Mickey Mouse, Big Bird, and Santa Claus Make an Appearance in Inaugural Freestyle Showmanship at 2013 AQHYA World Show

As soon as 13-year-old Kamiah McGrath found out that the AQHYA World Show was adding a Freestyle Showmanship exhibition to the schedule, she sent in her entry form and started practicing daily. When she strode into the arena last night accompanied by Santa Claus, Big Bird, and Mickey Mouse, it was clear the audience was in store for a very entertaining routine.

Participating in the exhibition along with McGrath was Chelsea Sterling, Paige Wacker, Phillip Alden, Sydney Scheckel, and Brianna Bielecki. Each exhibitor had their own take on what would make for a winning routine. They certainly pulled out all of the stops with patterns choreographed to music, elaborate costumes, and props.

First up was Paige Wacker with Ima Moxie Man, who opted for an elegant theme, ethereal white dress, and the longest back in the history of the Youth World. Phillip Alden and Montoya Imagine embraced the superhero theme of the World Show with red, flowing cape, Superman paint, and a “shankless” performance with an illusion lead. Sidney Scheckel played “Robin” to A Perfect Pleasure’s “Batman” during an entertaining routine complete with sharp transitions.

The crowd was in for a few laughs during Brianna Bielecki’s beach-themed performance to the classic surfer track “Wipe Out.” Bielecki was accompanied by six assistants, who were all clad in Hawaiian leis and tropical shirts. While Bielecki and Ima Final Version completed their routine, the six surfers interacted with the crowd by throwing beach balls into the stands.

Chelsea Sterling performed a moving tribute to our fallen soldiers with a performance to Tim McGraw’s “If you’re reading this.” Sterling dressed in black mourning attire and was accompanied by her horse, Triplicate Pleasure, who was completely decked out in camouflage. She conclude her performance by kneeling in front of a tombstone while a soldier in military dress presented her with a folded American flag.

All of the performances were entertaining, but the Champion spot went to McGrath and Secrets Until Dark. The decision to choreograph her routine to Kenny Chesney’s version of “Thank God for kids” was made by her mother, Jennifer McGrath.

“My mom came up with the music, because it’s all about the kids at the World Show,” she says. “Then, we tried it out with the song and practiced to see how the pattern flowed with the music and everything.”

Acting as her cones for the pattern were Big Bird, Mickey Mouse, and Santa Claus, aka Allie Tamulewicz, Bailey Forester, and Mr. Jim. During the first few verses of the song, the audience quickly understood the meaning behind including these three seemingly unrelated characters.

“If it weren’t for kids have you ever thought

There wouldn’t be no Santa Claus

Look what the stork just brought

Thank God for kids”

 

“We’d all live in a quiet house

Without Big Bird or a Mickey Mouse

And Kool-aid on the couch

Thank God for kids”

While McGrath’s performance was entertaining, it was also cleverly choreographed with spot on transitions that occurred simultaneously with lyrics in the song. As the song came to a close, McGrath’s horse, “Stevie,” played her part to perfection, kneeling to “pray” in accordance with the song’s final verse.

McGrath tells us that Stevie is just six years old, and this is the horse’s first trip to a World Show, so she was very pleased with the mare’s performance.

“I like the fun stuff, and I thought it would be a good idea,” she says. “[The bow] wasn’t the hard part. It only took two days, and we worked on it every day.”

The next freestyle performance will take place this evening with Freestyle Exhibition Horsemanship as the main event. Scroll below to view some fun pictures from last night’s event.