AQHA Level 1 West Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada

After such a wonderful experience at Level 1 Championships East, I couldn’t wait to experience the event on the West Coast. I opted to drive to a bit further airport and was able to land a nonstop flight to Las Vegas. It was my first time visiting Vegas, and I was immediately blown away by the slot machines positioned right as soon as you get off the airplane. We arrived late that evening (at least in Eastern time), so it was a brief stroll around the hotel and barns, a quick bite at one of the restaurants, and then it was off to bed.

The next day was one of the final days of the Pinnacle Circuit. This show is put on by the Arizona Quarter Horse Association and immediately precedes the Level 1. I had the best time helping Penny King and Anica Reddick hand out circuit awards and get everything set up and ready for the Level 1. That evening, my mom and I had tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. I had been looking forward to it for a while, and it did not disappoint. The wind, the seats shaking, and even apples falling from the ceiling made it such an immersive experience. We also spent time walking around some of the surrounding hotels. It’s crazy to see entire cities practically built inside of them! Since the trip fell over Mother’s Day weekend, it made the experience even more special getting to spend that time together with my mom.

The first day of Level 1 West went off without a hitch, starting with halter, showmanship, and gaming events. I always find the barrels and poles so fun to watch since it’s not something I get to see very often! I also got the chance to hang out with Idaho QHA Queen Chloe Hansen between classes while she stayed busy serving as the walker for the showmanship setup.

The first day also brought a talent show, which is something I’ve never seen at a horse show! Everyone really showed out, from singing and dancing to gymnastics; it was incredible seeing how many talents everyone had outside the arena. One of the highlights was watching Cavannah Hansen, sister to Idaho Queen Chloe Hansen, absolutely wow the crowd with her performance and earn a perfect 10 from every judge. Her voice was absolutely stunning, and I can’t wait to see where she goes next.

The days that followed were a similar mix of preparing awards and running back and forth between pens. It was exciting to cheer on many exhibitors I remember meeting at the Arizona Sun Circuit. It’s always such a joy to watch dreams come true. One of my favorite parts about this show is how everything is within arm’s reach. With the barns and arenas completely air-conditioned, being able to walk to the arena just steps from your hotel room, and 11 restaurants located right within the hotel, it truly felt like an all-inclusive experience. I really didn’t get too many looks when wearing my Berry fit outfits through the casino; it must just be a typical look for Vegas!

Overall, L1 West was such an unforgettable experience. Getting to work alongside so many amazing people and watching incredible competitors made it all worthwhile. Every show I go to, I learn new things and get to meet so many new people. It’s hard to believe that I’m already halfway through my reign as the Congress Queen. I can’t wait to see what the rest of this journey has in store!

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

AQHA Level 1 East Championships - Wilmington, Ohio

My start to the Level 1 East Coast Championship Show was a little unconventional. The Friday before, I traveled back to my college town of Chapel Hill to run my very first race, the Tar Heel 4 Miler. I started running as a New Year’s resolution this year, so getting to compete in a race was such a fun and exciting milestone. It also made my trip to Wilmington, Ohio a bit shorter.

After a great weekend in Chapel Hill, I made my way to the World Equestrian Center on Sunday. Also along for the ride was my corgi, Adley, who was on her first big trip as a horse show dog. Monday kicked off fast, with all three arenas awarding simultaneously. I was so thankful for South Carolina Queen Olivia Garvin and Tri-State Queen Riley Miller, who stepped up and helped run awards across the halter, over fences, and western riding pens. A huge thank you as well to Olivia’s mom, Joy Garvin, for keeping everything organized (and for making sure I stayed fed and happy those first couple of busy days!). That evening, we enjoyed an exhibitor welcome dinner sponsored by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. Adley enjoyed hanging out by the ring in my spare time, and I am so thankful to 2024 Congress Queen Madi Heilveil for letting her stay in her onsite cabin while I was queening during the day.

Tuesday was showmanship day, which brought long breaks between classes and allowed us to capture content for the Queen’s Contest page and spend time with sponsors. After awarding so many champions, I returned to the hotel to finish a project I had been working on for the past few weeks: my children’s Congress Queen workbook. I designed it with fun activities like creating your own Congress Queen outfit, a maze to guide a Congress bronze trophy back to the coliseum, and a page teaching kids how to learn a horsemanship pattern. I was so excited to debut it and hand it out to the large class of 25 leadliners.

