APHA Youth World Equitation Wins Go To Camp, Daniel, Heitman, and Kallay

By: Brittany Bevis

This evening’s Equitation classes started off with Taylor Daniel scoring a big win with She’s a Hot Lilli in Novice Youth Equitation 14-18. The Reserve Champion was Ella Storch with Vegas Made Me Do It. Third was Amber Nusser with Time To Be Famous. Fourth was Grace Moreland with Always My Choice. Fifth was Marla Leone with The Red Factor.

In Novice Youth Equitation 13 and Under, Kaylynn Heitman rode Hunting Blue Skies to a win. The Reserve Champion was Kayla Martin with Wicked Roses. Third was Lauren Hall with Alotta Vested Pine. Fourth was Amanda Walsh with Aspercel. Fifth was Ady Kallay with Gotta Be Sensational.

In the next class, Ady returned to win 13 and Under Equitation. The Reserve Champion was Lauren Hall with Alotta Vested Pine. Third was Amanda Walsh with Aspercel. Fourth was Gianna Brown with Essential Iron. Fifth was Haley Thomas with Hotrod Machine.

19-year-old Mary Katherine Camp had already been recognized at the Youth World for a very special accomplishment. She and her horse, Radicalized, were honored with the Number #1 Youth 14-18 title. Tonight, she added another title to her list of accolades, and it’s one that she’s always wanted to achieve. “Equitation has always been a class we’ve struggled with, so this is very exciting,” she says.

“I’ve always told Sara [Simons] that I wanted to win Equitation. Two years ago, we had a really bad pattern, and I’ve always jokingly said that I wanted to redeem myself. I think that I finally have!”

Last year, MK and “Rodney” placed fourth in Equitation and the year prior to that, they didn’t make it back to the finals at all. That was the rough ride that spurred this goal to conquer Equitation, once and for all.

“Before my family got Rodney, he didn’t do patterns at all. With Tucker [Zippos Redemption], it was always consistent. With Rodney, he was learning at the same time that I was learning. Horsemanship kind of clicked and he loves Hunter Under Saddle, but Equitation was tough for us.”

“Since the patterns last year were insanely crazy, and this year’s were more calm, I knew that it would be really important to go for it. For the hand gallop, we’ve really been practicing on running fast and then sitting down, slowing down, and collecting around the corner. This pattern was about getting everything right where it needed to be and laying out the pattern perfectly.”

Other titles MK and Rodney have won over the years include a Reserve World Championship and World Championship in Horsemanship, a World Championship in Western Pleasure, and a Reserve World Championship in Trail. She will compete in all of those events later in the show, with the addition of Showmanship, Performance Halter, and a new event- Western Riding. Following the Youth World this year, MK and Rodney will compete at the Paint Horse Congress before heading back to college at TCU, where MK competes on the Equestrian team in Horsemanship.

As she reflects on her final year in youth competition, there is a number of people she’d like to thank. “I want to thank Sara, RJ, Riley Morgan, Andrea, and Jana. They have really put in the work and taught me how to ride. I want to thank my parents for taking me everywhere and my sister. And I want to thank my barn family for cheering us on.”

 

“Being Number 1 is something I’ve always dreamed about, but we didn’t set out for it. I tried to go to every horse show I could and do my best. Then, after the Paint Horse Congress, I didn’t show all year, so we didn’t think I’d get it. But, it just worked out and to win with Ali [Eidson], who was Number 1 Classic Amateur, was so amazing.”

 

 

The Reserve Champion behind MK and Radicalized was Macie Soderquist with Ima Mega Sensation. Third was Lauren Gralla with A Sudden Legacy. Fourth was Lillian Woodruff with Gametime Sensation. Fifth was Amanda Nelson with Especially Fancy.