Morning AQHYA World Halter Wins Go To Bradyn Burke, RJ Shepard, and Christian Britt

By: Brittany Bevis

This morning’s Halter classes at the 2017 AQHA Youth World went by fast and furious. First up, Christian Mark Britt led Te Coolest Intent to win Yearling Mares. He was followed in Reserve by Taylor Jo Snow with Eightys Mercedes. Third place was Nathan Wright with TNR Cantstopthischic. Fourth was Sydney Rivers with Existingsecretfinale. Fifth was RJ Jacobs with Elumination.

The L2 Champion in the class was Mckenna Gibson with Call Me Tease Please. The Reserve Champion was Abigail Gay with HR Dry Smart Jewel.

Next, Bradyn Burke led Shez Cool N Elusive to win 2-Year-Old Mares. The Reserve Champion was Dylan Madden with Shamles. Third place was Margaret Carter with Sweep Me Away. Fourth was Tyler Shafer with Miss Dellta. Fifth was Jenna Engle with Hottestgirlintown. Margaret was also the L2 Champion in the class. She was followed in Reserve by Tyler Shafer.

Margaret and “Mia” have been a pair since Eastertime last year. At the 2016 AQHA Youth World, they placed seventh, “so we’ve come a long way!” Margaret says. “She’s a sweetheart, but she has as little kid personality.”

Margaret admits that Mia was a little nervous in today’s class, so she relied on advice from her horse trainer, Tom Robertson. “He tells me to keep a tight hold on her and to pet on her to get her to relax.” In addition to Mia, Tom also fits Margaret’s other horse, Coos Me In The Dark, aka “Kobe,” who was named the Reserve World Champion yesterday in Aged Geldings. She also has an all-around mount with Troy Prime.

Coming up next, Margaret, Mia, and Kobe will head to the All American Quarter Horse Congress, but not before her father, Tom, takes Mia to the Select World Show. “He better step up!” Margaret laughs. “I let Tom give him advice, because we kind of butt heads sometimes. I try to step back and let Tom do it.”

Finally, winning the 3-Year-Old Geldings class was RJ Shepard III with Entended. The Reserve Champion was Colton Smith with Initially A Cool Kid. RJ has been a team with “Eddie” since April of 2016 when his family purchased the horse from Ted Turner. “Ever since we’ve gotten him, he’s been a very good horse, and he’s fit into our program well. We’ve made him what he is today.”

“He’s very well put together, and he has balanced muscle tone, head shape, and definition. He’s the ideal Quarter Horse.”

This well-spoken 15-year-old doesn’t rely on his horse trainers, also known as Mom and Dad, to do his horse’s preparation for him. He likes to be involved in every part of the process. “I like to be out there the whole time myself. We sweat his neck at the house, and I participate in training him every day during the summer. I come after school to work with him.”

“Having Mom and Dad being my horse trainers is all about perspective. There are times when it’s hard, but there are times when it’s very rewarding, because your biggest supporters are your parents, and they’re also your trainers.”