Wednesday and Thursday were filled with trail, equitation, and hunter undersaddle. The huntseat was always my favorite class to show, and I definitely found myself eager to get back in the show pen. I am also incredibly grateful for Marisa, the Pennsylvania Queen, who jumped in to help for the rest of the week. We had to have a queen corgi moment with Adley and Marisa’s corgi, Gibson, only we quickly found out that getting them to sit still for a picture was no easy feat. I am also thankful for Marisa’s family who invited me over Thursday evening for a delicious dinner at their camper after a long show day.

Friday and Saturday brought a change of pace as more Queens arrived and we transitioned to pleasure, horsemanship, and the ranch division. I had an amazing time welcoming new Queen contestants: Michigan QHA Queen Emelia Perez; Ontario QHA Queen Kayla Brickus; Southern Ohio QHA Queen Grace Schreock; and past Northern Ohio QHA Queen Addison Schliesser. We enjoyed a pizza party together, which reminded me so much of the Congress Queen Contest and made me even more excited for October. That Friday, we also welcomed Congress Queen Committee Chair Jaymie Drury, who shared some exciting news about the contest.

Overall, this experience was unforgettable. I hadn’t attended a Level 1 Championship since it was held in Raleigh years ago, and it was amazing to see the atmosphere. I know how special it feels to hear your name called while riding down the center of the ring, and I think it’s incredible that the Level 1 Championships create a world-show experience for exhibitors at every level. The way this show makes every exhibitor feel recognized is truly special and makes it a show I would love to return to.

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

Martinganza

It was a beautiful Easter weekend when I made the trip to Martinganza in Williamston, North Carolina. The drive took about two and a half hours, and although I usually pass the time with an audiobook, the site I rely on wasn’t working. Instead, some tunes sufficed.

When I arrived, I quickly finished doing my hair, got dressed, and headed to the ring. Half of the halter had already been completed, and showmanship was underway. I caught up with several friends I hadn’t seen in years, which ended up being one of the highlights of the day. I didn’t have many queenly duties at this show, so I found myself taking a more relaxed approach.

While the showmanship classes continued, the ranch pen took a break, signaling that it was time for leadline. I made a quick dash back to my car to grab some small gifts and helped get the easter baskets ready for the kids. I always say the leadline is one of the most important classes of the horse show, and the atmosphere felt especially festive given the Easter weekend.

After leadline wrapped up, I wandered over to another part of the grounds where a large Easter egg hunt was underway. The hunt was divided into three sections based on age groups, and the turnout was huge! Kids were everywhere, baskets in hand, racing around with excitement. It was heartwarming to watch and take part in the festivities.

Later, after catching the final rounds of showmanship and halter classes, I waited for the pleasure classes to begin. During the downtime, I soaked up some air conditioning while chatting with Congress Queen sponsor Miguel Aguilar in his vendor trailer. He shared some exciting news about some BIG new prizes he’s been working on with other vendors for the Congress queen’s contest, and I couldn’t be more excited to watch the contest grow.

I eventually wrapped up the day by watching a few of the western pleasure classes outside, enjoying the evening as things began to wind down. I said my goodbyes and headed out only to realize I had left my extra leadline gifts about 15 minutes out. I turned around, went back to grab them, and then finally made my way out again. Instead of heading straight home, I drove to my hometown to spend Easter Sunday there.

Next week, I’ll be headed to the Level One East Coast Championship show. I’m so excited to celebrate everyone’s accomplishments and looking forward to seeing my fellow Queens!

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

Arizona Sun Circuit

Not even a week after attending the SCQHA Southern Gold Classic, it was time to pack and fly out to Phoenix for the Arizona Sun Circuit. This trip marked my first time attending the Sun Circuit, as well as my first visit to the Southwest. Packing felt a little easier this time; I started to learn some tricks after packing the queen's wardrobe a time or two. I even left a little room in my suitcase since I knew I would likely come home with souvenirs. My trip started with a later flight, leaving Wilmington, NC around 3pm. I connected through Chicago IL, where I met with my mom who also had a layover. We met up in the airport and ate dinner at an Italian restaurant before continuing to Phoenix. After more than eight hours of travel, we finally arrived - but the journey was not over yet. Unfortunately, we were met with a two-hour wait for a rental car and didn’t get to the hotel till after 1am. I am thankful that this ended up being the only hiccup of the trip and everything that followed was absolutely worth it.

