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.
In 2006 we are proud to honor
Impressive Captive as our East Coast Championship's Virginia Horse of
Distinction.
IMPRESSIVE CAPTIVE
A Tribute by Trish Mandes
When Impressive Captive was
a yearling, he already stood over 16 hands
tall. After Cathy Jennings spied a classified advertisement for this
huge, gray baby, she rushed down to Culpeper and purchased him on the
spot. He was bred in 1989 by Virginia Cohn, who also owned his
parents, Impressive Dart and Captivating Joy, a stately Thoroughbred.
Before long, Cathy turned his training over to Paige Quarterman, and
the trio began to make history. When Impressive Captive, now dubbed
Petey, entered the ring, spectators gasped. Imagine, if you will, an
America Quarter Horse who reached the height of 17-1 hands back in the
day when large Quarter Horses usually topped around 16-2. Now, give
that horse a gorgeous head, an athletic build, a willing attitude, and
an affectionate personality, and you have Petey. Suzanne Gonzales
described him as "truly one of the greatest show horses to ever step
into the ring."
Petey soon developed a fan club that stretched across the nation.
Whenever he went to a show, prominent trainers asked to ride him.
Their names form a "Who’s Who" of distinguished equestrians; David
Connors, Nancy Sue Ryan, Brian Holmes, Gigi Bailey, Tracey Baker, Scott
Kaufman, Brian Isbel, Connie Christopher, and Gretchen Mathis shared in
his glory. All the while, Paige Quarterman provided the steady hand --
and love -- that gave Impressive Captive his solid foundation.
Cathy Jennings' success with Petey was legendary. Among his many
accomplishments, he earned recognition as the Equi-Stat Leading Money
Earning English Horse in 1992. During the next three years, Petey
continued taking home major award after award. In 1995, he became the
Congress Champion in All Age Pleasure Driving. After Congress, Petey
captured the 1995 Open Reserve World Championship in Pleasure Driving.
Cathy turned Petey over to Trish Mandes and her daughter Julia. Owning
Impressive Captive was almost a miracle for Trish and Julia. They had
adored Petey since Cathy first purchased him, and they had dreamed of
owning him. Some times dreams really do come true, and Petey became
theirs to cherish. Just like Cathy Jennings, Julia and Paige
Quarterman rode Petey to innumerable wins both in Virginia and
nationally. After winning the 1997 AQHYA Reserve World Championship in
Hunter Hack and the Virginia Open All Around Championship, Julia hung
up her spurs for a while and headed to college.
Impressive Captive lived happily in semi-retirement for a few years at
the Mandes home in Fairfax Station. Trish took him on trail rides, and
Julia let her better students ride him. As you can imagine, Petey
cleaned up at 4-H shows! After a few years of loafing, Petey came out
of retirement. With Paige Quarterman aboard, Petey attained the last
Hunter Hack point he needed to become an Open AQHA Performance Champion
in 2001.
Trish sadly sold Impressive Captive to a family with a very talented
daughter, who, like Julia, had always admired the magnificent horse.
Unfortunately, his years on the road caught up with him, and arthritis
left him not sound enough for the show ring. Petey was given to a
wonderful school in Texas, New Horizons, where he began a second
career, helping abused and abandoned children learn to trust again.
Petey missed his family in Virginia, however. Trish swears he began
sending her telepathic messages, and she eventually located him and
bought him from the school. When Petey stepped off the trailer one
chilly night in October 2004, he whinnied to Trish, looking for
cookies, and he almost jumped into Julia’s arms. The king had
returned. He lived for a year among his adoring subjects, pampered and
spoiled, with no other job in life but to be beautiful and to boss the
other horses around. He was getting ready for his debut at the
Virginia Horse Center as the East Coast Championship's 2006 Virginia
Horse of Distinction. On Saturday, November 5, 2005, Petey died
unexpectedly, stricken by the sudden onset of a devastating
neurological disorder.
Petey's legacy lives on. His talented half brother, Held Captive,
continues Petey's winning tradition. Suzanne Gonzales’ two-year-old,
Captivating Sky, is another brother to watch. Trainer Connie
Christopher owns his dam, Captivating Joy. For many years, this
majestic mare has produced foals like Petey's World Champion brother,
The Last Captive. He and his progeny will keep the memory of
Impressive Captive shining brightly.
Highlights of Impressive Captive's Career
• Earned 643.5 AQHA points
• Earned a total of $31,092
• 5 Superiors in Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack, and Pleasure Driving
• Open AQHA Performance Champion
• 11-time AQHA and AQHYA High Point Top Ten
• 13-time AQHA World Show Top Ten
• 1992 Equi-Stat Leading Money Earning English Horse
• 1995 Congress Champion Open Pleasure Driving
• 1995 Open Reserve World Champion Pleasure Driving
• 1997 AQHYA Reserve World Champion Hunter Hack
