Gentry Cherry Wins “Best Victory Lap” and Hunter Hack at AQHA Youth World With Al E Hondro

By: Brittany Bevis

17-year-old Gentry Cherry pulled out all the stops for a spectacular victory lap following her big win in Hunter Hack this afternoon at the 2017 AQHA Youth World Show when she jumped the final fence with her golden globe in hand.

“I did a victory lap when I won Equitation Over Fences with I’m As Good As It Gets, but I didn’t jump a fence and I regretted it. So, I did it this time! It was kind of dangerous, but it was fun. I wanted it to be exciting.”

Gentry and Al E Hondro, aka “Big Al,” have been a team for the past two years. She purchased Al from Alyse Roberts’ barn where he competed in Hunter Under Saddle. But after being recruited to Chuck Briggs and Linda Crothers’ show string, he began to learn the ropes for Over Fence classes. “He moves really good, so we thought he would do well, but he was kind of clumsy when we first started. He’s ended up being pretty special.”

This is Gentry and Big Al’s second trip to the Youth World and their first World Championship title earned as a team. They’re also entered to compete in Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle, but Gentry is trying to weasel her way out of that…

“I’m going to try not to show in Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle, but I haven’t mentioned that to Chuck yet… I’m definitely an Over Fences girl. I like that way better. It’s way more exciting and enjoyable.”

Every since she first started competing as a youngster aboard POAs, Gentry has always been attracted to the more adrenaline inducing disciplines. Recently, she purchased a Reining horse and has been competing in NRHA derbies. She hopes to bring “McCoy” to the Youth World next year.

“It’s so much fun! My mom used to do Reining when she was a youth. We went and rode with Casey Hinton one day, and I was hooked. He’s tiny. He’s not even a fourth of the size Al is. It’s like riding a pony.”

 

The Reserve Champion and 13 and Under Champion in the class was Abigail Hardy with My Secret Past. Third place was Isabella Erwin with Just Money Hungry. Fourth place was Chandler Runnells with Dance If You Wanna. Fifth was Reilly Medema with Notaminute Too Soon. Sixth place is Caroline Bradley with WhatMadeUSayThat. Seventh place is Katelyn Schultz with Dance Some More. Eighth was Madeline Keyes with Classic Circle. Ninth was Hayleigh Holliday with Lasting Exposure. Tenth was Alexis Hart with Delivered By Hand.