Whitney Fouts of Louisburg, Kansas, hesitated to talk on the microphone. She had just won the 2009 amateur working hunter world championship with her palomino gelding, Kae Dence, and talking on the mic is part of the special routine for each new world champion. Get the neck wreath placed on your horse’s neck; sign your world champion T-shirts; ride your victory lap and throw the T-shirts to the crowd; and come back to the awards table and do your in-the-arena interview. “I am freaking out,” she said. But when asked if she had anyone to thank, she added, a bit more eagerly, “OK, yeah, ask me that.” And she had a long list that included her trainer, Paula Pray, her parents and her horse.
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