Maisen Gores and Maggie Harrell Top App Youth World 12 and Under Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

12-year-old Maisen Gores found out what it feels like to ride out of the pen at the front of the line as the returning World Champion in 12 and Under Western Pleasure today at the 2016 Appaloosa Youth World Show. Not only was she named the World Champion with her mare, Zipper Shock, aka “Georgia.” They were the unanimous choice of the judges!

“We bred her,” Maisen says. “She is one of our mares. I actually got to see her being born. She was the first baby I ever saw born.”

Maisen and Georgia are the returning World Champions from 2015, so she did feel a bit of extra added pressure coming into the Youth World Show this year. “I was a little nervous. I set my hopes high, but mom said to be careful and not get my hopes too high. It might not happen… I was really, really, really, really, really, really hoping it would!”

Maisen’s favorite part of competing in Western Pleasure with Georgia is showing at the lope because of her smooth feel. “She was really good today, and she didn’t get too crabby with me! She has a really nice lope as it is.”

Tomorrow, this pair will be looking to repeat their previous success in Novice Youth Horsemanship and 12 and Under Horsemanship, both classes she won last year, also with Georgia.

For all of her classes, Maisen replies on the guidance of her horse trainer, “my wonderful mother, Gale Gores.” According to Maisen, there are definite pros and cons to having your mother as your horse trainer. “The cons are that we fight a lot. She”ll argue with me and I argue right back, but the pros are that I can ride my horse whenever I want!”

The Reserve Champion in the class was 12-year-old Maggie Harrell aboard her 7-year-old gelding named Craving Chocolate, aka “Quinn.” This team has been a pair for two years and they currently compete under the guidance of Justin and Joy Wheeler.

“Quinn is good at Western events,” Maggie says. “He’s really good at Horsemanship. That’s his best class. His dad is Chocolatey, so I think he got some of his dad’s personality too.”

Tomorrow, Maggie and Quinn will compete in Horsemanship and perhaps Trail, later on in the show. Just the other day, they were named the Reserve Champions in 12 and Under Equitation. Maggie also won English Showmanship 13 and Under with her other horse, Hunting For Charlie.

Best of luck during the rest of the competition for these two accomplished and sweet competitors!