Lucie Lundquist and Lauren Gralla are AjPHA Youth World Champions in Showmanship

By: Brittany Bevis

After nearly ten hours of Showmanship, two more winners were crowned here in Fort Worth, TX at the 2o16 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show. First, Lauren Gralla repeated her performance from last year by being crowned the World Champion in 13 and Under Showmanship with her gelding A Sudden Legacy.

The Reserve Champion was Kristen McPherson with All Right All Reddy. Third place was Karlee Shiery with TC Hummer. Fourth was Gianna Pozzi with Ima Cajun Hot Krymsun. Fifth was Lillian Woodruff with CC Cowboy.

This is just Lauren’s second Youth World Show with the 12-year-old gelding she calls “Cheeks,” but the pair have already racked up 10 World Show titles during their career. This is Lauren’s last year competing in the 13 and Under division. Earlier in the show, they won 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle and were named the Reserve Champions in Equitation. Later on in the show, they will compete in Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Western Riding, and Trail, Lauren’s favorite.

“Cheeks is super smart and cool,” she says. “He’s really chill with everything. We worked along time, like a month before the World Show on this pattern. [My trainer] Carly’s favorite class is Showmanship, so she really makes sure we have Showmanship practice at 5:30 in the morning. For this pattern, she told me to make sure I walked crisp, smiled, knew my pattern, and was confident.”

Coming up this August, Lauren will be attending her first AQHA Youth World Show where she will show He’s That Cool in Youth Halter. “It’s pretty last minute, but we put it all together, so I’m pretty excited.”

Finally, in a competitive 14-18 Showmanship class, Lucie Lundquist was named the World Champion with her mare Optimized. The Reserve World Champion was last year’s winner, Kassandra Jones with Chasinthesensation. Third was Mary Katherine Camp with Radicalized. Fourth was Georgia Vernal with Cool Hotrod. Fifth was Mackenzie Champan with Timeless Assets.

Ever since Lucie Lunquist was a walk-trot competitor, she’s wanted to win Showmanship at the AjPHA Youth World Show. “I remember when I was little, when I first found out about the World Show, I had my walk-trot horse. I thought one day I want to take this old horse to the World Show and win Showmanship. That, of course didn’t happen, but she’s the one who taught me to love Showmanship. Her name was What A Foxy Chick.

Tonight, Lucie was able to fulfill that dream with another horse, her black overo mare named Optimized, aka “Oprah.” This team has been a pair for the past two years. Last year, they were named the World Champions in Novice Youth Western Pleasure and the Reserve Champions in 14-18 Western Pleasure.

Although Lucie lives in Seattle, Washington, and Oprah stays at Simons Show Horses in Pilot Point, Texas, they’ve been able to sustain a strong partnership. “We make it work,” she says. “Sara does a great job with her, and I stay up by riding at home. She’s so sweet and she tries so hard. I love her so much.”

“Showmanship is one of my favorite classes with Oprah, because I love the connection you have with your horse. I love how you can make it fancy and your own and I love the intensity of it.”

During this particular pattern, Lucie focused on portraying confidence, hitting her marks, and keeping transitions smooth and fluid. “Sara said my horse would be there for me, and I needed to do my part, which was to show. Also, I needed to go for it, because it’s a deep pen. There are a lot of great girls in there. If you don’t go for it, you’re not going to be up there in the placings. I knew my horse was there for me and I could do it, if we just went for it. I really liked the walk to trot to run to trot transition. I feel like it was very smooth and looked easy.”

Later on in the show, Lucie and Oprah will compete in Novice Youth 14-18 Trail, 14-18 Trail, Horsemanship, and Western Pleasure.