The American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup is more than just a competition – it offers a chance for international American Quarter Horse enthusiasts to learn from the industry’s leading riders and trainers.
American Quarter Horse youth competitors from around the world will flock to central Texas on July 2-14, 2014, for an international showdown.
The American Quarter Horse Association Executive Committee accepted a bid from the Bryan College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau for the 2014 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup to be held at the Brazos County Expo in Bryan, Texas, near Texas A&M University.
The proximity of the Youth World Cup location to the Texas A&M campus provides an ample amount of opportunities for the event. Youth World Cup team members and their coaches and supporters will have the chance to tour one of the world’s leading veterinary schools and equine science programs.
“The community and Texas A&M University stand ready and willing to make this the best Youth World Cup ever,” said Dennis H. Sigler, state horse specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension. “Texas A&M can contribute in many ways to the success of this event.”
The opportunities that exist by hosting the Youth World Cup at the Brazos County Expo have AQHA more than excited for the 2014 event.
“I have been involved with the Youth World Cup for quite some time: as an AQHA judge, AQHA Professional Horseman and now as an employee of AQHA,” said David Avery, director of international affairs. “I’ve been to every Youth World Cup since its inception and I truly believe that holding the event in the College Station, Texas, area, will make this be hands-down the best Youth World Cup yet!”
The Brazos County Expo boasts six versatile facilities, providing ample space for the 2014 event. The facility is home to the Texas A&M University Women’s Equestrian Team and also plays host to several AQHA shows a year.
In addition to tours of world-class equine facilities during the Youth World Cup, AQHA has several other proposed tours planned, such as tours of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the home of Texas’ favorite ice cream, Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, Texas.
AQHA is also excited to announce that during their stay in College Station, Youth World Cup competitors will have the chance to stay at The Tradition, a campus apartments managed community.
The Youth World Cup is an international event that is held every two years and is hosted by a different country each time. The 2010 Youth World Cup was held in Oklahoma City and boasted a competition between 16 countries. The 2012 competition will be held in Kreuth, Germany.
The impact that the Youth World Cup has on team members and supporters lives is monumental.
“I profoundly believe in the value of the Youth World Cup, because I have over and over personally witnessed the caring, sharing spirit of our youth from around the world as they come together to celebrate their love of American Quarter Horses,” said Wanda Waters, former Team USA manager.
“It’s amazing to see where Youth World Cup leads competitors. These are the riders who go on to be industry leaders in their countries,” said Avery. “Just at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games alone we had four international riders who had come up through the Youth World Cup ranks. Jessica Sternberg, who back in the day rode at the Youth World Cup for Team United Kingdom, was one of those four riders at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and she’s also had so much success in National Reining Horse Association competition.”
However, the Youth World Cup is more than just a competition – it offers a chance for international American Quarter Horse enthusiasts to learn from the industry’s leading riders and trainers.
While at the event, five youth plus one coach and manager from each country will take part in educational seminars, discipline clinics, leadership training and, finally, competition. Five additional youth from each country are invited by each international affiliate to attend the education and leadership portion of the week’s events and to cheer on their teammates.
To level the playing field, competing Youth World Cup team members do not show their own horses. The host country provides each team’s horses for clinics and competition. AQHA relies heavily on AQHA Professional Horsemen and owners to supply this event with the best American Quarter Horses around.
At the 2010 event, clinics were taught by renowned reining trainer Shawn Flarida; AQHA cutting and working cow horse world champion Boyd Rice; cutting and western pleasure trainer Gil Galyean; AQHA Professional Horsemen Charlie Cole, Casey Hinton, Robin Frid, Carla Wennberg, Andy Moorman, David Dellin and Teddy Johnson and AQHA judge Holly Hover. Kenny Knowlton, AQHA international committee chairman of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Marilyn Randall, AQHA youth committee chairman, were also very key to the success of the 2010 Youth World Cup.
For more information, visit www.aqha.com/showing.
