A Gold Globe at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Youth World Show has always been Kylee Wiseman’s goal. She dreams about it. She visualizes herself achieving it but most importantly, she works hard to make sure she is prepared to make it happen.

Kylee has been close before. Last year, the 14-year-old competitor from Beaver, Ohio, and her show partner, RR Magical Moonlite were Reserve Champions in Western Pleasure at the Youth World Show. She is returning this year with one goal … to claim a World Championship title.

“Kylee is a fierce competitor,” said Ashley Lakins, who along with her husband. Kenny, coaches Wiseman and trains RR Magical Moonlite. “She’s all business when she hits the pen. Even if her ride is not perfect, she can still keep her horse looking his best.”

Kylee made her first trip to the AQHA Youth World Show in 2016 when she and BestSeatNTheHouse, a 2011 bay mare by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Invited Always, placed fourth in Western Pleasure.

“Competing at the Youth World is honestly breathtaking,” she explained. “You are filled with so many nerves, but also the thrill. When you are trotting down the center and they call your name it’s an honor.”

Wiseman and BestSeatNTheHouse had been working together since November 2015 and had amassed quite the impressive show record. They earned circuit championships in Youth Western Pleasure at such prestigious events as March To The Arch, Shamrock Shuffle and the Tar Heel Classic, and futurity wins at The Little Futurity, the Little Buckeye and the Buckeye Classic.

In October, at the Quarter Horse Congress, they were Reserve Champions in 12-14 Youth Western Pleasure.

It was there that Kylee first rode her current show partner, RR Magical Moonlite, a 2012 brown gelding by Only In The Moonlite and out of The Mouse Is Talkin.

Kylee’s grandparents, Dennis and Debbie Martin, introduced her to the world of horse shows and have supported and nurtured her in every way as she chases her dreams. So, when Debbie Martin told her granddaughter that they were going to try out RR Magical Moonlite, Kylee could not believe what she was hearing.

“The first time I saw Mouse, I was watching (then owner) Lacy Watson ride him,” she recalled. “It was in the practice arena and I said to whoever was with me that he was my dream horse. I instantly fell in love after watching him go-round. It was so unreal to actually get to ride him.”

By January they had already formed a winning partnership.

At the 2017 Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit in Venice, Florida, Kylee and Mouse won the 13 & Under Youth Western Pleasure Circuit Championship. They also collected circuit championships at the Shamrock Shuffle, Cloverdale, Indiana; Spring Fling, Lexington, Virginia; and the Madness, Wilmington, Ohio.

“He loves to do his job and stays so happy and willing to work,” she said. “He is never grumpy or hard to handle. He also has such beautiful leg movement and cadence. His ears stay up and it gives a great appearance in the ring.”

After the 2017 Youth World Show Kylee and Mouse started getting direction from Lakins Quarter Horses in Wilmington, Ohio. Ashley had been Mouse’s trainer in 2015 when he was a 3-year-old and owned by Lacy Watson. That year Lacy and Mouse were Reserve Congress Champions in the Open Division of the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure. The following year Lacy and Mouse won the Amateur Western Pleasure and the Limited Division of the Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity at the Quarter Horse Congress and Ashley Lakins rode him to a Congress Championship in Junior Western Pleasure and a Reserve Championship in the Open Western Pleasure Maturity. The following month Ashley rode Mouse to an AQHA World Championship in Junior Western Pleasure and Lacy and Mouse earned an AQHA World Championship title in L2 Amateur Western Pleasure.

“He has a huge personality,” Ashley said. “He loves to show. I think his ears in the show pen tell you how happy he is. They are always perked forward. Almost worrying you if you did not know him that he might spook at something. He is also a very quirky horse. Every time you take off his halter to bridle him you have to let him do his head shake.   He just shakes it side to side and you can hear his ears hit together.”

Under the guidance of Ashley and Kenny, Kylee and Mouse won the 12-14 Youth Western Pleasure at the 2017 Congress.

“She had a beautiful ride,” Ashley said. “She went through the splits and got to the finals. She really showed her horse off well. I think she had three firsts. That’s pretty hard to do at the Congress.”

