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Bailey Pitts and Absolut Martini Girl Come Out on Top for Their First Congress
By Carly Williams, Photos courtesy Kirkbride Photography

Three years ago, Bailey Pitts would have never guessed that she would be showing (and winning) at the Congress on a mare called “Muddy.” Sometimes, however, miracles can happen and perseverance can pay off.

Absolut Martini Girl may have a name resembling the good life, but she was born into a ‘less than stylish’ lifestyle. “She was born outside during a rainstorm and ended up in the mud,” Bailey laughed. “After that, she seemed to always want to roll in the mud. At the barn she was at, they would always say ‘go get that muddy filly’ or ‘go get that muddy mare,’ and the name just stuck!”

Muddy has not lived up to her name, however, and has grown into a superb Western Pleasure horse. Bailey feels very lucky to have found the mare, and even luckier that she has shown her to such success.

“We saw her this March at a show in Murray, Kentucky. A customer of Jon Barry’s owned her and Jon was getting her ready to show during the day,” Bailey said. “My parents and I watched her all day and thought she was just a beautiful mover. We couldn’t believe what a good loper she was.

“My parents went up to Jon that day and said we had to buy her.”

Muddy became extra special for Bailey because Bailey was looking for a horse to take her to her first Congress, and she knew Muddy would be the one.

Brad and Vicki Pitts originally started B Pitts Quarter Horses after earning degrees from the University of Findlay in equestrian studies and business administration. They ran their business out of Texas, where Bailey was born.  Bailey began showing in 4-H on an Arabian/Quarter Horse cross while living in Texas, but couldn’t deny her Quarter Horse roots. Within the past five years, the Pitts relocated to Vicki’s hometown in Indiana, where they began attending Quarter Horse shows again.

Bailey began showing at Quarter Horse shows three years ago, but did not feel she had a horse good enough to come compete at the Congress. Everything changed in March of this year, when the Pitts purchased Absolut Martini Girl.

“I came to the Congress in 2006 just to watch,” Bailey said. “It was the first time I had ever been to the Congress and it was a blast just coming to watch. My mom and dad kept telling me that they would try to find me a horse good enough so that I could come back this year to show. I knew once we found Muddy that I would be coming to show in October.”

Bailey showed like a cool, experienced showman in the Congress arenas last week, never showing the judges that she had never been in this level of competition before. “I was really nervous when I first got here,” Bailey explained. “I just kept thinking ‘I’m actually going to show against some of the greatest horses in the world.’ Once I got started riding though, and preparing for my classes, I knew I needed to control my nerves. I forced myself to focus on my ride, not my nerves, and it really worked out for me.

“I had a little more confidence after I did so well in the Novice Youth Western Pleasure,” said Bailey. “Until I saw my split for the 15-18 Western Pleasure! There were so many really good horses in there, I just felt lucky to make it back. Placing fifth was amazing.”

Bailey's 2007 Congress Placings:
Congress Champion, Youth Performance Halter Mares
Congress Champion, NSBA Novice Youth Western Pleasure 14-18
Reserve Champion, Novice Youth Western Pleasure 14-18
3rd, NYATT Western Pleasure
5th, 15-18 Western Pleasure

 

Reprinted with permission from OQHA.com