Sixteen year-old Bailey Anderson of Cool, Texas has it all–beauty, brains, riding talent and the support system behind her to be successful in all aspects of her life. Anderson rides under the guidance of Terry Cross and Stephen Stephens of Dry River Ranch as well as being guided by her mother, Tina Anderson, who is a well respected judge in the industry.
The current Texas Quarter Horse Youth President recently won the 14-18 Youth All Around at The Fort Worth Stock Show where she was awarded a $4,000 scholarship. “I was very excited to win that and couldn’t be more pleased with my horse. We had a great show!” Bailey told GoHorseShow. “The horse I am showing now is Krusin Krymsun or better known as Tag. I got him in May from Doug Rath in Ohio. He had only ever done the pleasure with an amateur so we have been teaching him the all-around events. He has caught on very quickly and is a horse that loves to please. He has the sweetest personality.”
Anderson says that her main mentors have been her mom, and her trainers, Terry Cross, and Stephen Stephens. “My mom, being a judge, possesses a great opinion towards the classes I show in. Also, she is always there for support and I wouldn’t be here without her,” says Bailey, a two-time Reserve Congress Champion in the horsemanship and showmanship. “I have been with Terry and Stephen since the very beginning. These two are responsible for everything I have learned with horses and for that I can never thank them enough.”
Her mother, Tina, couldn’t be more proud of her talented and well-rounded daughter, and rightfully so. “I think what her dad and I are most impressed with is that she is so dedicated to everything she does. She is an 95+ average student (with two Advanced Placement courses and Honors Pre-Calculus), plays basketball, shows steers as well as showing her horse and being President of TQHYA and the Secretary for her local 4-H club. She manages to keep up with everything, and do it well,” the proud mom states. “Horse showing is really her life, though. She just loves it, so we do all we can to keep her going!”
Anderson, a Junior at All Saints Episcopal School, agrees, “I love meeting new people and I have made the greatest friends along the way. I love being around horses and their temperament. The competition is always great, and I think it’s a great experience to have in someone’s life. Showing horses probably defines my life.”
In college, Anderson says that she aspires to ride on an equestrian team. “I think it would be such a great and fun experience to have in my life. So far on the education side, I think I’m leaning towards Chemical Engineering. I love math and science and want to try and pursue a career in those two categories. I think my horse show goals are similar to most people’s. I want to do the best I can while also presenting myself in a good manner–and of course would love to be a Congress or World Champion!”
GoHorseShow is impressed by this outstanding young lady, and we wish her luck in her future goals.
Photos © Impulse Photography
