Kylee John and Amanda Nelson Win AjPHA Novice Youth Showmanship Classes

By: Brittany Bevis

It’s showmanship day at the 2014 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show here in Fort Worth, Texas! Showmanship accounts for some of the largest class sizes here at the World Show. For example, Novice Youth 14-18 Showmanship saw 38 entries and 14-18 Showmanship will see 64 entries show in a preliminaries and a final before the day is done.

First up was the Novice Youth 14-18 Showmanship where Kylee John showed Krymsunized to a World Champion finish. Coming in Reserve was Julie Hill with The Ultimate Attitude. Third place was Cassidy Watters with Always Zippen.

In the Novice Youth 13 and Under Showmanship, Amanda Nelson led R Zippo Machine to their second World title of the horse show. Just yesterday, the pair won the Novice Youth 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle. The Nelson girls have been having a fabulous show thus far. Earlier in the week, Amanda’s sister, Andi, won the Versatility Challenge with Mr. Verifiable.

Today, it was little sister’s turn in the spotlight. Although Amanda admits that the judges designed a challenging pattern, her horse trainer, Amber Cazier, was able to help the team highlight their strengths.

“I think the trot to the walk was the most difficult,” Amanda says. “He’s not the best with transitions, and he’s kind of touchy; he likes to cuddle. I have to get on to him a bit and let him know he can’t do that in showmanship!”

Although he had to wait until after the class to get a congratulatory cuddle, R Zippo Machine did receive an extra incentive this morning in the form of a shiny, red, apple.

“Maybe it gave him some extra energy,” she says. “Now, I have to go give him a lot of mints!”

We wish Amanda and R Zippo Machine the very best at their first Youth World Show as a team!

Novice Youth 13 and under Showmanship:

1-R Zippo Machine/Amanda Nelson

2-All Right All Reddy/Lauren Harrison

3-Majority Sensation/Olivia Bass

4-RL Sudden Style/Lauren Gralla

5-Sensationally Good/Kelsee Ireland

Novice Youth 14-18 Showmanship:

1-Krymsunized/Kylee John

2-The Ultimate Attitude/Julie Hill

3-Always Zippen/Cassidy Watters

4- Must Be A Dream/Katie Lingafelter

5-Judge This Zippo/Lucie Lundquist