorro, and trainer Matt Gouthro have been competing at major events all summer. “We’ve had a phenomenal year,” she said. “I’m over the moon about and I don’t know how I got so lucky. It’s unbelievable and its all because of my barn crew and my horses.”
Erika had glowing comments about her flashy black stallion with the flowing mane. “Besides his fabulous hair, he is impeccably kind,” she said. “He has the most exceptional manners of any stallion I’ve been around. He’s smart. He’s honest and he doesn’t take advantage and doesn’t do wrong. He’s also a cuddle bug and is very sweet.
“Our go in the finals was everything I could ask for. He was right there with me and was happy, and I had excellent placement. I was showing with a lot of my friends, so that made it fun to show. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
A New Ride Brings A Congress Championship For Ava Smith
Ava Smith and Alpha Black at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Photo: NSBA.
Ava Smith showed her new horse Alpha Black to win the Amateur Ranch Riding. “This is my third ride on him,” Ava said. “I practiced with him last week, and then I rode last night and showed him today, but somehow it came together.”
Known as Kobe, the gelding has only been owned by Ava for about a month. “We knew we wanted something that stood out in the arena, and he fit that exactly,” Ava said. “I had fun with this pattern. I really liked our turn around and I enjoyed the extended lope down the diagonal, and I’ve had trouble with lead changes but we nailed it today. I have to thank Bud Lyon for making all of this possible.”
Bud added another Congress championship for Alpha Black in Level 1 Senior Ranch Riding.
New NSBA Member Makes Her Membership Count
Lindsay Moyes and Rednecks N Pistols at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Lindsay Moyes put her brand-new NSBA membership to good use when she showed Rednecks N Pistols to win the NSBA champion title and bronze trophy and the reserve AQHA award in Level 1 Amateur Ranch Riding.
“I didn’t get my NSBA membership until after I turned in my Congress entries,” Lindsay said. “I bought Leroy at the end of his three year old year as my Reining horse four years ago. He really likes the Ranch classes. I had dabbled in it before that, but Leroy really makes me want to do it because he’s so good at it.
“I love that he’s got a nice big trot, and he also has a cool lope and just kind of cruises around. Today he was really good. I was worried about my 360 and loping off, but my trainer helped me with it and it was perfect. He nailed all the transitions and was just very good.”
‘Chilly’ and Karen Johnson Take Non-Pro Working Western Rail Stakes
Karen Johnson and Iscream For Icecreme.
After two splits and a final go, the Non-Pro Working Western Rail Stakes saw Karen Johnson win her second Congress class of the show with her horse, Iscream For Icecreme. The competitive group of 19 finalists went through their paces on the rail before the placings were announced.
“He’s a great loper, and he’s steady and always consistent,” Karen said of six year old ‘Chilly,’ who is named after the ice cream portion of his registered name. She and her husband, Bob, actually owned Chilly, sold him, and then bought him back. “He never left the barn, but when the opportunity came to buy him back, we did,” she said.
Although Karen is a many-time Quarter Horse Congress champion, she notes that novelty has not worn off. “I’ve won a trophy here every year since 2015, and it never gets old,” she said. “In fact, coming into this year, I thought, would this be the year we don’t get one? But we’ve won two now.” The duo also won Amateur Select Western Working Rail.
Perfect Peter Adds To His Wins In Non-Pro Ranch Riding Stakes
Madison Rafacz and Whizenboonsmal.
Whizenboonsmal has earned in the neighborhood of $350,000 between his NRHA career and AQHA and NSBA Ranch earnings. He added another $7,171 to his total with owner Madison Rafacz in the Non-Pro Ranch Riding Stakes.
“We bought Peter at the Quarter Horse Congress when he was five years old, and he’s now 13, so we’ve been together for eight years now,” Madison said. The long-time team had a great Reining career and were approached by Bud Lyon, who suggested they add Ranch Riding to his skill set. “Of all the Ranch classes, I probably enjoy the Ranch Riding the most. I really enjoy the Ranch Trail, but Ranch Riding is pretty much my favorite,” Madison said.
When asked about her pattern in the Stakes class, Madison replied “I liked how quiet and controlled our pattern was today, but still had that degree of difficulty. He was there and did everything I asked him to do. This pattern was a simple one but there were some places where you could get into trouble. With horses that have shown a lot, they get to anticipate what’s next, and this pattern had a lope down the diagonal to a trot, and sometimes they try to switch leads. You have to be on your A Game. It can be a fun pattern and a fluid pattern.”
Madison is no stranger to the winner’s circle, but she appreciates the stakes classes. “I love that they have the Stakes classes and that the Headleys have been so supportive of them,” she said. “It’s a fun class, and something else we can show in.”
Madison also shows in Youth classes and will have one year of Youth events remaining in 2026. However, she’s also begun her collegiate equestrian career. “I’m a freshman at Texas Christian University,” she said. “I’m on the equestrian team there, and I show in Reining.”
