APHA Youth World Halter Winners Are Figueroa, Long, Chapman, Larman, Wright, and More!

By: Brittany Bevis

Today was all about talented young handlers and their conformationally correct counterparts here in Fort Worth at the 2018 APHA Youth World Show. Halter classes kicked off with large Performance Halter classes.

The Youth SPB Gelding winner was Peyton Hoffpauir with FF Heza Cool Flirt. Reserve was Arec Wesley with Better In My Boots. Third was Mackenzie Chapman with Hilfiger Again. Fourth was Ryan Carey with TNR Divine Intensions. Fifth was John Flowers with Tell Me All The Dirt.

Winning a 14-entry Youth Performance Halter Mares was Olivia Long with All Ways A Diva. The Reserve Champion was Avery Rees with Platinum Cowgirl. Third was Alice Standefer with Sirtainly No Doubt. Fourth was Kaylynn Heitman with Hunting Blue Skies. Fifth was Sheldon Hehr with A Gift For All.

The World Champion in a 29-entry Youth Performance Halter Geldings was Rebecca Figueroa with Check Required. The Reserve Champion was Avery Mortman with Hes Just A Touch More. Third was Amanda Nelson with Especially Fancy. Fourth was Rela Ratner with Cool Krymsun Zip. Fifth was Marla Leone with The Red Factor.

Rebecca and her 5-year-old gelding, “Bob,” are a true performance team competing in classes like Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, Trail, Western Pleasure, and Horsemanship. Just yesterday, they were named the Reserve Champions in 18 and Under Hunter Under Saddle and placed sixth in Equitation. That’s quite an accomplishment considering the fact that, up until he was four years old, Bob primarily competed in Western Pleasure and Trail. Also, in February of this year, Rebecca broke her ankle, so she was laid up until May and just started riding again.

“This was our fifth Equitation pattern together,” she says. “He’s the type of horse that once you teach him something, he’s got it. It takes a second, and he might get frustrated, but we will figure it out.”

“For Performance Halter, to look at him, he has a super great color and a great back. He’s tall, big, bulky, and he just has that good Performance Halter look.”

Of all the classes Rebecca competes in with Bob, her favorite is Trail. They have competed under the guidance of Carly Veldman Parks and Wade Parks for the past two years.

The winner of Youth Yearling Mares was Reece Chapman with She’s So Radiant. The Reserve Champion was Serena Wilborn with Pretty Lookin Allstar. Third was Harli Hunt with Tee Ritz. Fourth was Justin Moody with Financially Secured.

The Youth Yearling Geldings Champion was Logan Larman with Impressively Chromed. The Reserve Champion was Lillie Hively with Intriguing Turn. Third was Justin Moody with Risking Securitee.

We caught up with 8-year-old Lillie as she headed back to her stalls with her new trophy belt buckle in hand. Not only is this Lillie’s first time competing at the APHA World Show, this is her first horse show, ever!

Lillie shows Intriguing Turn, aka “Turner,” a horse she shares with her twin sister, Sophie. When these lovely, little, polite ladies aren’t in the Halter pen, you can see them roping with their dad. They both train for Halter under the guidance of Jarrell Jackson.

“I love Jarrell. He told me to walk slow with Turner. He says, for the back feet, I do those with the chain and push on the halter. Then, I move the front feet with my feet. I practiced a bunch! Normally, to keep his ears up, I blow at his nose or I wiggle my fingers in the air.”

Winning Youth SPB Mares was Ryan Carey with Can Ya Keep A Secret. The Reserve Champion was Erin Wright with TNR Bombshell. Third was Jacie Hathorn with LJL Scandalous. Fourth was Jenna Hathorn with Im Telling Secrets.

Kati Leonarski led So What About That to win Youth 2-Year-Old Mares. The Reserve Champion was Camren Madden with Spoiled. Third was Tyler Shafer with Stylin Secret. Fourth was Erin Wright with TNR Oh So Envious.  Fifth was Grace Hayslip with Intended Conclusion.

Shane Burch was at the lead of LLR Hes So Cool to win Youth 2-Year-Old Geldings. The Reserve Champion was Nathan Wright with Hes That Xcellent. Third was Reece Chapman with Syndicated. Fourth was Justin Moody with Securitee Agent.

Not only did Nathan Wright come in Reserve with Hes That Xcellent in 2-Year-Old Geldings, he was also named the World Champion with TNR Say Grace in Youth 3-Year-Old Mares. Of the two mares he competed with today, “Grace,” is his favorite. “I’ve showed her since she was a yearling, and I have won several times with her. They are different, because you have to be lighter handed with Alex. You can’t be rough with him, because he’s younger. You have to be soft. With Grace, you can push her a little more, because she’s an older show horse.”

With all of the scholarship money Nathan received today, he’s hoping to put it to good use when he graduates from high school to study engineering. Both Nathan and his sister, Erin, compete under the guidance of Jarrell Jackson. Both will also be competing at the AQHA Youth World this year.

Today, Erin was named the Reserve Champion in SPB Mares with a yearling named TNR Bombshell, aka “Molly.” She also placed fourth with TNR Oh So Envious, “Judy,” in 2-Year-Old Mares.

“Molly did really good today, especially since she’s young. This was actually my first time seeing Molly. Judy showed the best she can show today. Jarrell told me that I have to be more gentle with Molly. You can get on to her, but you can’t be rude to her.”

A very special little lady was named the World Champion in Aged Mares today. 7-year-old Georgia Cook led her grandmother’s mare, Red Hot N Stylin, to win at her first appearance at a Youth World Show, and, to top it off, today is her birthday! The Reserve Champion was Teagan Goble with MNC Kupcakez. Also, Teagan and RH CK Kid were named the World Champions in Aged Geldings.

Miss Georgia explains that she relies on training guidance from Kelley Stone for assistance with her 4-year-old mare named “Jade.”

“She tells me to look at her for help with Jade’s front feet,” Georgia says. “I use the chain and pull down for her back feet, and I kick at her front feet with my feet. For her ears, I either blow at her face or wave the lead shank in her face, and she looks at it.”

Georgia says that Jade did such a good job today that she will be receiving plenty of hugs and kisses when she gets back to the stalls. After Jade has been put to bed, Georgia and the entire Cassata-Cook-Stone clan will head off to Pappasitos for Georgia’s birthday dinner. “I’m going to have what I normally have when I go there- refried beans and rice. I’m also having ice cream cake.”

Coming up later this year, Georgia will head to the Big A and Stars N Stripes to ride her new Quarter Horse, a 3-year-old gelding named Wonit On My RV, aka “Moses,” which she competes with in walk-trot events.