Congress Youth Hunter Under Saddle Wins Go to Taylor Searles and Cassidy Champlin

By: Brittany Bevis

This morning, two winners were crowned in the Youth Hunter Under Saddle classes at the 2014 All American Quarter Horse Congress. First, Taylor Searles was named the Congress Champion in Youth Hunter Under Saddle 12-14 with She Says Aloha. The Reserve Congress Champion was Kamiah McGrath with They Call Me Jake. Third place was Natalie Vargo with Classic Minute Man.

In the Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18, Cassidy Champlin was crowned the Champion with Look N Hott. The Reserve Champion was Jenna Jacobs with Doodle Jump. Coming in third was Katerina Mendel with Willys On The Green.

We caught up with Taylor Searles following her big win this morning with “Daisy,” a 4-year-old mare by Allocate Your Assets.

“We raised her, and my mom showed her in the Masters here [in 2012] and was third,” Searles says. “I showed her at the Youth World as a three-year-old and was seventh. I’ve been showing throughout this year in futurities, and, at the Youth World, I was sixth. At the NSBA World, I won the Limited Maturity and Mom won the Junior Hunt Seat. Here, Mom was Reserve in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle.”

She Says Aloha has a few brothers that have had great success in the hunt seat pen as well. Deanna Searles rode Lastcallfour Alcohol to win the Congress Masters Equine Chronicle 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle in 2011. Just a few days ago, Kathy Tobin rode Blameitonthe Alcohol to a win in the 3-Year-Old Non Pro Limited Hunter Under Saddle Stakes.

Searles describes Daisy as a sensitive but sweet mare who knows when it’s time to do her job. “She likes to be left alone to do her job,” she says. “She is really fun. Sometimes she can be a mare, but they all have that a little bit. Her canter is really fun. She rocks back like a little Western Pleasure horse.”

Earlier in the show, Searles and her other horse, Flashy Attraction, achieved a third place finish in 12-14 Trail. Later this afternoon, she will be competing in Equitation.

 

Youth Hunter Under Saddle 12-14-

1- She Says Aloha/Taylor Searles

2-They Call Me Jake/Kamiah McGrath

3- Classic Minute Man/Natalie Vargo

4-Hot Kattitude/Hannah Warren

5-Slew of Details/Lily Anderson

Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18-

1- Look N Hott/Cassidy Champlin

2-Doodle Jump/Jenna Jacobs

3-Willys On The Green/Katerina Mendel

4- Dancin In My Sleep/Nicole Kuklinski

5-Cowboys R Hot/Paige Stopperich