Halter Day Recap at 2017 AjPHA Youth World

By: Brittany Bevis

Today’s competition at the 2017 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show was devoted to massive horses and their much smaller counterparts. First up, 15-year-old Nathan Wright led TNR Oh So Envious to win Yearling Mares.

Nathan has been showing for the past four years, a journey that all began thanks to a chance conversation during a family Christmas party with his grandfather, Billy Franks. “We were sitting at Christmas and Papa showed me a picture of a horse named ‘HoneyBun.” He asked me if I wanted to show her. I said, ‘Alright.’ Then, a week later, he called me and said, ‘Ok, you’re in the lineup!’ Her show name is Lookin For Romance, and I first showed her when she was three. She’s an aged mare now.”

Since Nathan lives in Georgetown, Louisiana, he doesn’t get to practice much. However, he’s always eager to make the trip to Three Nails Ranch in Texas to visit his grandparents, visit his horses, and work with his horse trainer, Jarrell Jackson. “Most of the time, we go to the ranch in Texas once a year. Then, I come the day before the horse show and practice. When I first thought of showing horses, I was thinking about riding, but I don’t know if  I have a lot of time to do that, because it’s a lot more practice than Halter!”

Nathan was very pleased with his young filly’s performance today, as she stood still and didn’t move a muscle. “She’s not overly excited,” he says. “And she’s big now. She used to be small, but she filled out a lot.”

The Reserve Champion in Yearling Mares was Zaidee Paxton with Spoiled. Third place was Grace Hayslip with Intended Conclusion. Fourth was Ireland Cofrancesco with Stylin Secret. Ffith was Katie Leonarski with Front Page Print.

In Yearling Geldings, Raegan Watson led LLR Hes So Cool to a win. The Reserve Champion was Justin Moody with Securitee Agent. Third was Belle Rotan with T For Texas. Fourth was Olivia Hubert with Heza Brooks Fella. Fifth was Nathan Wright with He’s That Excellent.

Later in the day, Nathan Wright found himself in the winner’s circle once again, this time with TNR Say Grace in Two-Year-Old Mares. The Reserve World Champion was Rylan Burns with I M Addicted. Third place was Reese Byers with Sacred Sally. Fourth was Justin Moody with Sense Of Securittee. Fifth was Erin Wright with TNR Lovely Intent.

In the next class, it was time for Nathan’s little sister to take home a blue ribbon. 11-year-old Erin Wright led Sheza Obvious Image to win 3-Year-Old Mares. Originally, Erin had planned to wear a different outfit to show her mare “Bailey;” but, at the last minute, she decided her blue jacket might give her a bit of extra luck. “It wasn’t the plan, but I really wanted to wear the blue,” she says. “It worked!”

Erin has only shown Bailey once before, at a horse show in Iowa where they placed third. “I was very proud of that since I’d never even seen her before. It was a very good experience. Today, I was very happy. I set her up, got her ears up, and she was great.” Erin thinks Bailey’s good attitude and large size helped her stay at the top of the judges’ cards today. “I think her size gives her some extra points. The judges like that.”

Erin started showing horses in much the same way as her brother. Actually, when she came to the World Show one year to watch her grandparents compete in Halter, she found the event to be quite boring. “It looked so boring, but then, they talked Nathan into doing it. He did it for a couple of years and said it was kind of fun. I practiced, and it turned out to be awesome.”

Like the other winners in today’s classes, Erin received a $1,000 scholarship for her future education. Although she’s only 11, about to turn 12 during the AQHA Youth World, she says, “I think about that all the time. I thought maybe I’d like to be a veterinarian.”

The Reserve Champion in 3-Year-Old Mares was Belle Rotan with KR Lone Star Lola. Third was John Flowers with Ima Touchdown Girl. Fourth was Hannah Mauduit with Styled With Chrome. Fifth was Madison Reeves with Uno I’m Dreamy.

In 3-Year-Old Geldings, Reese Byers led Coolest Ambition to win. Like Erin, Reese also has ambitions to use her $1,000 scholarship to become a vet one day. Reese is from Wichita, Kansas, and she traveled to Fort Worth with two of her sisters. In total, she has seven siblings! In addition to competing in Halter, Reese enjoys showing in Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, and Showmanship.

This was Reese’s first time showing in Halter at the AjPHA Youth World Show, and she relied on the guidance of her horse trainer, Jason Smith. She’s only had her current horse, “Tucker” for just three weeks. Although they encountered a bit of trouble in the show pen, she was able to talk to Tucker to help him calm down and relax. “Setting up can be kind of complicated,” she says. “You have to put pressure on the right side of his withers, and, if you want to move his left foot, you have to put pressure on his shoulder.”

The Reserve Champion in Thre-Year-Old Geldings was Alexus Cole with Brooks N Irish. Nathan Wright received his third World Championship title of the day, this time with Marabella in Aged Mares. The Reserve Champion was Teagan Goble with JWR Shez Got Bling. Third was Rylan Burns with TD Kid Chantilly Lace. Fourth was Justin Moody with Finessem In Print. Fifth was Emily Miller with A Spot In Heaven.

Finally, Alexus Cole wrapped up the day winning a World Champion title in Aged Geldings with Intriguing Clue. The adorable Randal Martini led Lego My Martini to place Reserve. Third place was Justin Moody with Rockin Classics Heart. Fourth was Kayla Martin with Wicked Roses. Fifth was Rana Orsan with My Own Cowboys Story.

Stay tuned to www.EquineChronicle.com tomorrow for results, interviews with winners, and more fun photos from the Over Fence classes, set to kick off at 10:00 am.