Multiple American Paint Horse Association Youth World Champion exhibitor, Anne-Marie Fortenberry, of Farmerville, Louisiana, is headed to Fort Worth next month with one goal – to leave her final Youth World Show in June with no regrets.

Showing The Only Kiss to Envy (Scottie) in Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Showmanship, Trail and Horsemanship, Fortenberry says she is not only striving for buckles this year but just to feel satisfied that she gave it her all. “With this being my final Youth World Show, there are no do-overs,” Fortenberry says. “I want to leave feeling like I did the very best I could in every ride. No regrets this time.”

Since her early childhood, Fortenberry always had a love for horses.

“We would pull over in a ditch just so she could pet the ponies,” says Janet Fortenberry, Anne-Marie’s mother. “I grew up with horses but never showed to the extent Anne-Marie has. We started locally with her taking lessons for about a year making sure her interest was going to stick. She was taking dance lessons then too but she just kept telling me ‘Mom I just want to ride.’”

So on her eighth birthday, Anne Marie’s parents bought her Zippos Special K to show in Walk-Trot classes.

“He was a little quirky so she had to learn to be a good rider,” Janet says. ” She started to get really good.”

Soon after, Anne-Marie began showing with APHA trainers Tim and Shannon Gillespie, of Gainesville, Texas, and her show career catapulted from there later winning several buckles at the AjPHA Youth World Show with Zips Juan Pat Star in 13 & Under All-Around events. Next she showed Sterling Captive, a multiple World Champion and Reserve Quarter Horse Congress Champion, to finish out her 13&under career and to start competition in 14-18. Together they won back-to-back World Championship titles in Hunter Under Saddle and were Reserve Quarter Horse Congress Champion as well before teaming with A Good Intention. Anne-Marie and A Good Intention (Mac) would claim four World Championship titles in Western Pleasure before Mac died unexpectedly in 2013 from complications from a joint injection.

“Her grandfather passed around the same time as Mac and she was just absolutely heartbroken,” says Janet. “She told us she did not want another horse and told everyone not to even look. Then, last February she asked if she could go ride for the weekend with Tim and Shannon. When we got home she was really quiet and then sat us down and said if we can I would like to try to find another horse.”

A horse became available that Tim and Shannon had previously trained, The Only Kiss to Envy, a 2006 APHA/AQHA gelding by For You To Envy and out of Dixie Kiss. Although her trainers thought the pair would make a great match, Anne- Marie admits she had a negative attitude toward Scottie at first.

“I remember Shannon asking me to just give him one shot but I was dead set on it not working,” Anne-Marie says. “We went to look at Scottie in New York in April and it was really cold and I was just in a bad mood. When I got on him and started riding him though we just clicked. I had always wanted a horse that was really good at the Western Riding. I started changing leads on him and I just loved him so much. I spent some time with him in his stall and he was just so sweet. Scottie is different than any other horse I have had. He is a very willing horse who is very happy and super friendly.”

Even though there was an instant connection between Scottie and Anne-Marie there was not much time to prepare for the Youth World Show. So as soon as Anne-Marie got out of school, she packed her bags for Texas to train night and day with Tim and Shannon.

She basically moved to Texas after school last year to prepare for the World Show,” says Janet. “I think preparing for lots of different events with a new horse was very challenging but Scottie has a great personality and the two really hit it off.”
Her hard work paid off. The duo was crowned the 2014 AjPHA World Champions in 14-18 Showmanship and Novice Youth Western Riding as well as Reserve World Champions in 14-18 Trail.

And Anne-Marie says her success would never have come without the help of her trainers.

“I honestly believe that I would not be the person I am today without Tim and Shannon,” Anne-Marie says. “They have made me really well-rounded and have pushed me to be positive. They never talk down to you and they are always there to help you. They keep a wonderful group of clients and I absolutely consider them my second family.”

Besides showing, Anne-Marie is a cheerleader and runs track. She has also played basketball and tennis as well as serving on the Homecoming Court. She will enroll at Louisiana State University in the fall, where she will major in English and minor in History. She wants to attend law school and work in the area of child advocacy.