The next morning, we headed to WestWorld after a quick fuel up at Starbucks. The facility is massive, and it took us a minute to find the showgrounds since they also had a rodeo going on at the same time. While exploring, I even had the chance to meet a few of the local rodeo queens. Rodeo and western culture are definitely popular in the Southwest! I started the day by walking around and checking out the vendors. It was great to see so many familiar booths, including several Congress Queen contest sponsors. I was soon found by my friend Penny King, who I got to know while working awards at the Congress. Penny gave us a tour of the grounds and tracked down a golf cart for us, which happened to be a six-seater which we termed ‘the limo’.

Penny let me take the reins for the awards presentations, and I got started with western versatility, a new class for the Sun Circuit and one that I’ve enjoyed watching grow the past year. Following this class, they also introduced a youth versatility challenge, where youth took part in a framework of classes similar to the versatility challenge at the world show. The class began with western pleasure, transitioned to a versatility pattern, and then wrapped up with halter. The awards were unlike any I have presented before, including a TV, a Blackstone grill, and Yeti coolers. In another pen, I had the privilege of presenting awards for the NSBA 3/4-Year-Old Non-Pro Pleasure, the NSBA 3-Year-Old Novice Horse Pleasure, and the NSBA 3/4-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

That evening, I also had the chance to watch the NSBA Non Pro Ranch Horsemanship, a new class aimed to focus on the exhibitor’s ability to ride through practical ranch maneuvers. It was especially cool to watch against the backdrop of a stunning Arizona sunset. After a full day, my mom and I opted for a casual dinner nearby and enjoyed a relaxed evening.

The next morning was an early one, because it was time to get ready for arguably one of the most important classes of the horse show: the leadline. This class was huge with over 20 kiddos participating. I brought along some Congress souvenirs to hand out as they were warming up and had the joy of presenting each kid with a giant stuffed pony after their class.

Later in the day, I presented awards for the West Coast Breeders classes and had the honor of awarding buckles to the National Champion Horsemanship and Equitation winners across Youth, Amateur, and Select divisions. This unique event features a tournament-style format, putting top riders head-to-head in an exciting matchup. That evening, we visited Old Town Scottsdale, where we enjoyed dinner while overlooking the area. One of the most fascinating parts of the experience was seeing driverless cars operating like Ubers. There were so many of them!

On the final day of Sun Circuit, I spent the morning presenting awards, doing some last-minute shopping, and helping in the awards office. It was so rewarding to see the excitement on exhibitors’ faces as they picked up their circuit awards. From the beginning of the trip, I knew I wanted to explore more of Arizona’s natural beauty. On a recommendation, we took a drive out to Cave Creek to see some of the surrounding desert landscapes. The scenery was breathtaking and filled with towering saguaro cacti, mountain ranges, and distinctive desert homes. We stopped at a nearby park to take in the views and see the local wildlife. It is surreal just how different their landscape is, and it makes you appreciate all the greenery we have on the east coast. We ate an old local restaurant called Harold’s Cave Creek Corral. All the food we ate over the weekend was so delicious!

The next morning, we had an early flight where I again flew to Chicago and then back to Wilmington. On the way back, I got some beautiful views of the city line of Chicago and then of the coast of Wrightsville beach. When I got home, I felt a little remorseful after being at such a wonderful show. With a few weeks to recharge, I am looking forward to the spring show season as it quickly approaches.

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

South Carolina and Premier Sires Southern Gold Classic

It was the last day of February when I travelled south to Camden, South Carolina, for the SCQHA and Premier Sires Southern Gold Classic. It was a particularly exciting trip since it was the first time I had returned to a South Carolina show after representing SCQHA at the Congress Queen’s Contest. Not only that, but it was also the day that the new SCQHA Queen would be crowned.

