There’s a t-shirt that says a girl’s best friend is her horse. While we won’t dispute that, we do know there are some unforgettable pairs that have been hitting the horse show circuits for a few years now. Their friendships have survived competing against each other at shows, including the upcoming AQHYA World Show. GoHorseShow talked to best friends, Avery Ellis and Bailey Anderson; Abbi Demel and Kaylee Mellott, and Paige Stopperich and Courtney Allen. Find out more about their longtime friendships developed through their love of horses.
Back when Avery Ellis and Bailey Anderson (pictured right) met on a plane on their way to showing in the 11 and under events at the Arizona Sun Circuit, they never would have guessed that chance meeting would extend to a lifelong friendship. “We met on the plane,” recalls Avery, who currently shows Consider Duplicated in the youth all-around events and her reiner, Twilight Rooster. “Then, later in the show, she saw that I left my jacket at the arena and brought it back to my stalls.”
The friendship blossomed into being best friends after Bailey came to stay with Avery for a week a few summers ago. Now, the pair visit each other as much as they can over the summer, and even spent their spring breaks together this year in Turks and Caicos.
At every horse show, Avery and Bailey can be seen making a beeline for the nearest ice cream stand, where they each get chocolate ice cream with lots of rainbow sprinkles—it’s a daily tradition during the AQHYA World Show.
“My favorite thing about Avery is she knows me better than anyone else, and I feel like I can be myself around her,” says Bailey, who shows Zippos Kat Man Do in the youth all-around events. “We are almost like two boys that are friends rather than girls because there is not really any drama even though she acts like a princess.”
For Kaylee Mellott and Abbi Lynn Demel (pictured left), their longtime friendship continues, even if they’re only able to see each other every three months or so. When the girls do end up at the same events, they can be found sitting in the stands watching classes and catching up on their lives and the latest gossip. Inside the ring the two compete against each other in showmanship, horsemanship, trail, equitation, and western riding.
“I don’t feel pressure when it comes to competing against Abbi, I always hope for her to do her best,” says Kaylee, who is leasing and showing Cool Assets this year. “I can always count on her being there for me and having my back.”
Abbi, who shows, There Goes My Zipper and Hope Im A Hottie, agrees, “Competing against Kaylee is no different than competing against any of my other friends, even when it comes to the World Show. No matter who is entered in the class, I know that I have to just go out there and ride my best possible ride that my horse and I are capable of on that day.”
One of Kaylee’s favorite memories of competing against Abbi was during the horsemanship at the Quarter Horse Congress—Abbi placed second and Kaylee was third. “That was the best feeling, placing high with her standing next to me,” Kaylee recalls.
Ten years ago, Abbi remembers a little business she and Kaylee had at the Texas Classic cleaning saddles. “We made quite a bit of money and wisely spent it on a stuffed animal that we would send back and forth to each other,” she says. (Kaylee and Abbi pictured right when they were younger)
All of the girls realize that one of their biggest supporters is their best friend, no matter if they’re competing against each other or just cheering them on from the stands.
“My favorite memory with Courtney would have to be after winning the equitation at the Youth World last year and walking out of the arena to see her standing there with my family and trainers,” says Paige Stopperich about her best friend, Courtney Allen. “It meant so much to me that she was there to support me and give me a hug afterwards.”
“I probably cried more than I would have if I’d have won,” laughs Courtney, the daughter of trainers Jeff and Windy Allen. “I was so happy to see all of her hard work pay off in such a big way.”
Paige, who shows, Cowboys R Hot, admits she feels a little more pressure when she’s in the same class with Courtney. But what makes it easier for the two friends is that they both know they want each other to do their best. The two go head-to-head in performance halter geldings, equitation, and horsemanship. (pictured left Paige Stopperich and Courtney Allen)
“Of course we both get a little upset when one of us does better than the other because we are both so competitive,” admits Paige. “But it never puts a strain on our friendship. We are both supportive of each other and excited when one of us does well.”
“It motivates me to do better the next time (when Paige places better than me),” says Courtney, who shows, Good As Expected.
“At the Youth World and Congress there is so much going on and we’re both so focused on what we are doing that I don’t personally feel high amounts of extra pressure from her,” continues Paige. “If anything, Courtney helps to calm my nerves.”
It’ll be even more important for Courtney and Paige to be there to help calm each other’s nerves later this fall, when the friends will also be teammates on the University of South Carolina’s Equestrian Team. “We will have much more time to be able to spend together now that we will both be at the same school,” says Courtney.
“Of course I want to win, but if anybody else were to win I would want it to be (Avery),” says Bailey. “I always get nervous watching her show because I want her to do well and I only get upset if she doesn’t do as well as she should. If I don’t make it to the finals you can bet that I will be in the stands cheering her on!”
“If Abbi places higher than me, than that means she deserved it and I’m always thrilled for her,” says Kaylee.
“I like being able to show with my friends because it makes the experience so much more fun to be able to do it with people you know,” says Avery.
But Paige sums it up best when it comes to competing against her best friend in her favorite sport: “At the end of the competition, no matter what the outcome, it’s just nice to do what I love with my best friend.”
About the Author: Megan Arszman
is a freelance writer based in Lexington, Ky., and has been covering the
equine industry for almost 10 years. She’s been lucky enough to work
for AQHA and NRHA’s publications, fulfilling a lifelong dream. A former
exhibitor herself, she currently contributes to GoHorseShow.com, American Quarter Horse Journal, Paint Horse Journal, Rodeo News, Western Shooting Horse Magazine, and the NRHA Reiner.
She is also the Digital Media Content Coordinator for Neogen
Corporation’s Animal Safety Division in Lexington, where she lives with
her husband and competes in dog agility.
