Returning Champs, Katerina Mendel and Willys On The Green, Win AQHYA World Show Hunter Under Saddle Once Again

By: Brittany Bevis

Coming into the Hunter Under Saddle Finals this evening as a returning World Champion, Katerina Mendel and Willys On The Green weren’t feeling any added pressure. Despite their success last year at the Youth World Show and Quarter Horse Congress, Mendel was determined not to have any expectations.

“It’s one of those things I never thought would happen,” she says. “It’s incredible. The first year, it was so unexpected, and I was so happy. This year is… holy smokes! What is happening?!”

6-year-old “Indy,” aka “Giraffe,” might have received a bit of extra luck from his tiny mascot, “Mini Giraffe,” who attends every horse show with the pair and serves as a lucky charm. Mini Giraffe received his place of honor aboard Mendel’s newly acquired NSBA trophy in the win photo.

“He sits in the stands with my mom or my trainer [Rosie Sheffer] and just hangs out and watches the class,” Mendel laughs.

“When I trotted in, I already felt very comfortable. I wasn’t nervous. I was ready to go with the flow. He has been doing great with me. We work very well together. With all that being said, it felt like an amazing ride. We got everything together, on time, right where we needed it.”

Following a brief celebration, and a big nap for Giraffe, Mendel will be on her way to Tulsa for the NSBA World Championship Show. After that, it’s on to the All American Quarter Horse Congress where she will wrap up her last year in the youth division with her best buddy.

“He’s a big teddy bear,” she says. “He’s a great horse, but not just that, he’s my best friend. He always makes me feel better and knows how to work with me. He’s always trying. I love his personality and everything about him.”

Hunter Under Saddle–

1-Willys On The Green/Katerina Mendel

2-Look N Hott/Cassidy Champlin

3-Cowboys R Hot/Paige Stopperich

4-Doodle Jump/Jenna Jacobs

5-Call Me Blazin Hot/Cydney Benes

6-She Says Aloha/Taylor Searles

7-Naturally Graceful/Leonie Fischer

8-Inkryminating/Jordan Gates

9-Dancin In My Sleep/Nicole Kuklinski

10-One Hot Kat/Vanessa Gillette