Even though I was only attending for the day, my car was packed full. With me came the SCQHA Queen’s closet, which is a travelling wardrobe that is passed down from Queen to Queen each year. It would definitely be a bittersweet moment to see the wardrobe with a new owner. My corgi, Adley, also joined for the ride, who was packed alongside gifts for the Queen’s contestants and my new Berry Fit outfit that I had recently received from Carolyn Berry.

About a three-hour car ride later, I arrived at the grounds and began my day at the show. I spent time visiting some of the new renovations at the South Carolina Equine Park and visiting with vendors that supported my journey, including Congress Queen sponsor Tammy from All That Show Clothing. Alongside setting up the Queen’s table, I enjoyed a Bojangles breakfast sponsored by AQHA stallion Strutin on the range.

Adley got in on the fun as well, receiving a doggy massage and enjoying some fetch breaks between my queen duties. The weather was nice enough that she could comfortably wait in the car, and Camden is such a dog-friendly place that it made bringing her along easy. About halfway through the day, my mom arrived and joined me. We enjoyed watching the classes together and visiting with exhibitors throughout the day. I also had the honor of presenting special gifts to the leadline exhibitors, as well as awarding several Premier Sires and Premier Magazine added-money classes.

The first horsemanship class of the day was Queen’s Horsemanship, and I was impressed by the talent of both contestants. It was clear how much time and dedication they had put into perfecting their craft. Overall, this was one of the biggest shows I’ve seen at Camden, and they even had to put up temporary stalls to accommodate. Although the show did receive some unfortunate rainy weather, it was still an awesome show that I am so happy that I was a part of.

As the day wound down, it was finally time to crown the new SCQHA Queen. Surrounded by exhibitors and the leftovers from the exhibitor pizza party, I had the honor of crowning Olivia Garvin. Watching her receive the title was incredibly special and also a reflective moment for me. It hasn’t even been a full year since I was awarded the state title myself, and I am so excited to see the legacy continue.

After the crowning, I stayed to help present the final classes that had been moved from Friday to Saturday due to the rain. It made for a late night, arriving home around midnight, but it was absolutely worth it.

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

Region 10 AQHYA Conference and Banquet Season Recap

AQHYA Region 10 Conference

On January 17th, I traveled to Madison, GA after being graciously invited by director Camdyn Evans to speak at the AQHYA Region 10 Conference. Region 10 is made up of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. I had a wonderful time sharing my journey through AQHYA and how those experiences ultimately led me to become the Congress Queen. It was incredibly rewarding to be surrounded by a group of passionate and hard-working youth. They asked thoughtful questions about balancing riding with college, stepping into leadership roles, and what some of my favorite parts of being Congress Queen have been. The region 10 AQHYA directors did a wonderful job in organizing this conference. I enjoyed hearing from an outstanding lineup of speakers, including former AQHYA President Abigail Nesmith, AQHA Director of Competition Scott Neuman, SCQHYA President Kaylee O’Neal, and collegiate coaches Vicki Merck of Clemson University and McKenzie Breuker of University of Georgia. Each brought a unique perspective on the opportunities available within our industry.

Georgia Quarter Horse Association Banquet

The Region 10 conference was followed by the Georgia Quarter Horse Association banquet, where I was honored to be invited as a special guest. The Big A and Stars & Stripes Show was my first major event as a queen, so being back in Georgia felt especially meaningful. The evening’s host, GQHA president Robin Barrow, kept everyone on their toes by presenting awards in an interactive way. Instead of the traditional format, the audience had to guess each exhibitor based on entertaining fun facts. By the end of the night, I felt like I knew a little something about each GQHA member in the room. To top off the trip, I woke up the next morning to a winter storm outside my hotel room window. Definitely not typical for Georgia and definitely not a fun drive home!

Ohio Quarter Horse Association Board Meeting and Affiliate Social Hour

My next trip took me north on February 7th for the Ohio Quarter Horse Association banquet. To save myself the long drive, I opted to fly in for the day, which meant a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call to get dressed and “queen ready” before my two flights. It was a rude awakening when I landed with a foot of snow on the ground and a ‘feels like’ of negative 7 (a drastic change from the Carolina coast). It was a sure sign I had arrived in Congress country when I was recognized as the queen as I was strolling out of the airport bathroom. From the airport, I headed straight to the first event on my agenda, which was the Ohio Quarter Horse Association open board meeting. Here, I was honored beside the 2025 Ohio Quarter Horse Association Queen Morgan Adkins. It was fascinating to learn more about the inner workings and finer details of such a strong association.

