GoHorseShow recently learned about three exceptional youth riders who don’t necessarily have the fanciest horses and have not won the Congress or AQHA World. But these young women got our attention for their love of showing and the support they give each other every step of the way.
Eighteen year-old Kristen Urbanavage of Molino, Florida; 16 year-old Brooke Durden of Oak Grove, Alabama; and 19 year-old Jenna Seal from Meridian, Mississippi met each showing horses over the past few years and have become fast friends. In February, all three competitors came away with championship jackets at the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show that was held in Jackson, Mississippi.
We interviewed the three young riders to find out more about their love of showing and their friendship.
For the past eight years, Urbanavage has been showing Zippos Gold Metalist (Zip) in the all-around classes. Their favorite classes are the trail and ranch horse pleasure. This duo was the 2014 Dixie Nationals Champions in the Youth Ranch Horse Pleasure.
Kristen met her friends, Brooke Durden, at the Alabama State Championships and Alabama Quarter Horse shows and Jenna Seal while participating at the Mississippi Quarter Horse shows.
“Both Jenna and Brooke work very hard and are always ready to show,” says Urbanavage (pictured left), who is in her last year of youth competition. “I really have to work hard when I compete against them. They beat me most of the time, but, the times I beat them, I know I have earned it.”
A perfect example of Durden’s and Urbanavage’s sportsmanship was last year at the State Championship in Alabama. “Brooke and I competed in the showmanship which she won last year. She had a great go, and so did I,” Kristen recalls. “I won, but only by 1/100 of a point. You can’t be much closer than that–we were like co-winners that day. It meant a lot that Brooke was so supportive.”
Also, at the Dixie Nationals this year, Urbanavage recalls, “Jenna and I were competing in trail; we both had great goes and Jenna won it, and I was reserve. If someone was going to beat us, I’m glad it was Jenna and Zipper. They always make it look so easy.”
The college freshman adds, “All three of us keep our horses in our backyard and enjoy riding as much as we can. It’s the love of horses that means the most, no matter if we win or lose.”
Mississippi native, Jenna Seal, was born into a horse showing family that has bred, raised, and shown Quarter Horses for over 60 years. She grew up going to Palomino shows and starting the weanlings and yearlings in halter. Seal is currently showing two horses, A Tuff Golde Zipper (Zipper) and Rugged Acres (Cracker).
Seal shows Zipper (pictured left) in the all-around events and Cracker in speed events as well as trail, ranch horse, reining, and halter. Last year at the PHBA World, Zipper and Seal won three World Championships in equitation, hunter hack, and western riding, as well as Reserve Golden Horse (all-around) for the show. Seal was also 2014 Dixie National winners in the Novice Youth Trail and Stake Race.
“I don’t get to see Brooke and Kristen that often, but when we plan our shows, we always try to coordinate hotels, dinners, and other things. Some of the best conversations come from the lineup after a rail class,” Seal recalls. “We are competitive, but we never begrudge a win to each other.”
Seal continues, “I think my favorite part about showing horses is the people I get to meet from all over the country. I have learned a great deal about different aspects of the industry by going to shows out-of-state and speaking to different trainers. I would never have met Brooke and Kristen if I hadn’t started showing PHBA and AQHA. Showing horses has kept me and many other young people out of trouble, and I think of my horse show family as my own flesh and blood. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!”
The youngest of the girls, Brooke Durden is currently showing A Sudden Cowboy (Sly) in the Youth Western Pleasure and A Hot Vodka (Marti) in the hunter under saddle classes (pictured left). Brooke and Marti were the 2014 Dixie National Champions in Novice Youth, Green, and Youth Hunter Under Saddle.
“Jenna and Kristen are both extremely talented, sweet, and kind-hearted girls,” Durden states, “Our relationship with each other is just very open, we always have fun when we are together and we laugh until we cry. I always love seeing them at the shows and being able to hang out with them.”
While Seal and Urbanavage are in their last year of youth, Brooke has two more years left.
“Seeing Kristen and Jenna moving out of the youth is bittersweet because they are such good friends to show against. I am going to miss them, that’s for sure,” says Durden, who plans on getting Marti qualified for the Youth World and show at the Congress in October. “A good attitude goes a long way with me and they both have a great attitude whether they are winning or losing and I love that about them. I am truly blessed to be able to show such a special breed of horse and to have so many people who stand behind me and support me in what I do and to have such great horse show friends.”
Leaving the youth and moving up to Amateur and Open may seem like a
daunting challenge for Urbanavage and Seal but with both of them aging
out together, they won’t be alone in their first Amateur adventures. Seal says, “I
think we’ll be ready for Brooke when she moves up in a couple years!”
Photos © Shane Rux
