Coming Full Circle: Bailey Anderson and Zippos Kat Man Do Win Congress Showmanship 15-18

By: Brittany Bevis

Bailey Anderson’s win this afternoon in Youth Showmanship 15-18 has been a long time coming. She’s been twice a bridesmaid but never a bride when it comes to winning a Congress Champion title. Several years ago, Anderson was named the Reserve Congress Champion in 11 and Under Showmanship. That year, her friend and fellow competitor, Paige Wacker, won the class. Today, in an interesting turn of events, the two ladies switched places with Paige Wacker taking Reserve with Ima Moxie Man and Anderson winning with Zippos Kat Man Do.

There is special meaning to Anderson’s win today considering the fact that she’s owned “Teddy” for just a few months. He was purchased just prior to the AQHA Youth World Show this year, when her show horse, Krusin Krymsun, had to be put down unexpectedly.

“I got Teddy just right before the Youth World, when we had to put my horse down,” she says. “It was a really quick thing. His name was Krusin Krymsun…”

Although she was still mourning the loss of “Tag,” it didn’t take too long to cement a new partnership with Teddy. The pair placed fifth in Youth Showmanship and tenth in Youth Horsemanship at the World Show. Anderson describes 13-year-old Teddy as a true teddy bear with a big heart and quirky personality.

“He’s been a lot of fun,” she says. “He’s a little quirky. You have to worry about him being in packs of horses, because he gets nervous really easy. [He doesn’t like] loud noises and all that stuff. But, he’s kind of like a showmanship king. He’s been a lot of fun to work with.”

Anderson currently competes under the guidance of Terry Cross and Stephen Stephens, who were first at the gate to give their client a huge bear hug to celebrate her victory. Trainers, exhibitor, and horse endured seven long hours of showmanship cuts and finals in order to be named the Champion in today’s class.

“Once you get in that group, everything is challenging,” she says. “I really wanted to make my walk really crisp. Sometimes, my turns and my backs can be hard with him. [It can be hard to] make your line sharp and exact at a good pace.”

“It was nerve-wracking, but the first go was good. I wanted to make my back better, so I did that in the finals. I really just wanted to make it to the finals, so I would say my first go was more pressure. Then, in the finals, I just wanted to have fun. Anything from then on, I was happy with.”

Youth Showmanship 15-18:

1-Zippos Kat Man Do/Bailey Anderson

2-Ima Moxie Man/Paige Wacker

3-Phat Asset/Graysen Stroud

4-Km Sudden Lil Zip/Madison Thiel

5-Invested Pine Asset/Jane Sutcliff

6-Good As Expected/Courtney Allen

7-Touch Of Sudden Luck/Abigail Pait

8-Standing Bar Time/Abigail Buckwalter

9-No Fun Being Good/Madison Anger

10-Makemyblueyebrown/Heather Griewank