Taylor Searles/She Says Aloha Wins AQHYA World HUS, Deanna Green/Momma Knows Best Wins WP

By: Brittany Bevis

As the 2016 AQHYA World Championship Show quickly comes to a close, we have a few World Champions left to crown. This afternoon, Taylor Searles rode She Says Aloha to win Hunter Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was Olivia Tordoff with Too Blazin Cool.

Third place was Olivia Koontz with Zippin Hot Harley. Fourth place was Ashton Krutulis with Al I Want Is You. Fifth place was Cydney Benes with Call Me Blazin Hot. Sixth place was Haley Hartman with Al Fool Ya. Seventh place was Hannah Warren with Hot Kattitude. Eighth place was Kaylee Mellott with Only In Showbiz. Ninth was Kayla Tomilson with Hot N Sleepy. Tenth was Alysia Nielson with BMQ The Jig Is Up.

Taylor and “Daisy” have been competing at the Youth World since the six-year-old mare was just three years old. Each year, they’ve moved up in the placings; this is their first World Championship title.

“I’ve won at the Congress with her but never a World title,” Taylor says. “We were third place year, and I was so happy with that, so this is unbelievable.”

Because Taylor is 17 years old, and she has a fortunate birthday, she still has two more years left to compete at the Youth World. However, today was the first day of high school, but we’re certain her teacher will accept a golden globe in lieu of a permission slip for her absence.

After the first week of school is complete, Taylor will make her way to Tulsa, OK for the NSBA World Championship Show where she will ride Daisy’s full sister, Ms Aloha, in 3-year-old Hunter Under Saddle futurities.

Also here at the Youth World, Taylor rode Al Be Sweet On You to place fourth in Western Riding. The pair also qualified for the rail portion of Horsemanship, the semifinals in Showmanship, and the rail portion of Equitation. Next year, Taylor will bring her skills to Auburn where she will compete on their equestrian team.

Like other riders in today’s Hunter Under Saddle class, Taylor was a bit uncertain about showing in the Jim Norick right after the cows had been removed following the Ranch Sorting. Luckily, Daisy didn’t mind, too much. “When we lined up, she put her head down and snorted. I was thinking, ‘It’s a good thing you just now noticed that!'”

“She was so great and very honest. She was right there and did whatever I wanted her to do. She showed great. She always has the best expression and is very relaxed. She’s so pretty and lopes so slow, but then she has this big stride.”

Rusty Green Show Horses had quite the afternoon with both of their riders snagging the top two spots in Youth Western Pleasure. Winning the class was Deanna Green with Momma Knows Best. The Reserve World Champion was Natasha Blanchard with Only A Breeze. Third place was Abbey Rawlings with A Lazy Holiday.

Fourth place was Kylee Wiseman with Bestseatnthehouse. Fifth place was Katie Bussing with Cool Lookin Moonie. Sixth place was Justin Arrington with I Will Be A Good RV.

Seventh place was Gavin Patterson with She Will Be Hot. Eighth was Hannah Wiese with Sheza Homwewrecker. Ninth was 12-year-old Steve Wheat with Suddenly Charming. Tenth was Lauren Lounsbury with Chocolate Night Out.