Lexi Wills (top photo) sits on her horse, Bentley, after winning two ribbons at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. She finished 10th in the Small Fry Trails and 11th in Small Fry Western Pleasure. Her sister, Lani, captured sixth place in the 11-and-under Western Pleasure. Lani also took eighth place in the 11-and-under Showmanship, ninth in the 11-and-under Trails and earned eighth-place overall in the 11-and-under division.
(Photos submitted)
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A sea of sequins, braided horse manes and enough cowboy boots to open a new boot store were the sights to be seen at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress this past month.
More than 23,000 riders entered in the world’s largest single-breed horse show and two of those well-dressed cowgirls were Layni and Lexi Wills from the place that was the original home of the Ohio Quarter Horse Congress, Richwood.
The girls finished with high honors in a variety of categories at the Congress.
Layni competed in her second congress, claiming sixth place in the 11 and under Western Pleasure category, eighth in 11 and under Showmanship and ninth in the 11 and under Trail.
All of the accolades earned her eighth place overall in the 11 and under division.
“I don’t really focus on the placing’s,” said Layni. “I’ve been taught that way, to focus on yourself and how your horse is doing.
“Even though I didn’t win it, that is still the best I have ever done and it is a really, really big honor,” she said. “I didn’t even care that I got sixth place. I just cared that my ride was that good. I didn’t even place in another class and I thought that was my best ride ever on the horse.”
Lexi made her grand entrance into the congress this year and walked away with two ribbons, a tenth place in the Small Fry Trail and 11th in the Small Fry Western Pleasure categories.
She said she will be back next year to compete in her favorite class, which is trail.
“I think it is really fun because my horse is really good at it and it is just a good challenge,” she said. “It is just fun to go over the poles and the bridge and I just think it is really fun.”
The girls share the bond of riding with not only each other, but also with their father Jason, who got them into riding.
Tai Wills, Layni and Lexi’s mother, said the bond of riding is what helps keep the family close.
“We spend a lot of nights in the barns together,” she said. “We travel to shows and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”