Smiles All Around During APHA/ApHC World Show Assisted Rider Classes
Nevaeh Race waves to the crowd during the CHAPS/CHAMPS Walk/Jog Supported Rider.
By: Brittany Bevis
The stands of the Will Rogers Coliseum were filled with smiling faces of supportive spectators as they held inspirational signs for riders who participated in the CHAPS/CHAMPS Walk-Jog Independent and Supported Rider Western Pleasure classes this morning.
CHAMPS stands for the Challenged Horseman and American Paints Program, a set of classes specifically designed for equestrians with medical-diagnosed conditions. The relatively new program, just approved by the APHA Executive Committee in 2015, provides points for classes based on each horse/rider combination, and those points will appear on the horse’s show record. In addition, year-end High Point titles will be up for grabs in Supported Walk-Only, Independent Walk/Trot and Independent Walk/Trot/Canter divisions!
For this morning’s World Show classes, both Paint Horses and Appaloosas were used as mounts for a few very special riders. When 8-year-old Nevaeh Race entered the arena on the 14-year-old Appaloosa gelding Prime Time News, aka “Charlie,” it was clear she was ready to compete. With the assistance of her riding instructor, Paula Gatewood, Nevaeh piloted Charlie around the pen as she enthusiastically waved to her family and friends in the crowd.
“We’ve driven over 1,000 miles to do this,” Paula says. “Nevaeh’s Grandma, aunts, uncles, and the entire family made the trip. We’re having a lot of fun!”
However, the fun was almost spoiled due to a minor accident on the trailer ride down from Kentucky. “The horse fell in the trailer on the way down here, so he’s been at the vet clinic all week. We weren’t sure we would be able to compete until last night. Everybody here has been great working on him. Even the people with the Theraplate worked on him for free.”
Thankfully, Charlie felt better this morning and was ready to help Nevaeh win a World Championship title in Walk-Jog Supported Rider Western Pleasure. As Nevaeh was announced as the new World Champion, she could hardly contain her excitement when she realized she would be getting a trophy.
“The best part was when I won all the stuff!” she says. “I like all the prizes I got. I won a baseball trophy before, but it was plastic. This is a real trophy! And I got a stuffed animal. I got two! I can’t believe it was my first time, and I won a trophy! A horse show trophy…”
John Seeger shows his appreciation for his third place finish in CHAPS/CHAMPS Independent Rider Western Pleasure.
Coming in Reserve behind Nevaeh was Carrie Phillips with Zips Kaw Chief. Coming in third was Tristan Russell with Choc Full of Promise.
In the CHAPS/CHAMPS Independent Rider Western Pleasure, the World Champion was Madison Holboke with Heaven Sent A Star. The Reserve Champion was Lindsey Phillips with Just Shockin. Third place was John Seeger with RL Good Like Sudden. Fourth was Hunter Dulin with Heza Winner By Far. Fifth place was Sarah Khaw with Amigos In Jags.
Congratulations to all of the riders who competed in today’s classes! Scroll below to view more fun photos from the event.
