The energy was palpable on the OKC Fairgrounds as youth from around the country came together at the AQHYA World Championship Show. The high spirits were evident in the barn area, where the themed stall decorations of each state association were proudly on display. Decoration themes ranged from basketball teams to state fair amusements - the Texas youth even brought a pet prairie dog as their association mascot! Inside the arenas I awarded Level 1, Level 2 and World Champion Level 3 classes of all disciplines to amazing horse and rider teams. I was often inspired seeing the top riders immediately praise and thank their horses when they were announced with a high placing. I know that the future of our industry and its horses will be in good hands.
Outside of the showpen, temperatures often rose to well over 100 degrees, making visits to the ice cream stand a necessity. Each day, I posed in front of giant “AQHA” letters and twirled, showing off my outfits for a social media video chronicling my looks each day. I was blessed with plenty of good company throughout the week, including Equine Chronicle’s Gordon Downey, former Congress Queen Kylie Good and her mom, Denise, as well as fellow queens from the Northern Ohio, Southern Ohio, Ohio, and Kentucky Quarter Horse Associations. On my final day at the Youth World, some of my favorite classes took place, like the Level 3 14-18 Western Pleasure and Level 3 14-18 Horsemanship. Both classes drew large crowds that were captivated by excellent performances.
As I loaded up the trailer to head to Tulsa, I was so thankful for my time at the AQHYA World Show and so genuinely happy for all the amazing youth who #gottheglobe!
After a drive across the Turner Turnpike and an unplanned trip to the Verizon store to get a new phone, it was time to begin my “queening” duties in Tulsa at the National Snaffle Bit Association World Show!
I was stationed in the awards island in the middle of the Ford Truck Arena, the arena that hosted all the incredible Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes during the show. I very much enjoyed peering out over the trophy tops to see the industry’s most talented horses in action. On Wednesday evening, one of the headline events of the show, the CINCH Horsemanship Invitational Finals, drew a large and lively crowd. Before the individual patterns, I helped present a beautifully baked pie that was auctioned off for over a thousand dollars! At the end of these jaw dropping patterns and strong railwork, Paige Rogers was crowned the champion of the class, taking home a large check. Friday showcased the famous Markel Yearling Sale! I enjoyed seeing lot after lot of promising young horses and the many industry members bidding on them.
After over a week of watching and awarding such incredible classes, I could not help but think of how wonderfully I was accommodated by the NSBA, and all of the show staff. Every morning when arriving in the building, I was greeted so warmly by the ring staff, stewards, announcers, gate crew and office staff. I am so very grateful to have had this as my final show before I head back to the Congress!
