Freestyle Horsemanship Champions:
Shea Graham and Lets Talk About AOK
Excerpt from Larri Jo Starkey’s article from the AQHA
“It’s part of a western riding freestyle I did a few years ago at the Oregon Summer Circuit,” said Shea Graham of Cave Creek, Arizona, the winner, who entered the ring barefoot and played tag with her horse, Lets Talk About AOK, before climbing aboard bareback. At first, she used a bridle, but then she dropped it and rode lead changes, pivots and pace changes with just a wire around “Al’s” neck.
“I’ve been practicing for about three weeks,” she said, with her mother, AQHA Professional Horseman Karen Graham, who added that they practiced bridleless every day at the show, with Mrs. Pasture’s horse cookies as rewards for good behavior.
CLICK HERE to view video
Freestyle Showmanship Champion:
Kamiah McGrath and Secrets Until Dark
Excerpt from Larri Jo Starkey’s article from the AQHA:
Many of the exhibitors included costumes and props in their musical routines. They showed off their horses’ skills by doing extreme changes of pace within the two allowed gaits, walk and trot, and by adding movements not normally seen in showmanship, such as bowing.
That last trick was shown by Kamiah McGrath, a 13-year-old whose routine to the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Thank God for Kids” included costumed friends dressed as Big Bird, Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus.
“My mom thought of it because Youth World is all about the youth,” Kamiah said.
She began developing the routine two months ago and practiced daily with Secrets Until Dark, aka “Stevie.”
“We started working on our bowing in May,” she said.
After the results were announced and the contestants made their way out of the arena, a little girl ran into the alley, enchanted by the performance. She wanted a hug from Big Bird. She got one.
CLICK HERE to view video
