Back in a Big Way
Amateur Alexie Estrada hadn’t shown western events since her last year of APHA Youth in 2009. She came back with a bang by winning Novice Amateur Trail at the 2024 APHA World Championship Show. See what advice she has for keeping your passion alive!
By Delores Kuhlwein
Saturday, June 29th at the 2024 APHA World Championship Show, Alexie Estrada made a return to the show pen in Novice Amateur Trail, topping a class of 26 for a World Championship with Ima White Sensation.
The amateur, who was well known in APHA for her prowess as a youth, hadn’t shown western events since 2009 in her last year as a youth, despite a brief return with an English horse in 2021.
Now the Marketing Director at Hotel Drover, Alexie finds her two worlds harmonizing as she picks up the reins again to show under the guidance of James Saubolle and Paul Alexander of Elite Show Horses. “I’ve been with James since 2008,” she explains. “It was this show in 2004 when James became my idol, and here we are!”
Some of the changes since her youth days include much more intricate patterns, she says. “They remind me a lot of what we did for the collegiate patterns, with a lot more levels of difficulty, more square corners, really interesting lines, dropping stirrups, etc. I love seeing all those elements in there.”
For others considering a comeback to the show arena, Alexie says to go for it. “Follow your heart, keep your passion alive, even if it’s going and getting on any horse you can find, even if it’s a donkey!” she laughs. “Get as much riding in as you can.”
Alexie says as an adult, she appreciates and loves riding more now than ever. “The biggest difference for me showing now – I’m just riding my horse and being a horseman. I don’t have any expectations; I’m not letting the pressure get to me. I’m here to have fun and that’s the point! It has been amazing just coming to ride after work – fifteen out of ten recommend! It’s so healing.”
See the complete results for the class: Results for APHA NT1
