Youth Heads to First AQHA World Show After Trailer Accident Derailed Last Year’s Hopes
By: Brittany Bevis
Like many first-time AQHA Youth World Show competitors, Kyla Jackson is feeling the excitement and a bit of nerves heading to Oklahoma City this week. But where Kyla differs from most is that she actually qualified to compete at the Youth World three times already. Her debut was supposed to be at the Youth World Show in 2018, but a trailer accident on the way to the horse show derailed those hopes.
15-year-old Kyla hails from Vacaville, CA. about two and a half hours from her trainer, Nancy Renfro. It’s an all-day trip, but one that she feels is well-worth the effort. “She’s an amazing trainer. She helped me find the perfect horse in Caddy, which I will always be grateful for. She always knows when the horse is right for the rider, and she valued my opinion when we were looking for a horse.”
“Also, when I do a pattern, she always asks me how I felt it went. She has taught me a lot. I know how to ‘train’ my horse and correct him. She has given me skills I can use the rest of my life. Instead of fixing the horse for me, she has me do it myself, which I really appreciate her taking the time to do that.”
In 2018, just a few days before the Youth World was set to begin, Kyla’s horse, Cadillac In Black, was loaded onto the trailer with several other horses to make the long trip from California to Oklahoma. They didn’t get very far. On I-40, just outside of Needles, CA, a tire blowout caused the truck and trailer to flip over and the contents, and horses, to spill out onto the highway. Thankfully, all of the horses and people involved in the crash sustained no serious injuries. However, Caddy, along with five other horses, including Cori Cansdale’s Promotional Asset, were sent back home to receive a full check-up at the vet.
“Last year, on the way to what would have been my first Youth World, a tire on my trainer’s truck blew out causing the truck and trailer to veer off the road. My horse was in the trailer during the accident and got scratched up, causing us not to be able to attend the World Show. Luckily, all injuries were superficial and all people, dogs, and horses involved in the accident were completely okay.”
This year, nothing can stop Kyla and Caddy from attending their first-ever Youth World Show during her first year of competing in the 14-18 division. “I made it my goal to nationally qualify in all of my events in Level 2 and Level 3, which I did! I will show in L2 and L3 14-18 Horsemanship, Trail, and Showmanship with Caddy. I was 15 years old in March, so this is my first 14-18 year.”
What is she most excited for? “I don’t know what to expect, so I don’t know what to be excited for. So, I guess I’m excited for it all. It will be nice to be stalled with all of California. I hope to make some new friends and meet up with some old friends that I usually don’t get to see. This show brings us all together from the East coast to the West.”
What is she most nervous about? “I’ve never shown in any of the arenas in Oklahoma. I’ve only ridden Caddy when I was trying him out to purchase. We had flown in for the 2017 Amateur World. Caddy has been in these arenas many times, because his previous owner showed here a lot. I wish I was more familiar with the arenas, but I’m sure it will be fine.”
Last year’s trailer accident wasn’t Kyla’s first encounter with tragedy during her early equestrian years. She still owns her first show horse, 36-year-old Sacs Sun Bar, who she purchased from her first horse trainer, Lise von Uhlit. In 2015, Lise suffered a heart attack and was placed in an induced coma. She later passed away. “Lise’s barn colors were black and red, so I still show in these colors to keep her with me,” Kyla says.
Kyla has been showing horses for the past nine years, since she was just six years old. She’s currently the Vice-President of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association and a sophomore in high school. She’s the captain of the Junior Varsity Cheer Team at Vacaville High School, and her favorite subjects are math and science. In the show pen, she enjoys the more complicated pattern classes as well. “I like all of the pattern classes, especially Horsemanship, because it challenges me. I like the patterns to be more difficult. It makes it more fun to have to rise to the challenge.”
In 2017, Kyla won Trail at the AQHA L1 Championships with Good For The Ladys. She’s also placed in the top five at the Congress in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Her goal for 2019 was to level out in her classes, which she accomplished in Trail and Showmanship. “I will go from level 2 to level 3 starting next year. I’m almost leveled out of Horsemanship with just a few points to go. I just received a Superior in the mail from AQHA right before heading to the Youth World. I have only been showing Caddy for one and a half years, so I was so excited!”
Caddy is by Radical Rodder and out of Diamonds and Denim, both of which are owned by Diane Chilton-Harper and who raised Caddy in her backyard in Texas.
Kyla’s goals for the AQHA Youth World are simple. “In all honesty, my goals have changed from last year to this year. I was focused on winning last year. This year, I take nothing for granted. I’m just happy to be here and participate. It really has humbled me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong competitor! It’s just that I appreciate it more now.”
“The best advice I have received is not to overthink anything. Don’t question yourself in the arena and go all out, because you have nothing to lose. You’ve made it this far to the World Show, so you may as well go all out! And my mom says to just have fun!”
If you have a special story about a first-time AQHA Youth World competitor, email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com and you might see it featured right here.