Kylee and Mouse also won the NYATT Youth Western Pleasure and they placed fifth in the Limited Division of the Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity.

Ashley says that Kylee is easy to coach.

“She is very attentive to what your trying to teach her,” she explained. “She also has a lot of natural feel for when a horse is doing their best. That’s hard to teach. A major advantage she has is that she knows what each horse feels like when it’s right.”

That comes from experience and the number of years she’s been riding, coupled with the vast experience she’s had riding different horses.

And she has her grandparents to thank for that. Before she was even born Debbie and Dennis Martin had horses so Kylee grew up around them. She started taking riding lessons at age 5 and competed at her first show in Winfield, West Virginia, shortly after she turned 6. There she left with a blue ribbon in Small-Fry Walk-Trot and a passion for competition that only grew over the next decade.

Kylee’s first serious show horse was Diehard’s Little Fred, a 2003 bay gelding by Flamboyant Fred and out of Diehards Lil Zippo. Together they placed 11th in Youth Western Pleasure 11 & Under at the Congress, in Kylee’s first appearance at that venue. She returned in 2015 to win the 11 & Under Youth Western Pleasure with Touched Softly. And, in 2016, the same year she showed BestSeatNTheHouse, Kylee piloted The Lazy Club to an 11th place finish in the Limited Division of the 2-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure and they placed 12th in the Open Division.

Her trainers spend a lot of time coaching Kylee and Mouse on ring placement and being prepared for anything.

“My trainers think of different possibilities such as heavy traffic or being cut off so we prepare precisely for those by riding off the rail, passing, and being consistent,” Kylee said.

The natural feel she has for a Western Pleasure horse, her experience in the show pen and being prepared will no doubt help Kylee as she competes at this year’s AQHA Youth World Show.

“I learned that the more nervous you are, the harder it is to focus on you and your horse,” she said. “If you are calm you have more control over your ride and can give it all you got.”

After the AQHA World Show in August, Kylee will focus all her attention on preparing for this year’s Quarter Horse Congress.

“Competing at Congress is different than other shows because it’s like a fair and a horse show all in one,” she said. “It’s never boring with shopping, food booths, and so many things going on at once to watch. Riding in the Celeste Arena is a thrill and one of the most important arenas for a rider.”

After that Kylee will be busy at Piketon High School where she has been a member of LEAD, Heart for Art, Civil War Geeks Club, Physical Science Club President, Student Council, Honor Roll High Honors, Musical Department and was a Freshman Homecoming Attendant. She also plays volleyball and is a member of the Reserve State Champion Lady Redstreaks Powerlifting Team.

The daughter of Randy and Stephanie Wiseman, Kylee also keeps busy showing goats and as a member of the OQHYA, Youth World Show T-shirt Committee and vice-president of the Kool Kloverz 4-H Club in Pike County, Ohio.

Meanwhile, Ashley has been busy working with Mouse on lead changes.

“We try our best to keep Mouse in shape and do a little with him each day,” she said. “He loves to get out and ride. Changing leads has been a big part of our program this year. Mouse loves it. Just try to keep him happy and comfortable. We let him tell us when he’s had enough pleasure. Some days we just go out and change leads. We always try to keep things interesting for him.”

Ashley has plans to try some Western Riding classes later this year and says Kylee may give it a try next year.

“Mouse really enjoys the Western Riding,” Ashley said. “I think Kylee does too.”

You can bet her family will be there cheering her on.

“Kylee’s family is awesome to work with,” Ashley said. “They are so supportive and willing to help do anything, from cleaning stalls to saddling and washing off. Her mom and dad are always there to cheer her on.”

Kylee says that although her parents are not as involved in horse shows as she is, they “do their best to keep up with me” and help her with all her other activities.

Her grandparents, who have owned and operated DKM Construction in Piketon, Ohio since 1992 grew up with horses and really share her passion for the sport.

“I’m grateful to my grandparents because without them I wouldn’t be able to do what I love on such a grand scale,” Kylee said. “I’m also grateful to my parents who take time off work to follow me at the shows.”