Next up was the affiliate social hour, where Ohio Michigan Indiana (OMIQHA), Eastern (EOQHA), Northern (NOQHA), and Southern (SOQHA) Ohio presented their year-end wards and welcomed new queens. I had the opportunity to crown 2026 EOQHA Queen Morgan Adkins, NOQHA Queen Addison Schliesser, and SOQHA Queen Grace Schroeck. It is always lovely to see my queen sisters and get to know the newly crowned queens.

Ohio Quarter Horse Association Banquet

After the affiliate social hour, it was time for a quick run-through of the evening program and a chance to test the mics and get a feel for the stage. The OQHA banquet is no joke! With the huge mound of prizes, grand stage, and tables set out for hundreds of guests – it was all a little surreal. After making sure we were all set, it was time to quickly get changed into my evening gown and begin the banquet. As the emcee for the evening, I had the privilege of welcoming everyone and guiding the program. It felt like being right at home handing out awards for OQHA. I enjoyed seeing everyone’s hard work come to fruition across all ages and disciplines, with my favorites being the lead line and the mountain trail (my first time learning about the class). After a few moments on the dance floor and time spent catching up with my fellow queens, it was off to bed before my early flight back to the Carolinas. The day was spent doing all things Ohio Quarter Horse and I had so much fun connecting with my community.

Triangle Wide Horseman’s Association Banquet

On February 21st, my travels brought me closer to home for the Triangle Wide Horseman’s Association Banquet. This local open show organization is where I first stepped into the show pen, and last year I had the privilege of volunteering there as South Carolina Quarter Horse Association Queen. I helped run the gate, pass out awards, and do anything else that needed to be done. Throughout the year, I also held basket raffles, led fun classes like the horseless egg-and-spoon, and organized “Quiz the Queen,” where exhibitors tried their best to stump me with questions from the AQHA rulebook. It was a full circle moment to come back as the Congress Queen and visit with the people that have supported me from day one. I had the privilege of presenting their year-end awards, and I did so while being reminded so much of where my journey began. I was incredibly surprised when I heard my name called during the awards ceremony and was honored with the spark plug award for my dedication to the club. The evening reinforced the vital role local clubs play in strengthening our equine industry, and I am so thankful to celebrate the accomplishments of 2025 across multiple organizations.

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

Florida Gulf Coast

After a wonderful holiday season spent resetting and spending time with family, I officially kicked off 2026 by heading south to the Florida Gulf Coast Horse Show in Ocala. To break up the drive, I stopped at my mom’s farm in South Carolina. It was a nice pause on my trip, and I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful barns along the way.

I was particularly excited about attending this show because it was my first time visiting the World Equestrian Center. I arrived on Friday evening and was immediately struck by the scale of the property. I started by making my way around the grand arena and looking at all the gorgeous Christmas lights they had set up. I took my time soaking it all in and then stopped into Mr. Pickles & Sailor Bear Toy Shoppe, a place that I’ve heard from friends about its cute and charming toys. After the long drive I was craving a sweet treat, so I made my way to Emma’s Patisserie and enjoyed a pastry. I overheard announcing in the distance and made my way over to the outdoor arenas. I was met with familiar faces and watched the final halter classes as the sun set.

The next morning, I started by making my way around the rings and catching up with people throughout the showgrounds. There was rain threatening to roll in, so classes were moved indoors. The indoor arenas at WEC are quite large. One ring alone had three pens showing at the same time, along with having a warmup area next to each one. Set up between the show rings was vendor Miguel Aguilar- sponsor of the Congress Queen’s crown and saddle. I stopped by and found out that they were throwing a surprise birthday party for him that afternoon. What fun! Laughter, cake, and good company set the tone perfectly. I also enjoyed visiting with other vendors and spending time catching up along the way.

