First AjPHA Youth World Showmanship Winners are Woodruff, Cardenas, and Christensen

By: Brittany Bevis

The tiniest of competitors here at the 2016 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show stole the show today in Fort Worth, Texas. But don’t let their diminutive size fool you. These serious competitors mean business.

In Walk-Trot Showmanship, Miss Cara Christensen led her horse, Slightly Fancy, to a big win with Ady Kallay and Ima White Sensation coming in a close Reserve. Third place was Haley Thomas with Short Bruiser. Fourth was Delaney Good with Kewl Zipppin Strider. Fifth was Avery Mortman and One Graceful Krymsun.

We chatted with 8-year-old (“about to be nine on July 27th”) Cara Christensen following her win with her 16-year-old gelding named “Elmo.” Cara and Elmo have been a team for about two years now, and they have achieved many first place finishes in Showmanship. Just last week, she won both English and Western Showmanship at the Pinto World Championship Show. Here at the AjPHA Youth World Show, the pair also placed fourth in Equitation and eighth in Hunter Under Saddle.

“Elmo always listens to me, and he knows his job,” Cara says. “He’s always respectful. If he does something wrong and I get after him, he just licks and says ‘I’m sorry.'”

Before Cara went in the pen today for her class, she received some last minute advice from her Mom, Dad, and Uncle Shane. “They all help me,” she says. “They said to try my hardest and keep my elbows in. My favorite part of this pattern was trotting, because Elmo loves it too.”

Coming up next will be another favorite class for the duo, Walk Trot Trail. They will also compete in Horsemanship and Western Pleasure.

In Novice Youth Showmanship 13 and under, Lillian Woodruff won her third World Championship title of the horse show, but this time with a different horse, CC Cowboy. Just yesterday, she was named the World Champion in 13 and Under Equitation with All Or Nothin and came in Reserve in Novice Youth 13 Hunter Under Saddle.

The Reserve Champion in Novice Youth 13 and Under Showmanship was Kristen McPherson with All Right All Reddy. Third place was Chandler Ennis with One Sensational Diva. Fourth was Avery Rees with Miss Mesmerized. Fifth was Reagan Jennings with Cadets Honor.

In Novice Youth Showmanship 14-18, Kathryn Cardenas led Zip Designed Me to a big win. The Reserve Champion was Isabella Applegarth with One Sensational Cowgirl. Third was Breighanna Urdahl with Just Pretend. Fourth was Lila Owens with The Cajun Cowgirl. Rounding out the top five was Briar Lopez with Isn’t She So Tuf.

Winning Solid-Paint Bred Showmanship was Hallie Horsman with Ima Lucky Asset. Reserve was Zanna Sullivan with JZA Wyatt I Zipt. Third was Quentin Gravelle with Mr Predestined.

Stay tuned for 13 and Under and 14-18 Showmanship results, photos, and interviews…