Current Congress News

Chicks, and Judges, Dig "Eyore" and Trevor Dare in Non-Pro Freestyle Reining
Scars heal. . glory fades . . . but Congress trophies last forever.

Trevor Dare, Hilliard, took Chris Cagel's "Chicks Dig It" and gave it a cowboy twist with some trick riding and a solid reining pattern to win the 2007 Non-Pro Freestyle Reining with a score of 230. His score also held for reserve champion in the Open division, bested by one point by Laure Phillips' 231.

Dare said he developed his routine 'over the past few weeks' with his mare, Parkinwithaslic Chic, also known as Eyore. "She has big ears, so we named her Eyore," said Dare. "I've played around with her ever since I've owned her, so the trick riding wasn't too hard to add to it."

Eyore has been with Dare since 2006, when he showed her in NRHA events during his last year as a youth exhibitor. Now in his first year as an amateur and non-pro, Dare capped a very successful week at the Congress with his Non-Pro Freestyle win and Open Freestyle reserve title. He and Eyore won the Limited Non-Pro and Amateur Reining classes earlier in the week.

No stranger to competing in the Congress Freestyle Reining, Dare said he has shown in the class approximately seven times as a youth. "It's a lot of fun to compete at the Congress, basically in my home town, and have everyone you know coming up to talk about it," he said.

This year's events may be Dare's last one with Eyore, who has a sale pending. Next on his agenda: finding a three year old for the 2008 NRHA Futurity events.

Dare has one bit of advice for other non-pros who are considering competing the Congress Freestyle Reining. "More than anything else, have fun with it," he said.

With a little luck, chicks, and judges, will dig it.

 

 

by Connie Lechleitner, photos by Jeff Kirkbride Photograpy