Cori Cansdale and Avery Mortman Win AQHA Youth World Showmanship
By: Brittany Bevis
Two, first-time World Champions were crowned this evening at the 2019 AQHA Youth World Show. First,
Avery Mortman led Just A Touch More to win 13 and Under Showmanship. The Reserve Champion was Carley Rutledge with VS Born To Be Good.
14-year-old Avery and her 6-year-old, double-registered gelding, “Gummy,” have had a very busy summer. They just came from competing at the APHA Youth World Show where they were the winners in 13 and Under Western Pleasure. This is their second AQHA Youth World appearance. Thus far, she has placed third in Horsemanship and sixth in Hunter Under Saddle with Western Pleasure and Equitation left to go.
“I put a lot of hard work into Showmanship, and it’s nice to see it pay off. I really want to be good at it. It gives you an adrenaline rush when you go into the pen, and perfecting every little thing is fun for me.”
Avery’s trainer, Chad Evans, helped her lay out a plan of attack for tonight’s difficult finals pattern. “We had to make sure that the back was good, and the stops are something we worked really hard on. I really liked this pattern. It added a lot of difficulty, and everyone did it a little differently.”
“Chad always tells me good luck before I go in, and that really makes me feel good. He tells me that it’s just another show and that I’ve put all the work in I can. He puts confidence in me that everything is going to be ok.”
Someone else who gives Avery confidence is her little sister, 6-year-old Savannah. “A lot of why I work really hard is to be a good role model for her so she can see how hard I work and that she can do big things too.”
Cori Cansdale is the third exhibitor here at the show, whose horse was involved in the trailer accident prior to the World Show last year, and who has come back to win a World Championship title. First, Kyla Jackson rode Cadillac In Black to win L2 Horsemanship. Then, Alexa Brown rode Corporate Credit to win 13 and Under Trail. Now, Cori has won her first World Championship title in 14-18 Showmanship with her longtime buddy, Promotional Asset. This is the first Championship title for each of these ladies.
18-year-old Cori and her 16-year-old gelding, “Chuckie,” have been a team for four years, to the day. They compete under the guidance of Nancy Renfro. Cori has been coming to the Youth World for several years, but her highest placing up to this point has been fifth in Horsemanship. This is not only her first win, but her first globe as well. When she learned she was the winner, her response was to climb the arena wall to give her mom, trainer, and best friend all hugs.
“I had to climb the wall to give my mom a hug! That’s always been my plan, if I was ever to win, was to hug my mom, my horse trainer, and my best friend, Natalia, who came all the way to the show to surprise me.”
Showmanship is Cori’s favorite class, but sometimes Chuckie doesn’t necessarily agree, which has resulted in a few bloopers over the years. “I was worried about the first walk around the bushes, because he likes to jig occasionally when I walk fast. So, I was kind of conservative. When we started trotting though the bushes, I was really happy, because he was whipping back and forth through them. When we came up the center, I was a little wary of the extended trot, because sometimes he likes to lope, but I pushed it and he didn’t feel at all like he was going to lope, so I kept pushing it. His set ups were amazing.”
“I planned on making my trot circles a little smaller than they were, but I went out there and started backing the first circle and went way farther than I had planned. Then, I had to make them both even. I made the second one just as big, and they ended up super even, and I was very happy with that. But, that wasn’t my original game plan.”
“Chuckie is pretty quirky. We’ve had quite a few mess-ups at the larger scale shows, like being disqualified at the Congress… It’s kind of hit or miss, but we’ve been pretty consistent this year, so I was very confident going into it. He’s just a character. He loves his cookies and time outside.”
Following the disappointment of not being able to attend the Youth World in 2018, when trips to this show are at a premium for youth kids who quickly age out of the system, Cori is simply happy to be here.
“I got here before my horse this year. I unloaded him out of the trailer and just seeing him safe and sound was amazing. I came and watched Natalia and all my friends last year when I couldn’t show, and I wished I was out there. It’s amazing to get back in there. I really didn’t care what happened. I wanted to have the best rides I could.”
Helping to give her a bit of extra luck this year is a key that Cori wears on a chain around her neck. It was given to her by her friend, Natalia. “EB Combs gave Natalia this key after she won Horsemanship, and Natalia had it when she won Horsemanship. Then, Natalia gave it to me. It’s a giving key, so you’re supposed to give it to someone who needs it more than you. I’m going to have to think about who to give it to…”
The Reserve Champion was Ellexxah Maxwell with Zips Bossy Chip. Third was Jojo Roberson with Greedy Ghost. Fourth was Caroline Nielson with Theonlykisstoenvy. Fifth was Rebecca Figueroa with Check Required.
