Fulton, MO – William Woods University (WWU) once again backed up its lofty status of having the premiere higher education Equestrian Science program in the nation with a tremendous showing at the 2019 Color Breed Congress in Tulsa last week.
Over nine days (November 1-9) of competition at a show that draws competitors from across the U.S. and Canada, the university reinforced its elite ranking with 16 Color Breed Congress Championships. The Color Breed Congress encompasses four separate breed shows into one, with participating breeds including the The Pinto Horse Association of America, Palomino Horse Breeders of America, American Miniature Horse Registry and Appaloosa Horse Club.
WWU students excelling at the competition included sophomore Anthony Vittone, who won a number of Congress Championships in the Open Saddle Pleasure Type division including being named Grand Champion Halter horse in the Pleasure Saddle Type division with WV Kyss of Fame. That championship, along with winning the western ideal pleasure and saddle type, led Vittone and WV Kyss of Fame to earn the Reserve Champion High Point for the Pleasure and Saddle Type Division. WV Kyss of Fame also went on to win the High Point Champion in the Amateur Pleasure and Saddle Type Division with WWU senior Viktoria Moore.
Senior Chrissy Vinton, showing newly-donated horse to the WWU Equestrian program Iotta Be Exquisite, earned a first place finish in the amateur w/t showmanship division, in addition to several top five and top ten placings.
Freshman Sydney Munson, showing both The Law Giver and Justa Blueprint, earned a first in a competitive novice youth equitation class with The Law Giver while also earning several top five titles with Justa Blueprint. Juniors Sarah Eliason, showing Naturally Fancy, and Gillian Henson, showing All That’s Real, also brought home to WWU top five titles in the extremely competitive amateur junior division. Seniors Natalie Ciciva and Megan VanHarn, who trained and prepared another newly donated horse to the program, Fancy Time Prelude, rode the new horse to a 5th in bareback equitation class (VanHarn) and several individual judges placings within large classes (Ciciva).
Within the ranch horse division, Junior Grace Schierling, showing Jazzy San Pep, put in a solid go for their ranch pleasure class and ranch riding, earning a 3rd in in both classes within this very competitive and large division. They also went on to earn several other top five titles and a top ten title in ranch conformation, horsemanship and western discipline rail.
Jennie Petterson, Director of the School of Equestrian Studies, also showing Jazzy San Pep, won the solid western discipline rail, defending her champion title from this past summer at the 2019 Pinto World Championship Show. Assistant Professor of Western Equestrian Studies, Liz Haben, was competing against Jennie Petterson in the solid western discipline rail, riding Heza Hershey Bar, with a competitive go earning a top five title. Junior Haleigh Hartwig, also showing Heza Hershey Bar, riding at her first Color Congress show, earned a 3rd in her amateur western discipline rail, in addition to several other top ten titles.
“The Color Breed Congress always provides tremendous opportunities for our students to compete against some of the top competitors and horses in the nation,” said Haben.
“We have had tremendous success at this show in the past and this year was no different. Our team of horses and students was comprised of a handful of veterans who had competed at this show successfully in the past, as well as newcomers, both student and equine.”
For more on the William Woods Equestrian program, please visit: https://www.williamwoods.edu/academics/undergraduate/programs_and_degrees/equestrian/bachelors_equestrian_science.html
