EWD riders wait for placings

Weekend Warriors Win Big At The Congress

The first All Around and Rail weekend at the Quarter Horse Congress always includes over fences, Level 1 Walk Trot and Small Fry classes, but it is especially the time to shine for the Congress Equestrians With Disabilities exhibitors. The Way To Go caught up with some of these exhibitors

Inaugural Walk Only Showmanship

The Quarter Horse Congress offered a Walk Only Equestrians With Disabilities class at the 2025 show for the first time. The class was added as a result of input from exhibitors and their families at the 2024 Congress.

Addyson Storts showed Kiss My Invitation to win the inaugural class. “I wasn’t even going to go to the Congress, but Dawn Allison offered to let me show Calli,” Addyson said.

The result was a smooth pattern that the judges rewarded with Addyson’s first Quarter Horse Congress championship. “It’s unbelievable,” she said. “

Addyson was pleased with her pattern. “I liked the pattern because I think I did a good job with all the maneuvers and making it sharp,” she said.

Rhiannon Huffman Wins EWD Walk Jog Showmanship

The result was a smooth pattern that the judges rewarded with Addyson’s first Quarter Horse Congress championship. “It’s unbelievable,” she said. “

Rhiannon Huffman

Ben Schraufnagel became a first-time Congress champion when he showed Very Good WhenImgood to win the EWD Supported Trail. It was Ben’s second year to compete at the Congress. 

“I just did the pattern twice last night and once today, and we practiced once before we came here,” he said. “I showed Vinny at Gordyville and he’s been my show horse this year.”

Ben works with Partners For Progress therapeutic riding and also volunteers at the center taking care of horses and cleaning. “I’ve been with PFP for four years. I think the horses help me show that I can be competitive and have fun. It’s my seventh year riding overall,” he said. 

In the English classes, Saige Morgan and Rangers Road Warrior were named champions in EWD Hunter Under Saddle Independent while Willy Fine Wine and Robert Castellitto won the EWD Hunt Seat Equitation Independent. 

First Time Champion In EWD Supported Trail

Ben Schraufnagel became a first-time Congress champion when he showed Very Good WhenImgood to win the EWD Supported Trail. It was Ben’s second year to compete at the Congress. “I just did the pattern twice last night and once today, and we practiced once before we came here,” he said. “I showed Vinny at Gordyville and he’s been my show horse this year.”

Ben works with Partners For Progress therapeutic riding and also volunteers at the center taking care of horses and cleaning. “I’ve been with PFP for four years. I think the horses help me show that I can be competitive and have fun. It’s my seventh year riding overall,” he said. 

In EWD Independent Trail, Leah Glazer earned first and third place with Rockn Rose and Details N Assets. Leah also won the EWD Walk Jog Independent Western Pleasure with KM Go To The Bar. Johnathan Conrad and Shez Ready To Rock won the EWD Walk Jog Supported Western Pleasure.

In the English classes, Saige Morgan and Rangers Road Warrior were named champions in EWD Hunter Under Saddle Independent while Willy Fine Wine and Robert Castellitto won the EWD Hunt Seat Equitation Independent. 

Ben Schraufnagel and Very Good WhenImGood

Small Fry, Big Prizes

Harper Barre

Harper Barre and Ima Southern Loper won the Small Fry Showmanship to kick off the duo’s 2025 Quarter Horse Congress classes. 

“I love Showmanship, it’s my favorite class,” Harper said. “I was worried about my second set up, because I didn’t know if she was too spread out, but I don’t think she was. I loved my extended trot and my corners and my turns. I do the All Around minus the Western Pleasure. I like the patterns. I won the trophy for reserve All Around at the Congress last year, but I never won a class until now.”

Two Time Congress Champions

Ivy Mitchell was emotional after winning Small Fry Horsemanship, with her horse, Sure Enough Lazy. She later added a Congress win in Small Fry Trail. “We have been showing together a few years,” Ivy said. “She was very good and I just love her. We worked pretty hard to get here.”

Aislynn Galyean and Waffle House won two classes over the weekend including Small Fry Western Pleasure and Level 1 Youth Walk Jog Western Pleasure. “We bought Waffles at the Congress last year. She is a very good horse,” Aislynn said. “She has a really funny personality. She thinks she’s a human.”

Ivy Mitchell

Level 1 Walk Jog First Time NSBA Champion

Kathleen Wright Wyatt showed her horse Zippo Erins Best to the NSBA champion and reserve Congress champion titles in Level 1 Amateur Walk Jog Horsemanship. “Andrew was very consistent and he’s just the best boy,” Kathleen said. 

“I used to do Open shows, and my amazing trainers Dan and Darlene convinced me to show at the AQHA level,” she said. “It’s been great.” 

The 2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 26. To view complete show results, the live video feed in various arenas or the upcoming schedule, please visit quarterhorsecongress.com or the Horse Show Tracker app.

About NSBA

Established in 1983, National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and eight breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.

National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its eight alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year.

To learn more about NSBA, please visit nsba.com.