APHA Youth World Champions Include Kee, Heitman, Krause, Norton

By: Brittany Bevis

We had the opportunity to speak with a number of newly crowned World Champions here at the APHA Youth World Show today, beginning with a very cool, little dude, Mr. Weston Norton, who rode his horse, First Things First, to win Walk Trot Western Pleasure.

This was 9-year-old Weston’s first time at a Youth World Show, but not his first trip to Fort Worth. He’s getting started early with his involvement in the Paint Horse Association as he attended the Convention here last year.

His partner for his win was an 11-year-old gray gelding named “Hero.” This team rides under the guidance of John Kayser, who gave them some helpful advice before they entered the pen to compete. “He told me to put my hand down and stick my chin up,” he says. His favorite part of the class was the jog down the center line, “because everyone cheers,” and he was able to hear the applause from his family and friends.

Weston was particularly excited to win a buckle, ribbon, and a $500 scholarship for his future education. He would like to be a horse trainer when he grows up.

Reserve in the class was Celia Heinbuch with Stately Sensation. Third was Georgia Cook with Famous N Foolish. Fourth was Alexandra Winiewicz with One Good Cowboy. Fifth was Shelby Kee with Onlyalilblackvelvet.

Addison Krause was in the saddle of Welovepie to win Hunter Hack 18 and Under. Reserve was Ada Kallay with Gotta Be Sensational. Third was Hannah Dukes with The Big Bang Theory. Fourth was Summer Skrabanek with Big Shoes To Fill. Fifth was Haley Thomas with Hot Rod Machine.

In Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle, Shelby Kee rode Onlyalilblackvelvet to win. Reserve was Alexandra Winiewicz with One Good Cowboy. Third was Ella Herman with Diversified Times. Fourth was Izzy Hostetler with R Kid Rock. Fifth was Riley Urech with All Fancy In Red.

11-year-old Shelby and 7-year-old “Beamer” have been a team since February of this year, so their first season of competition has been met with some unusual circumstances due to the pandemic. However, she’s choosing to take advantage of APHA’s option to extend her youth eligibility, so she will compete in Walk Trot for one more year before advancing into the next age group.

Assisting Shelby with preparations for today’s class was her trainer, Stoney Richard. This was her first World Championship with Beamer, but not her first title, as she’s a well-accomplished, young rider. She’s been competing at the APHA Youth World since she was seven years old. Shelby’s favorite class is Hunter Under Saddle, because “It feels like you’re flying. Also, I like that Beamer is really tall, and he has really good mind around things, so he doesn’t get scared easily.”

After today’s big win, she’s planning to take her family and teammates out to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse.

Kaylynn Heitman rode One Lazy Cowboy to win 18 and Under Equitation. Reserve was Rebecca Figueroa with Check Required. Third was Lauren Gralla with One Flashy Sensation. Fourth was Alyvia Dixon with Ultimately Rodney. Fifth was Gianna Pozzi with Moxie Machine.

Kaylynn recently sold her double-registered World Champion mare, Hunting Blue Skies, so she’s been on the lookout for a new mount. In the meantime, she stumbled across One Lazy Cowboy, aka “Brady,” while riding at her trainer’s farm this summer.

“He’s a 7-year-old APHA gelding that Carly’s mom bred and raised,” she says. “This summer, I went out to ride my gray mare at Carly’s place, and she wanted me to work on my body position. So, she had me get on Brady, and she said that she thought we should lease him until I find my new horse.”

The match turned out to be a good one as they were named the World Champions in 18 and Under Equitation, placed third in Trail, and tenth in Showmanship.

“In Horsemanship, we had a little bobble during the flying lead change, so, for this pattern, we were going to be a little more careful with it, and it worked out. When we were practicing, he was a little fired up about the hand gallop, so I had to softly ask him, and be nice to him throughout, and it worked out really well. My personal favorite part of the pattern was the hand gallop. I feel it was very pretty.”

Meanwhile, Kaylynn has still been on the lookout for a new double-registered mount. She found him rather quickly in Monie Man, an 8-year-old gelding by Certain Potential. In fact, she also rode him here at the show, and in her first Western Riding pattern ever, they were named the Novice Youth World Champions!

Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com for more interview with winners here at the show.