East Coast Championship Show

Honoring Our Great Virginia Quarter Horses

The commemorative walkway, located in front of the Howard P. Anderson Coliseum, recognizes people, horses and organizations that have contributed to the success of the Virginia Horse Center.

In 2006 the East Coast Championship Show began to install bricks honoring the ECCS Virginia Horses of Distinction and their owners:

1995 Go Bouncy Go & Julia Mandes

1996 Peds Super Bard & Cathy Jennings

1997 My Bar Mambo & Dave Higgins

1998 Mr Sleepy Man & Raymond Melton

2000 Iam Casually Cool & the Kyle Hughes Family

2001 Bee Pine Fifty & Stephanie Jennings

2003 Candy Bar Bessy & Sandra Green

2004 Pesita Rabbit & Gerald Speeks

2005 Lotto Flash & Cecilia Hylton

2006 Impressive Captive & Trish & Julis Mandes

2007 My Son Dee Night & Cory Balsis

2008 Miss Leokie Sail & Debbie Wenger

The East Coast Championship's Virginia Horse of Distinction

Each year a special horse is recognized as the East Coast Championship's Virginia Horse of Distinction. Horses that receive this honor meet the following criteria:

They are registered American Quarter Horses.

They have made significant contributions to the horse industry.

They are retired, living in Virginia, and owned by Virginians.

At the Extravaganza Evening on Thursday, April 10, the East Coast Championship Show is proud to honor Miss Leokie Sail, the 2008 Virginia Horse of Distinction and his owner Debbie Wenger.

A Tribute to Leokie
By Debbie Wenger

Miss Leokie Sail is a 1989 sorrel gelding out of the great NRHA Hall of Famer Topsail Cody. True to his sire's reining legacy, Leokie also excelled in the reining pen, both in NRHA and AQHA events. But most of his accomplishments were not achieved until he was brought to a Virginia farm.

In November 1995, Debbie Wenger bought Leokie, who happened to be someone else's throwaway horse. Although gorgeous, athletic and extremely talented, he had been burnt out. He was cold and did not trust anyone. When he was ridden, he would hang and toss his head to the outside of the circle. Debbie rode him in big H's in fields on the farm and in the indoor arena at Lexington, where winter schooling was allowed. With time, she began to bring him back; unfortunately, this was just the first time for regaining his trust. A few months later, when Debbie found out she was pregnant with her first child, she made the mistake of sending Leokie to a trainer in another state to haul for an NRHA Top Ten championship. Leokie achieved his Top Ten, actually placing fifth in the world standings; but the time away from Debbie was hard on him. He had an abscessed foot, had lost weight, and was once again mistrustful of people. Debbie was told to "sell him. He's dangerous. You'll never show him - much less even ride him." That was August 1996.

In October 1997, Leokie and Debbie won the Congress Non-Pro Freestyle Championship. One of the largest freestyle classes held at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the "dangerous horse" won it with Debbie as his rider! It had taken her most of the year to regain his trust, but after months of riding all over the farm, loping around hay bales, and going to local shows, a team was formed between horse and rider.

Leokie went on to win numerous circuit and state awards in both Virginia and North Carolina. To help keep his mind from burning out on just reining, Debbie began to show him in trail, western riding, barrels and poles. Once asked to show in a horsemanship class in order to boost the number of exhibitors for AQHA points, Leokie claimed second place, thus diverting points from those intended.

When the USET began working with the NRHA to recognize reining as its fourth discipline and first western discipline, Leokie was sent to Shawn Flarida to be shown in a qualifying event. Shawn loved the big gelding and qualified him in North Carolina. Shawn and Debbie agreed not to go to the next level because the "horse that would stop in concrete" had given his all. Shawn commented with admiration that he "wished he could have had Too Tall," as he affectionately called Leokie, "as a two year old."

One of the last awards Leokie achieved was that of Virginia Versatility Champion. Under the guidance of Lisa Gray Roughier, he placed 2nd in Western Pleasure, 3rd in Hunter Under Saddle, and won the barrels class. Not too bad for a reining horse! Debbie showed him to the win in the reining portion, the last time she would show him competitively.

Leokie successfully carried one more rider. Debbie's daughter, Becca, started showing him as an eight-year-old in walk-trot classes. The old warhorse took great care of his charge. One night late while a few reiners were practicing in the big arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, Becca and Leokie were simply jogging around the outside. When asked to practice her pleasure lope, Becca made two rounds and then, not to be outdone, she joined the other reiners circling the pen. Everyone was amazed at the sight of the big horse carrying the little girl with a great big smile on her face. We all knew it was time to let the team show in reining. Lightly showing for two years, Leokie and Becca captured a year-end VQHA Youth Reining award and a Blue Ridge Reining Horse reserve championship. In one weekend, the team moneyed out of a NRHA Beginner's class. Leokie even helped Becca earn her first AQHA point, in Open Reining of all things, beating out other well-seasoned riders.

We are honored that Leokie has been chosen for this award. From the cold, distrusting horse first brought to Virginia, to the horse that has courageously given his heart so many times, we are blessed to care for and love him as long as he will have us. Thank you from the Wenger family and from Leokie.

Highlights of Miss Leokie Sail's career:

NRHA Earnings of $5,553.58

Superior Amateur Reining (2001)

VQHA Versatility Champion (2001)

VQHA Youth Reining Champion (2005)

VQHA Champion All Age Reining (2001, 1999, 1997)

VQHA Champion Amateur Reining (2001, 1999)

VQHA Reserve Champion Amateur Reining (2000, 1997)

USET Qualifier (2000)

World Show Qualifier Amateur & Senior Reining (2000, 1999)

NCQHA Champion Amateur Reining (2000)

Congress 3rd Senior Reining (1999)

EQHNC Champion Amateur Reining (1999)

VQHA Reserve Champion Amateur Western Riding (1998)

Congress Champion Non-Pro Freestyle Reining (1997)

5th in the World NRHA Novice Horse (1996)