It is often said that the people who are meant to be in our lives always gravitate back to us, no matter how far they wander. I believe the same thing happens with horses.
Throughout my youth career, I have been able to show numerous horses that have helped make my dreams come true. However, I never would have imagined that I would be reunited with my one of my old teammates, Ima Moxie Man “Frog”, to show at my final youth world show in showmanship.
We were introduced to each other at the 2012 Congress and showed later that week; never would I have thought we would end up winning the 12-14 Showmanship after only seven days of working together. I showed him the rest of the year until the 2013 Congress, where we ended up the Reserve Champions in the 15-18 Showmanship.
Frog and I have a very unique relationship to say the least. We test each other to make sure we are both on the same page, but come together when it is time to show. He has become my best friend and we understand each others strengths and work together to better our weaknesses. Having a give and take relationship in my opinion is what makes Frog and I a team. He does like to flip his lip up at me when he is feeling sassy, so we have spent numerous hours bonding in longing lines.
Frog holds a very special place in my heart for all the life lessons he has taught me and has reinforced that hard work and persistence makes anything possible. Even though this is my last youth world show performance, I am going into it so grateful that Tiina Volmer is allowing me to show Froggy again and excited to be able to show my favorite class, showmanship. A couple of months ago, I did not think I would even be able to show, so I am taking in every moment with a smile on my face and in my heart.
I used to fall asleep watching finals of world show showmanship videos, so I guess you can say I love it and may be obsessed. Frog and I are picking up right where we left off, and I can honestly say it feels like we never spent a day apart. I have been getting myself in shape as well by running three miles a day, so I can keep up with Frog and his never ending energy.
I am grateful for every bump in the road because it has molded me into the person I am now and I can’t thank my family, The Volmer’s and my trainers Robin and Jenny Frid for their never-ending support.
With everything that’s happened throughout my youth career (Jackson “Clearly A Goodbar” dying of enterolithiasis, retiring Zeus “Vested Asset” because of a torn suspensory, etc.) I have been inspired to become an equine veterinarian in an effort to spare another young girl or boy of the heartaches I have endured. I am currently studying Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University.
Kaylee Mellott
I am not the only youth who will be reunited with their beloved show partner for their last youth world show. Kaylee Mellott of Andover, Kansas will be showing her old teammate, Only In Showbiz “Juan”, at the 2016 Youth World Show. Kaylee first got Juan when he was four years old at the Quarter Horse Congress. She fell in love with him after her first ride on him and said “He’s had my heart ever since.”
Her dad, Jeff Mellott and Highpoint Performance Horses then taught Juan the all around events so she eventually started to show him in the horsemanship, western riding, equitation and hunter under saddle. Kaylee and Juan have proven to be very successful in the show pen. They showed at the Congress two years in a row and ended up 12-14 All Around Champions and 15-18 All Around Champions.
Additionally, Kaylee also showed him at two Youth Worlds, where her main successes were Reserve World Champion in the western riding and third the next year in the western riding.
Unfortunately, they sold him after the Congress that year. But they recently were reunited this past January and continued their accomplishments by being horsemanship circuit champions at the Arizona Sun Country and Redbud Spectacular.
Kaylee describes Juan as, “The most talented and big hearted horse that I have ever owned. He is such a happy and sweet horse who gives 100% every time I go into the arena. We both know and trust each other completely which is one of the reasons I believe we have the strong connection that we do. He’s my other half and will always be number Juan in my heart.”
With this also being Kaylee’s last youth world, she is not going to prepare for this youth world any different than she has the past ones. She said, “Everyday is spent perfecting the maneuvers that will be expected in the show arena to the best of our ability. Going into my last youth world, I have the mentality of whatever is going to happen will happen and at the end of the day I’m so grateful it was spent with Juan by my side.”
After finishing her youth career, Kaylee’s plan is to continue as a collegiate equestrian athlete at Baylor University and show her other horse, Sleeptite (Brad), in a few amateur classes.
Something New
With acknowledging old teams being reunited to compete at this years world show, I wanted to showcase the up and coming youth that are showing at their first world show.
Isabella D’Onofrio
Isabella D’Onofrio is an 11 year old from Upper Arlington Ohio. She will be showing her horse, Just Good Enough, “Roanie” for the first time at the youth world show this year. Isabella started showing two years ago in small fry all around events. After only two years of showing, Roanie and Bella nationally qualified in showmanship. She said he is a “showmanship machine” and it is their favorite class together.
When asked about her relationship with her horse, Bella described Roanie as, “An awesome horse with a great personality. He makes funny faces when you scratch him in the perfect spot.”
She told me his favorite spot is on the left side of his neck right in front of his withers and he loves peppermints.
With this being Bella’s first world show, she is most excited about “getting to walk down the Gateway of Champions and getting to see [herself] on the jumbo screen.”
In addition, Isabella is also looking forward to being apart of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association Youth World Team at the parade of teams. She also thinks making the stall decorations will be super fun. Bella and Roanie are ready and ecstatic to be attending and competing at their first world show.
Kade Gower
Another newcomer to the 2016 AQHYA World Show is Kade Gower. Kade is a 15 year old from Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada and will be showing his two horses, Design By Leaguer and She Made It Happen.
Kade has been riding for five years now but has been showing Bevis (Design By Leaguer) and Skyler (She Made It Happen) for the past year and a half. I asked Kade what he was most looking forward to with showing at his first world show and he said, “I am looking forward to representing my province of Alberta and the experience of showing at such a prestigious show. The World Show is as big as it gets and I am very excited to get to show at it for the very first time.”
I then asked Kade to tell me a little about his horses and what makes them so special to him. He replied, “Design By Leaguer (Bevis) is pretty quirky. He is 23 years old and can still act like a two year old some days. I have the best bond with him. He takes care of me on the trail course and has taught me the most out of any horse I have ever ridden. She Made It Happen (Skyler) is my brother (Cole’s) horse that I have the privilege of showing. She can be a bit of a diva but when you enter the arena to show she gives you 100%. She is really special to our family.”
Kade mentioned that both Bevis and Skyler love animal crackers and peppermints. He said, “They can eat their weight of them.”
Cori Cansdale
Cori Cansdale, a 15 year old from Laguna Beach, CA will be piloting her gelding, Promotional Asset (Chucky) at their first youth world show together this year. They have been showing together for 11 months and have come together quite quickly.
This week in Las Vegas, they were the horsemanship champions. Cori has been riding since she was five years old and started competing when she was seven. She is most looking forward to “showing in the trail the most because lately Chuck and [her] have been clicking in that event.”
I asked Cori to describe her relationship with her horse and she said, “Chuck and I have a really good relationship even though we’ve been a team for a short amount of time I trust him inside and outside of the show pen.”
She also said Chucky’s favorite treats are carrots. He gets them after every ride together (a good bribing strategy). Chucky and Cori are going to be competing in performance halter geldings, horsemanship, showmanship, trail, and western riding.
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Whether this is your first or last world show, it will be filled with memories and lessons that you will take with you for the rest of your life. This year is full of many firsts and many lasts for youth competitors all around the country. It is hard to accept that this is my last year of youth eligibility, but I am excited to see the up and coming youth make their dreams with their horse(s) come to life.
