The 2026 All American Quarter Horse Congress kicked off Saturday, Sept. 26, and it’s settling in for a month-long stay at the Ohio Expo Center. Opening weekend belonged to the reiners, with reining action continueing thorugh Oct. 5 with futurity prelims and finals on deck before the show shifts toward ranch classes, roping, hunters and the pleasure pen.
- Details to Know
- What’s Already Happened
- What We’re WatchingFuturity Week in the ColiseumNon Pro Reiners Take Their TurnCongress Cutting & Ranch SortingRanch Trail and Working Western Rail
- Outside the Show Pen
- Don’t Miss Out: Follow Along
Details to Know
- What: 2026 All American Quarter Horse Congress, hosted by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association
- When: Sept. 26 through Oct. 24, 2026
- Where: Ohio Expo Center, Columbus, Ohio
- By the numbers: More than 28,000 entries, more than 500,000 visitors expected and over $5 million in purse and prizes
- Getting in: The horse show and trade show are free. Parking runs $25 a day ($15 Mondays and Tuesdays, free Wednesdays), or $75 for an event-long pass
- Ticketed events: Freestyle Reining and Congress PBR
What’s Already Happened
Freestyle Reining lit up the Coliseum. On Saturday, Sept. 26, the NRHA Open and Non Pro Freestyle Reining filled the VS Code Red Coliseum for one of the Congress’ traditional sellout nights. Keith Ceddia of Centerburg, Ohio, topped the Open class aboard SLS Hells Fury (Inferno Sixty Six x Nu Chex Star) to take home $5,896.51 for owner Sammy Simmons. Taylor Zimmerman earned the Non Pro Championship while riding Its All About Ruf (Not Ruf At All x Dun Pretty Nifty) for Vaughn Zimmerman for $1,040.63. Zimmerman also earned the Open Reserve Championship for an additional $4,682.52.
The first derby title is decided. Sunday brought the NRHA Open Reining and the All Star Reining Stakes Open Derby, Levels 1 through 4. In 2025, the Level 4 Open Derby ended in a rare three-way tie on a 225 between Benjamin Beckett on Custom Made Whizkey, Cade McCutcheon on Varsity Blu and Kole Price on Swooon.
