Lauren Hall and Emily Miller Win 13 and Under Trail Classes at APHA Youth World

By: Brittany Bevis

The final two Trail classes crowned World Champions this morning at the APHA Youth World Show. First, a very decorated young equestrian at this year’s show won the Novice Youth 13 and Under Trail. Lauren Hall rode Alotta Vested Pine to the win. The Reserve Champion was Kayla Martin with Wicked Roses.

13-year-old Lauren and her 7-year-old gelding, “Slim,” have already won Novice Youth 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle, Bareback Horsemanship, and were Reserve in 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle. “We’re thinking that if we do well in Horsemanship and Western Pleasure that we might get High Point. Hopefully!”

Lauren and Slim compete under the guidance of Jesse Shaw. They’ve been a team for two years now, and this is their second World Show together. Lauren’s favorite class is Trail. “I think it’s really fun with all the different obstacles,” she says. “I liked our lope-overs. Jesse told me to make sure I counted my steps. Our walk-overs have been a struggle for us, so I was trying to really get him to pick up his feet.”

Lauren didn’t have much time to celebrate her win, because she had to turn around and go right back into the next class- 13 and Under Trail. She found success again and was named the Reserve World Champion. A true equestrian, after analyzing both patterns, she actually liked her Reserve World Championship pattern the best. “I just wanted to go in and do the same thing. I actually liked the second pattern better. We had a two step in our one step walk-overs, but everything else was better!”

Third place in the class was Ady Kallay with Gotta Be Sensational. Fourth was Emily Miller with A Spot In Heaven. Fifth was Haley Thomas with Hotrod Machine.

Next, 11-year-old Emily Miller rode A Spot In Heaven to win 13 and Under Trail. The Reserve Champion was Lauren Hall with Alotta Vested Pine. Third was Ady Kallay with Gotta Be Sensational. Fourth was Taylor Eller with Charismatic World. Fifth was Catherine Blackmon with Is It The Chad.

11-year-old Emily has won Trail in the past, but this is her first World Championship title earned with “Haley.” This team currently competes under the guidance of Chad and Shane Christenen.

“Trail is my favorite class, because you have to do numerous obstacles, and it challenges you. I felt like my favorite part about it was probably the gate, because it’s normally terrible for us, but today it wasn’t! The L back through was challenging, because she likes to swing her booty, but she didn’t today!”

Already at the show, Emily and Haley have competed in Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, and Equitation with finalist, Top 10, and Top 5 placings. Coming up next, they will compete in Horsemanship and Western Pleasure, after which Haley will get “boatloads of treats” and Emily plans to indulge with a steak at her favorite Texas restaurant- Cattleman’s Steakhouse.