Two Dapper Gentlemen Dominate Congress Select Showmanship- Dan Yeager and Rob Rivait

By: Brittany Bevis

Two dapper gentlemen dominated Select Showmanship this morning at the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Dan Yeager led Cracking The Code to win his second Congress Championship of the show. Just a few days ago, this team was named the Congress Champions in Select Horsemanship as well. 

The Reserve Champion was Rob Rivait with Show Your Invitation. Third was Anne Wilson with Laziness. Fourth was Angela Dillahunty with Won RV Ridin Machine. Fifth was Kim Neas with Rumors Are Hot.

For Rob, this is the first time he’s won such a prestigious title, and he’s thrilled his daughter allowed him to borrow her horse. “I go to the show and ask which horse Dad is allowed to use. Then, I’m allowed to use that one, with permission of course!”

For Dan, this is his third Congress Championship title earned in Showmanship in the past four years. He won in 2014 and 2015 with his late gelding, Cee Money, and then this year with his new gelding, “Pistol.”

So where is Pistol in Dan’s win photo? He’s actually being shown in the Coliseum at this very moment by Brad Ost in the 4 and 5-Year-Old Trail Stakes. “I showed here, and then I gave him the horse. He’s either getting ready to show or has already shown. I don’t even know!”

We wondered if Dan and Rob ever feel intimidated competing with all the sophisticated, Select ladies with their sparkling outfits and singular talents. Rob jokes, “Yes! We can only look so good.”

“My game is that if I start looking at people like Rob then I get intimidated,” Dan says. “So, I try not to. I try to focus on myself. Everybody is so good. If you look around at other people, then you might start thinking that you might not be able to pull it off.  I try to be in my own zone and let the chips fall where they may.”

“I think it goes both ways,” Rob adds. “Even if there is more attention on men, it puts that much more pressure on us to do that much better. It’s all about us that day and how we do.”

For Rob, today’s class was somewhat of a blur. “I don’t really remember that much of my pattern. I actually have to look at a video to remember!”

“I love that answer!” Dan laughs. “I kind of agree; but, for me, we’ve practiced a lot on our transition to the walk, and it’s gotten a lot better. Also, our turns are really starting to come together. He’s not naturally talented in this class, so it’s been a struggle for him, and we’re finally getting there.”

Coming up next, Dan and Pistol will compete in Select Western Pleasure today and possibly Trail, and Rob will compete in Trail.