From Dreams To Reality: Congress Champions

Jerry Douglas and his girlfriend, Jennifer Groehn, both won big at Congress this year!

Jerry Douglas is 66 years old and up until 3 years ago had never really ridden a horse. Four years ago, he met the love of his life, Jennifer Groehn, who had been riding since she was 7 years old. Her forever dream was to someday ride at the Quarter Horse Congress but thought it would never happen.

As their relationship grew, it became Jerry's greatest desire to someday help her reach that dream and ride her horse at Congress. Three years ago, he asked Jennifer to help him pick out a horse so they could ride together. That same year, he told her that they both had to go to Congress. She laughed and said, “You can’t even do a flying lead change.” She was right, but he told her that he would learn how to do a flying lead change at Congress.

At the 2019 Congress, Jennifer worked with Jerry all week to learn how to do a flying lead change. Finally, when his draw came up, he walked into the arena and did the spins, the circles and finally came to the first lead change. To his surprise, it was perfect. He was so excited that he forgot the rest of his pattern and had to stop. But it didn’t matter. He got his lead change! It was all fun for him, but he still wanted Jennifer to win at Congress.

They returned home that year and continued to ride and he started to fall in love with riding and their horses. He stated that it was like each one could talk directly into his heart, which led him to spending more and more time in the barn, taking care of them, and riding when he could.

His riding got better but his 3 years could not match Jennifer’s lifelong ambition to be a Champion rider. He wanted to see her become the Rookie Champion and he just hoped to get a score.  It all seemed impossible with nearly a 150 riders in Rookie and 124 in Green. Jennifer’s draw came up, and her ride was awesome. Her final score put her in front of the pack as she Co-Championed the Rookie class!  A lifelong dream come true. Four days later was Jerry's turn. He had a new horse that he had only ridden three times before his draw. He was draw 29 and there were 124 in his Green class. After his run, they announced his score of 215. After several hours of waiting for the final outcome, it was announced that he had taken Champion! Nothing could have prepared him for what came next: Receiving the Congress trophy.

They had both done what they thought was virtually impossible. Jennifer’s dream had become their shared dream, and they were able to make it happen together. Without her love for horses, riding and desire to be the best, Jerry never could have done it. He pushed her to live out her dream and she inspired him to do what he thought was impossible.

Later that week, they decided to enter the Congress Freestyle Reining competition. Jerry thought it was a long shot, but with some help and encouragement from his trainer, Benjamin Beckett, they thought they may have a chance! They put a skit together in a few days and on Saturday, 10/9, they were draw 18 and a score of 235 put them in first place for the Freestyle Reining Championship!

The Sunday after, they returned to their home in Michigan. Jerry stated, "I'll never be the same. We'll never be the same."

He sums his 2021 Congress experience up with a banner he saw hanging in the Schneider's booth during Congress:

“Horses are not a hobby you pick up and put down; they are a love that last a lifetime.”

His only regret is waiting so long to experience the love of riding and understanding the relationship between a rider and horse, but he's thankful for what he has learned these past three years and for the All American Quarter Horse Congress helping to make his dream come true.

2021 Congress Wins:

1. Xtra Dun Step Champion Open Freestyle Reining owned by Jerry Douglas shown by Ben Beckett

2.  Xtra Dun Step Champion in Green owned and shown by Jerry Douglas

3. Riding Whiz Joy Rookie Co-Champion, 4th in Prime Time Non Pro and 15th in level 1 Non Pro owned and shown by Jennifer Groehn.

4.  Xtra Dun Step Intermediate Open Champion, Novice Level 1 Reserve Champion, 5th in Level 2 and 3rd in Level 4 Open owned by Jerry Douglas and shown by Ben Beckett

5.  Riding Whiz Joy Reserve Champion Novice Level 1 and 5th in Novice Level 2 owned by Jennifer Groehn and shown by Ben Beckett