I fulfilled my queenly duties for that day by handing out my gifts to the leadliners and awarding the NSBA added money classes. Before heading home for the evening, I stopped by the grand arena to watch the Grand Prix show jumping, which was packed with spectators and full of excitement. I wrapped up the day with a visit to good ole reliable Panera.

The following morning greeted us with misty conditions, giving the showgrounds a completely different feel. I awarded a few more NSBA added money winners before it was time to pack up and head home. Knowing I had a long drive ahead of me, I decided to try something new to pass the time: an audiobook. With Universal Studios nearby, it felt fitting to finally start the Harry Potter series. It turned out to be the perfect choice and made the drive go by much faster. I finished the first book just as I got home, and it's safe to say I’ll be continuing the series on future trips.

Adding one final “first” to the list, I stopped at Buc-ee’s for the first time. After fueling up and grabbing some snacks, I hit the road for the final stretch. All in all, it was an incredible way to start the year. New places, new experiences, and reconnecting with people I hadn’t seen since the Congress. I’m excited about what the rest of 2026 has in store and can’t wait to share the next adventure with you.

Ashlyn Gonzalves
2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen

2025 AQHA World Championship Show

The week that I headed to the AQHA World Championship show was particularly busy. In the 48 hours leading up to my trip, I worked a twelve-hour night shift and completed a medical school interview. I was left to pack at the last minute, and trying to get everything to fit was not an easy task. I learned that cowboy hats, crowns, and long skirts do not pack well. I found myself grateful for my new luggage set, generously donated by the Good family, as well as my hat carrying case that fits inside my suitcase. (thank you, Amazon).

My flight to Oklahoma City was on Thursday, November 13th. Once I made it to the airport I was unfortunately told that my checked bag was four pounds overweight (the beautiful Berry Fit outfits are heavy!). After a few minutes of shuffling, I managed to get everything under the weight limit and was ready to go through security. I was surprised that you no longer have to take off your shoes when going through, except of course if you’re wearing cowboy boots.

My travel from that point forward was remarkably smooth. At the time, many flights were being delayed or cancelled because of the government shutdown. I had mentally prepared myself for a long day at the airport or even the potential of not making it to Oklahoma City. I felt incredibly grateful when my flight landed ahead of schedule and I had plenty of time to make my connection.

After landing in Oklahoma, I checked into my hotel, took a few minutes to get ready, and then headed straight to the fairgrounds. Walking into the newly completed OG&E Arena for the first time was breathtaking. Although it was bittersweet to say goodbye to the Jim Norick Arena, the OG&E felt like stepping into a new era. Everything was bright and modern; with escalators, lounges, and concessions all around. That evening, I had the honor of crowning the new world champions in the Junior Western Pleasure and Amateur Horsemanship. I remember being in awe while witnessing the incredible amount of talent these riders possess.

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. My days were spent presenting awards, taking pictures, and making visits to the Trade Show. Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee quickly became my lifeline, and I found myself grabbing a cup when I was hurrying between the OG&E and Performance Arenas. My mom joined me midway through the trip, and having her there and getting to watch some of the classes made the experience even sweeter.

Saturday night ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. I had the chance to watch the highly anticipated Pleasure Versatility Challenge. The three-year-olds competing showcased an incredible range of ability, moving seamlessly through the versatility pattern, western pleasure, and halter. I loved witnessing the future of the industry on full display and felt privileged to help present awards alongside the class’s host of sponsors.

My final day at the World Show passed quickly, starting with halter in the morning and ending with a few pleasure finals in the afternoon. The last globe I presented was in Senior Western Riding, awarded to Charlie Cole and AQHA Superhorse Hez Blazin Trouble. Watching him close out his career and step into retirement with one final gold globe was a touching moment, and a perfect ending to my World Show trip.

After packing up and saying my goodbyes, I headed back to the airport. My flight home was smooth and uneventful. When I finally made it home, I was greeted by my corgi, Adley, who I had missed dearly throughout my trip. I soaked in a few precious hours of rest before heading to the hospital for work the next morning. Attending the World Show and crowning new world champions was an experience like no other. The people I met, the horses I watched, and the memories I made will stay with me. I can’t wait to see everyone again at my next circuit.

Ashlyn Gonzalves

2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen