AjPHA Youth World Trail Winners Are Isabella Applegarth/Get The Sensation and Kristen McPherson/Twenty Four

By: Brittany Bevis

The final two Trail winners of the 2017 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show were crowned just moments ago here in Fort Worth, TX. First, Isabella Applegarth rode her new horse, Get The Sensation, to win 14-18 Trail.

This is 17-year-old Isabella’s first time competing at the Youth World with 6-year-old “Nick,” who was purchased just six months ago. Today marked her second time showing him in a Trail class. Isabella is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the Novice Youth division, but this is her first win in 14-18.

When she rode Nick for the first time, she knew they were destined to be a great team. “When I first saw him, I loved the way he moved and how he’s really cool-minded. He doesn’t get frazzled much. We work really well together.”

Isabella and Nick compete under the guidance of the Carly Veldman-Parks and Wade Parks training team, who provided specific advice for Isabella this morning. “In this pattern, I needed to find my spots, stay slow over my lope-overs, and always look in to find my next spot by keeping my eyes down. I think I really plussed my first left lead lope-overs, and he was gorgeous through the serpentine trot. The back through at the gate had me scared, because it was at the beginning, but it turned out fine.”

Later today, watch for Isabella and Nick in 14-18 Horsemanship.

The Reserve World Champion in 14-18 Trail was Mary Katherine Camp with Radicalized. Third was Taylor Burgess with RL Talk About Sudden. Fourth was Abigail Love with Sensational Hannah. Fifth was Veronica John with Pour Me A Cuervo. Sixth was Mackenzie Preston with Brokers Lucky Kid. Seventh was Lauren Gralla with A Sudden Legacy. Eighth was Caroline Nielson with Uaintgonnatouchthis. Ninth was Alexis Miller with Thanks For Zip En Me. Tenth was Lillian Woodruff with CC Cowboy.

In 13 and Under Trail, Kristen McPherson was the repeat World Champion from yesterday’s Novice Youth 13 and Under class with Twenty Four. 14-year-old Kristen has been competing under the guidance of Limelite Show Horses for the past three years. She has earned two Reserve World Championships in Showmanship with her previous horse, All Right All Reddy, but today and yesterday’s double wins are her first World Championship titles earned at the APHA Youth World.

Kristen has been a team with 11-year-old “Jack” for the past year and a half. During that time, they’ve become quite a force to be reckoned with in their favorite classes of Showmanship and Trail. “I love Trail, because he just flows through it, and it’s easy to sit there and steer him around the obstacles. For this pattern, we worked on using my hips through the trot poles to get him to pick up his legs. Also, I had to make sure I rode straight lines going through, so we didn’t clip a pole. I felt like my turn in the box was really good as well as the sidepass to back.”

In a fun coincidence, Kristen and Jack received the back number 2044, which is very similar to his registered name, Twenty Four. Kristen explains that Jack is actually named after a popular television show. “His sire is Radical Hour, and there are twenty-four hours in a day. Also, the show was popular during that time, and Jack Bauer is the main character.”

Later on today, Kristen and Nick will compete in 13 and Under Horsemanship and Bareback Horsemanship.

The Reserve Champion in 13 and Under Trail was Gianna Pozzi with Ima Cajon Hot Krymsun. Third was Chandler Ennis with Could Be Sensational. Fourth was Sydney Replogle with Who Painted Me. Fifth was Karlee Shiery with TC Hummer. Sixth was Lauren Hall with Alotta Vested Paine. Sevneth was Kimber Cobbs with Whatcha Expect. Eighth was Drake Carlin with Always Zippen. Ninth was Avery Rees with Miss Mesmerized. Tenth was Kynlee Curry with A Sensational Cowgirl.