Burgess, Christensen, and Gralla Win AjPHA Youth Hunter Under Saddle Titles

By: Brittany Bevis

Three lovely ladies were crowned the winners of the Youth Hunter Under Saddle classes this afternoon at the 2015 AjPHA Youth World Show. First, Ms. Cara Christensen rode Good and Rite to a World Championship finish in Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle. She was followed in Reserve by Harper Smith with Double Shot of Scotch. Rounding out the top three was Taylor Eller with Sonny Dee Zippin.

Ms. Lauren Gralla rode A Sudden Legacy to a win in 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was Samantha Stubblefield aboard I’m Zipped All Right. Third place was Caroline Nielson with Sensational Dee.

The 14-18 division was the largest of the Hunt Seat classes with three splits and a finals. When the judges’ cards had been turned in it was Taylor Burgess and David Buckham who claimed their first World Championship title. Coming in a close Reserve was Marguerite Camp with Radicalized. Third place was Abigail Love with I’m Axle Rose.

15-year-old Burgess and David Buckham, aka “Rodney,” have been a team for one year now. In fact, their first horse show together was the 2014 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show. Burgess has prior Pinto Reserve World Champion titles and one AjPHA Reserve World Champion title, but this is her very first AjPHA Youth World Championship.

“I was a little nervous, because I didn’t know I’d won until they called it out,” she says. “I was completely shocked! It’s amazing because he’s only won open titles before, so it’s very exciting to be the first youth kid to ever show him.”

“Hunter Under Saddle has always been my favorite class, and Rodney is so big and beautiful. I like big typey horse, and I’ve always had really big horses. He is probably 17 hands!”

Rodney and Burgess currently compete under the guidance of Scott Suggs Show Horses.

“Rodney has quite the personality. He is an in-your-pocket horse. He loves to be touched, and he likes carrots as treats.”

Before Burgess heads back home to New York she plans to take everyone out to celebrate for sushi in downtown Fort Worth!

14-18 Hunter Under Saddle:

1- David Buckham/Taylor Burgess

2- Radicalized/Marguerite Camp

3- I’m Axle Rose/ Abigail Love

4- BMQ The Jig Is Up/Kimmy Shidler

5- Fascination Sensation/Georgia Vernal

Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle:

1-Good and Rite/Cara Christensen

2- Double Shot of Scotch/Harper Smith

3-Sonny Dee Zippin/Taylor Eller

4- Fancy Sneakers/Kendal Fellegy

5- Zippos Final Glo/Lanna Kidd