John Coffelt, Editor

Hillsboro teen Addie Rose Brown, 13, the daughter of Daniel and Christy Brown, has a passion for horses that is a legacy passed down from her grandfather, the late Randy G. Rogers.

She and her quarter horse Otis (officially named Wimpy Cocktail) recently attended the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the largest single breed horse show in the world.

They showed in the 13 and Under AQHA Reining and the 13 and Under NRHA Reining and placed 10th and 8th topping the classes with more than 60 other exhibitors from across the country.

Addie compares her preparation for a show to that of an athlete preparing for a season.

“But it’s not just you, there’s another animal that has to practice,” she said. “You can control a baseball bat but that animal has a mind of its own.”

That coordination of rider and her trusty steed is particularly important in their field of reining, a Western riding competition where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops.   

Addie shows using parameters from the National Reining Horse Association Rulebook, “To rein a horse is not only to guide it, but also to control its every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.”

Any deviation from the exact written pattern is considered a lack of or temporary loss of control, and therefore, faulted. Credit is given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority in performing the various maneuvers while using controlled speed.

It’s a careful dance between rider and horse where commands are given with nearly imperceptible movements. 

And while most of the riders Addie faces in the show are affluent families with professional trainers, the Browns are, as her mother Christy Brown says, “just a Middle Tennessee farm family.”  

Addie shares her love of horses with the elder Browns. She began her riding career at the age of 4 under the direction of Cat Dye Franks of Black Anvil Equestrian Center in Winchester.

Addie’s mother and grandfather, the late Randy G. Rogers, have had a life-long love for horses and specifically the western performance horse – reining and working cow horse.

Addie understands that she is carrying on a legacy passed down by her grandfather. She has a passion for caring for and showing their American Quarter Horses in Several Associations including: the Tennessee Stock Horse Association, Tennessee Quarter Horse Association, Volunteer Ranch Horse Association and National Reining Horse Association. These Associations have allowed Addie to develop knowledge, skills, friends and travel across the country in pursuit of her cowgirl dreams.

Addie and Otis also showed in the National Youth Activities Team Tournament Ranch Riding, representing the Tennessee Quarter Horse Youth Association.

The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the world’s largest single-breed horse show, with over

26,000 entries in 2023. Held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, the show attracts 650,000 people and generates $409 million for the central Ohio economy. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is

hosted by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, a state affiliate of the American Quarter Horse

Association.

Addie has many people to thank for her successes. The Middle Tennessee State University Stock Horse

Team under the guidance of Coach Adrea Rego, has played a vital role in Addie’s success in the arena and in educational competitions. Shane and Catie Campbell in Moscow, Tenn.; Lucas Ayers Performance Horses of Thompson Station, Tenn., and the honorable Bennie Sargent of Princeton, Ky. have coached and supported Addie over the years and in the past few months.

Addie and her mother have both qualified Otis for the Versatility Ranch Horse World Show to be held in Amarillo, TX in June of 2025.

Addie is home schooling this year and joined the Middle Tennessee Agriculture Academy under the guidance of Brittany Barnett. Addie and her Middle School Team won the State FFA Horse Judging Contest in November. Addie was high individual, and her team members were Bristol Barnett, Riley

Goney, Turner Johnson. They are pictured with State FFA President, T Wayne Williams.

In June, Addie and a team representing the Tennessee Quarter Horse Youth Association judged at the

AQHA World show and placed 3rd in the Junior High Division. Team members were Addie Rose Brown,

Jenna Kate Lawson, Meleya Jean, and Grace Spooner. Contestants had to evaluate and place classes of

horses ranging from Ranch Riding to Hunter Under Saddle and then defend their placings with oral reasons.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.