APHC, APHA youth offer advice on competing at World Shows

The Appaloosa Youth World Championship Show and AjPHA Youth World Championship Show continue all this week at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

New champions are being named every day but we took a few minutes to ask some competitors about their strategies.

Hailey Berger, Parkland, Florida is competing at the Appaloosa Youth World Show in 13-15 Western Pleasure on Charlottes Version, under the guidance of trainer Tim Zuidema. She has competed in many World Shows.

Question: What have you learned from past World Shows that will help you compete this year?

Answer: Whatever happens, happens. If you have bad ride let it roll off your back and don’t fixate on it.

Question: What do you have to do to win a Top 10 here?

Answer: Steady ride and consistency. “Steady Eddie wins the race.”

Question: What advice would you give someone showing here for the first time?

Answer: It’s ok to be nervous. Take it all in and, most importantly, enjoy yourself.

Question: What do you like best about this show?

Answer: Meeting new people. Everyone is kind and no one is selfish.

Question: What’s the most challenging part of it?

Answer: The nerves. Sometimes it gets the most of you and you mess up simple things.

Brooke Dryden, Argyle, Texas, is competing at the Appaloosa Youth World Show in Horsemanship, Western Riding, English Pleasure on DZS Mac Dandy, under the guidance of Lonnie Cruz. This is her third World Show and she already has a win in ApHC13-15 Horsemanship.

Question: What’s the best advice you have received about competing here?

Answer: Be a rider! Do the work. Don’t rely on the horse to do everything. Be in control.

Question: What’s your strategy?

Answer: Take a deep breath and all your nerves disappear. Let your hard work pay off.

Question: How have you prepared to compete here?

Answer: We work hard all year. Then we have the Lonnie Cruz boot camp the whole week before!

Question: What advice would you give someone showing here for the first time?

Answer: Go into the ring doing your best. Don’t worry about the placings.

Question: What do you like best about this show?

Answer: Being here for the whole two weeks and having the environment of all the people my age.

Question: What’s the most challenging part of it?

Answer: The competition and the pressure of working all year and seeing your hard work pay off and the pressure of making Lonnie proud.

Anne-Marie Fortenberry & Kim Shinder

Kim Shinder, Crystal River, Florida, is competing at the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show in Novice Hunter Under Saddle 14-18, Youth Hunter Under Saddle, Youth Equitatiion and Novice Horsemanship on BMQ The Jig Is Up, under the guidance of Tim & Shannon Gillespie. This is her second World Show. She has already claimed two wins in Hunter Under saddle at this year’s show.

Question: What have you learned from past World Shows that is helping you compete this year?

Answer: Don’t get stressed. It’s just another horse show.

Question: What do you have to do to win a Top 10 here?

Answer: Work hard and put in as much effort possible. Find a horse you have a strong connection with and have the best support team possible.

Question: What advice would you give someone showing here for the first time?

Answer: Make sure you are not stressing. Make sure you are on time and don’t rush anything.

Question: What do you like best about this show?

Answer: Everyone is here. You get to see all your friends from all over instead of just parts of the country.

Anne-Marie Fortenberry, Ruston, Louisiana, is competing at the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show in a wide variety of classes aboard The Only Kiss To Envy, under the guidance of Tim & Shannon Gillespie. She has competed at the Youth World Show every year since 2006. On Wednesday, she captured a win in the Showmanship 14-18.

Question: What have you learned from past World Shows that is helping you compete this year?

Answer: I learned to not worry about anyone else out there and concentrate on making sure my horse and I do the best we can.

Question: What do you have to do to win a Top 10 here?

Answer: I believe it’s the connection between rider and horse not just the pattern or gait.

Question: What advice would you give someone showing here for the first time?

Answer: Enjoy every second you have in youth and with your horse – it goes by so fast.

Question: What do you like best about this show?

Answer: I love the atmosphere: Being here with friends, where everyone is trying their hardest.

Question: What’s the most challenging part of it?

Answer: The pressure you put on yourself to not let anyone even your horse down.

For a schedule of AjPHA Youth World Championship Show events visit: http://ywcs.apha.com/schedule

Results are posted at: http://ywcs.apha.com/results