#RoadToYouthWorld- Behind the Scenes at Boot Camp

By: Cameron Crenwelge

If you have any sort of social media account, you’re probably being bombarded with what must seem like a million posts with the hashtags #RoadToYouthWorld, #GetThatGlobe, and #YouthWorldBootCamp. While these hashtags are somewhat self-explanatory, some might be wondering what exactly goes on at all of these “Youth World Boot Camps.”

Youth World Boot Camp at Reid Thomas Performance Horses

Youth World boot camp usually starts around 8 a.m. every morning at RTPH. Now, this may seem barbaric, but I can assure you that I would rather lose a few hours of sleep in the morning than attempt to ride in the Texas heat. In the mornings, we focus on the patterns and classes that we will be showing in at the upcoming World Show. Reid drills us on parts and pieces of the patterns, but we try to avoid putting everything together until right before we leave, so that our horses don’t anticipate the patterns.

After a few hours of riding, we all go to lunch and head our separate ways until about 6:00 p.m. when we meet up for the evening session. This session is often very different from the morning session, because it focuses on preparation for collegiate riding programs. Reid guides us though horse switches, strength drills, and complex patterns, since all of us are either aspiring or current NCEA riders.

After the hard work, many of us use the extra time in the evenings to let loose; we can be found riding bareback, attending movies, and heading to the nearest country dance hall. My favorite part of Youth World boot camp is the opportunity to come together and spend time with kids and trainers that I don’t get to see very often, as a result of a busy college schedule. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with such amazing and inspiring people!

A special thank you to Ella Petak with Getting Hot, Emma Cress with Zippos Gold N Sonnet, Sarah Orsak with Huntin By Moonlite, Claire Cherrington, Claudia Brown, Eric Mendrysa, Brittany Boyd, and Reid Thomas for making my last boot camp as a youth kid so special.

Youth World Boot Camp at McDowall Quarter Horses

After writing about a day in my life, I thought that it would be interesting to get another perspective; so, I reached out to multiple World and Congress Champion Natalia DeVencenty and asked her opinion on Youth World boot camp. Natalia says Youth World boot camp isn’t all that different from how the McDowall barn prepares for a normal show. She says that Kelly focuses on perfecting rather than changing aspects of their performances. In preparation for a normal show, everyone will practice a few patterns that correspond to the classes that they are showing in, along with the appropriate rail work. However, about two weeks out from the Youth World, the patterns become much more difficult and Kelly remains picky, encouraging them to step up their game. After a weeks or so of hard work, the kids take a few days off to rest and recuperate before they make the trip to Oklahoma City.

Natalia says, “the best part about our boot camp is that even if you don’t feel prepared or confident, somehow Kelly always makes sure you’re ready to go! He’s always there with an extra boost of confidence!”

Good luck to Cheyanne Izon with Bobby Dimensions, Claire McDowall with Good As Always, Brooke Jolstad with Im Good As It Gets and Betta Believe It, Jake Jolstad with WalkTheLyne, Jentry Shandley with VS Costar, and Natalia DeVencenty with Moonlite Madnez and Chex Is The Choice.

Boot camp is a place where friendships are formed, strengthened, and reconnected. It’s one of the few times during the year when youth kids can get together and focus on their passion without school, homework, and tests looming overhead. It’s the friendships that are formed in these few weeks that will support youth competitors through the high-pressure environment that is the Youth World.

This is a show that presents an extremely limited number of opportunities to step into the arena, while also serving as one of the largest determinants of NCEA recruitment for many riders. For most, it will be the friends that you spend hours riding with and laughing and working through difficult boot camps with, that will be the first to run up and hug you- win or lose. At the end of the day, these friendships are worth more to many riders than any globe will ever be.