While Dee Staley is no stranger to the largest breed horse show in the world, this year’s event was a surprise even to her.

Staley’s stallion “The Judgment” won first place in the Amateur Performance Halter Stallions-Limited class at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October. The horse also won second place in the open Amateur Performance Halter Stallions class.

“In all the years I have shown at the congress, to hear the announcer call out our name was a thrill of a life time,” Staley said.

Staley has been showing horses at the congress, which is held yearly in Columbus, since the early 1970s. She has shown horses in several categories such as western pleasure, hunter under saddle, barrel racing, pole bending and halter.

Staley has also worked with youth teams that have placed since the 1990s. In 2007 and 2008, her youth team won the team tournament. The team placed second this year.

The youth teams have worked in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, horsemanship, showmanship, barrels and poles.

Staley also worked with Nikki Cosner, who placed in the top 15 at the congress and also the top 10 at the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Cup.