Ashley Rytman and Moves Like Cattwoman

Ashley Rytman, of Belleville, Michigan, made her first ride on Moves Like Cattwoman one to remember as she captured a Quarter Horse Congress Championship today in Small Fry Western Pleasure.

The 2012 bay mare by Batt Man and out of Easy To Be Super, is owned by barn-mate Katerina Mendel, who purchased “Lola” last year.

Ashley is in Columbus, Ohio, competing at the Congress for the first time with her horse, Hurtin For Certain. They already have two Top 10 titles under their belt. Today Ashley and Hurtin For Certain placed seventh in Small Fry Trail. A total of 24 competed and I Know I Am Invited and Jenna Morse were crowned champions in the class. Yesterday Ashley and Hurtin For Certin placed seventh in Small Fry Horsemanship. They still have Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle to go.

But for the Western Pleasure, Ashley borrowed Moves Like Cattwoman from Mendel.

Austin J.Mahoney and Little Bit Of Rodder.

“All of us that train with Rosie and Brent Sheffer are like family and so we were all excited about Ashley showing Lola,” Mendel said. “She was going to show her at one show prior to coming here but the schedules just didn’t work out. So this is pretty amazing.”

A total of 37 competed in three go-rounds and a final before first the finalists were announced and then the crowd erupted as 10^th place was awarded to 10-year-old Austin J. Mahoney, of London, Ohio, riding Little Bit Of Rodder.

“I practiced a lot to get ready to show here at the Congress,” Austin said.

Rytman closed out the class with a victory lap and a wave to the crowd.

In other Congress competition today Chuck Briggs piloted Dancin N The Dirt to a win in Junior Working Hunter for owner Natalie Vargo, who purchased the 2011 bay gelding by Hot N Blazing and out of Caught You Dancin, in January.

“He’s a big, pretty boy,” Vargo said. “He is so laid back, he definitely loves his job.”

Chuck Briggs and Natalie Vargo.

Vargo said she prepared him for today’s competition by giving him a lot of hugs.

“He is still a baby and likes to play so if you play back it keeps him calm and focused instead of getting nervous,” she explained.

Briggs said Dancin N The Dirt has great ring presence.

“He is a great mover and beautiful to look at. He also has tons of cadence,” he said.

WhenItAllGoesSouth captured a Congress Championship in Novice Amateur Equitation Over Fences with Kelsey Moody in the irons.

Moody, of said WhenItAllGoesSouth reminds her of Clifford The Big Red Dog.

“All he wants to do is be with you all the time,” she said. “He wants to do whatever he can do to be good, he is seriously a big friendly dog.”

Nicholas Furlong and Executive Hotroder.

Moody said although her show partner was prancing out in the warm up pen, as soon as he saw the jumps he was fine.

“He loves to jump,” Moody said. “It is absolutely one of his favorite things to do. He loves what he does.”

Moody has owned WhenItAllGoesSouth for four years and she trains with Jessica Johnson.

Nicholas Furlong. Of Mexico, New York, won the Youth Working Hunter 14-18 aboard Executive Hotrodder. He has owned the 1999 bay gelding by Jet Set Hotrodder and out of Super Ruckus for four years and describes his show partner as “cocky.”“He is probably the cockiest horse I know,” Furlong said. “He knows he is cool.”

Furlong said he was pleased with today’s performance.

“I felt like it was good, but we always go in confident, it’s half the battle,” he said. “He is always ready. He knows his job and he is always ready to get out there and do it.”

Furlong credits his trainers Laura Herman, Tyson Furlong and David Miller for his success.

My Secret Past and
Abigail Hardy

Abagail Hardy rode My Secret Past to a Congress Championship in Youth Working Hunter 13 & Under. She has been showing the 2006 bay gelding by Sneak Per-View and out of A Secret Invitation, for two years and said he has an attitude but is a really good horse for her.

“I was so nervous because I went first in the class, but we did everything that we knew to do and what my trainer had told us before we went into the ring,” Hardy said.

Over in the Coliseum Halter Mares were being judged most of the day.

The Congress Championship for Weanling Fillies went to Hip Hip Haray, owned by Jennifer C. Jubb, DVM, and shown by Tom Robertson. The Limited Champion was Inexces, owned by Thomas & Mimsi Coon and shown by Thomas Coon.

Jason Smith showed Even, sired by Mr Elusive and out of Cool Celebration, to a Congress Championship in Yearling Fillies. She is owned by Jeffrey Stehney. The Limited winner was Miss Delta, owned by Tyler Shafer and shown by Anna Horn.

Bee Jewelled captured the Congress 2-Year-Old Mares Championship with Ross Roark on the shank among 17 entries. She is owned by Frank Berris. Limited Champion was BPF Cheek To Cheek, owned by Kelli Jensen and shown by Rick Leek.

Got My Sass On was the Congress Champion 3-Year-Old Mare. She is owned by Keith Bode and was shown by Andrew Staton. They were also Limited Division Champions.

PF Supreme Surprise

PF Supreme and Josh Weakly won Aged Mares in a tough class of 12. Candys Mirror Image was the Limited Champion. She is owned by Carolyn Stewart and was shown by J.T. Mitchell.

Ted Turner led Still A Kid to victory in the 21-entry Performance Halter Mares class. Still A Kid is owned by Sally Ann Sullivan. Reserve Champion and winner of the Limited Division was Fantastic Invitation, owned by Ashley Reichert and shown by Gretchen Mathes.

Grand Champion Mare went to Bee Jewelled, sired by My Intention and out of My Secret Jewell. Reserve Champion was PF Supreme Surprise, sired by Mh Supremo and out of Rivercity Girl.