2022 AQHA YOUTH WORLD SHOW

Text Corrine S. Borton & Brianna Huggins Photos Shane Rux & Courtney Ament

Exhibitors from the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Africa and Sweden competed for 44 World Championship, 40 Level 2 championships and 13 Level 1 Champion of Champions titles at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Youth World Show, July 28 to Aug, 7, at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. According to the association, more than 4,400 entries and 157 first time exhibitors attended the 50th anniversary of the show. Brody Galyean, of Purcell, Oklahoma, had only been teamed with Only A Dream Machine (Lily), for a few months before capturing the World Championship title in Level 3 Western Pleasure 1418.

“We bought her at The Madness in May and my mom (Becky Galyean) showed her in Kentucky then I showed her at the Redbud and one day in Abilene, Texas,” Brody said. “But to prepare, I’ve pretty much ridden her every day at home.”

Only A Dream Machine is a 2018 bay mare by The Lopin Machine ot of Only Version.

“I thought she was moving great and any mistakes we had the first day we worked on and got them fixed to be perfect in the finals,” Brody said.

This year marks the sixth time the son of AQHA Professional Horseman Gil Galyean, has competed at a Youth World Show and he has been a bronze winner three times.

Brody, who is a senior and quarterback at Purcell High School, will now turn his attention toward school and football.

Clara Asklock, of Abilene, Texas, won the Level 3 Western Pleasure 13 & Under riding Made In The Dark, a 2015 gelding by Machine Made and out of Dark Jasmine. Hunter Under Saddle

In Hunter Under Saddle competition, Styles Sophisticated (Tex), sired by Sophisticated Only and out of Cant Miss Style won the Level 3 Hunter Under Saddle 13 & Under with Kenzie Bracken, of Trafalgar, Indiana, in the irons.

Kenzie’s family raised Tex and they still own both his sire and his dam. She has been showing the 2008 gelding for six years now.

“We are expecting a full sibling to Tex in the spring,” Kenzie said.

To prepare for the Youth World Show the team just maintained what they had built on together over the past years. Kenzie says she can’t say she rode Tex terribly hard over the summer as he knows his job and does not require a lot of preparation.

“We have been together as I’ve grown up and I’ve been showing him for six years,” Kenzie said. “We know each other well. Tex is a great, naturally talented mover with lots of ring presence.”

Kenzie and Tex also took home a bronze trophy in the level 3 Showmanship 13 & Under from the Youth World Show. Next the team will compete at the Quarter Horse Congress.

Too Blazin Cool, a 2011 gelding by Blazing Hot out of Cool Krymsun Lady, won the Level 3 Hunter Under Saddle 14-18, with Alexia Tordoff, Powell, Ohio, in the irons. Equitation

Alexa Black, of Springfield, Ohio, made her final appearance at an AQHA Youth World Show count by winning both the Level 3 Equitation 14-18 as well as the Level 3 Performance Halter Geldings class with Huntin A Hot Cowgirl, a 2015 gelding, sired by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Huntin A Cowboy. Black teamed with Hunter in November of 2020, started showing together a month later and they have been a team ever since. She said he is definitely a little bit of a quirky horse. He loves to give little nips for treats but will also sometimes decide to eat your hand off. He’s usually calm and collected but sometimes he gets excited and likes to show off.

Black worked hard to prepare for the Equitation competition.

“Even before the patterns were released, I knew there was probably going to be some no stirrups involved, so we worked a lot on that,” she said.”I’ve also been working on my leg yields all year, as well as my extended sitting trot, which was a maneuver in the finals pattern last year.”

Black said the most difficult part of the class was having to ride the whole pattern without stirrups.

“This isn’t something that typically happens where you completely take away the stirrups and don’t use them at all during the pattern,” she explained. “It was definitely more challenging.”

She feels that her extended sitting trot as well as her leg yield were two very strong parts of her pattern.

“Having a lot of pace and fluidity in the extended sitting trot was something that I worked on a lot,” she explained. “Also moving directly into the leg yield and moving over toward the wall with good pace and movement helped me.”

This year marked Black’s sixth appearance at a Youth World Show and, in addition to winning the Level 3 Equitation 14-18, she and Hunter also claimed the top prize in Level 3 Performance Halter Geldings.

“One advantage Hunter has in Halter is that he is always willing to put his ears up. He has a lot of expression along with his good conformation, and I think that s

ttt Brody Galyean and Only A Dream Machine are pictured on the opposite page accepting their award for winning the Level 3 Western Pleasure 14-18 at the AQHA Youth World Show. On this page, Kenzie Bracken takes a victory lap aboard Styles Sophisticated after winning the Level 3 Hunter Under Saddle 13 & Under.

helps his presence in the arena,” Black said. “I knew that there were a lot of really nice horses in the class that I have been showing with all year, but I tried not to worry about who else was in the pen and instead focused on showing Hunter the best I could.”

Black and Hunter were busy at this year’s World Show. In addition to Equitation and Halter they competed in Level 3 Horsemanship 14-18, placing eighth; Level 3 Hunter Under Saddle 14-18, placing ninth and they were finalists in Level 2 Trail 14-18. They ended the show as Reserve All-Around Champions in the 14-18 division.

Black is now looking forward to her freshman year at Southern Methodist University.

“I’m not quite sure where things will go from there with Hunter, but I am hoping to maybe still show him at the Congress,” she said.

In other Equitation results, Alexandra Rippeon and Itzonly Make Believe, a 2017 mare by Machine Made and out of Sophisticated Invite, won the Level 3 13 & Under Championship in a class of 28.

Trail

Meagan Braun, of Franktown, Colorado and her show partner, Showin My Ace, marked a 237 in the finals of the Trail 14-18 to collect a World Championship globe in her third appearance at an AQHA World Show.

Braun has been showing the 2013 gelding by Lazy Loper and out of Potential Advantage since 2020 and says “goofy” is the best way to describe his personality.

“His mood varies day to day but without a doubt he will always be in your face begging for peppermints,” she said. “No matter how he rode or sassy he was he never fails to make me laugh when his lip quivers at the sound of a wrapper.”

Braun said she didn’t do any one thing especially well, to win the class, but rather executed her plan really well to show the judges what Ace could do.

“I think the thing I was most nervous for was the extended lope poles and the back through,” she explained. “I’ve never shown an extended lope or had to do a back through like that. I just practiced it enough to where I felt comfortable with it and went in knowing he always shows better than he practices and he took care of all of it.”

To prepare for the class over the summer Braun and Ace went over lots of poles, but not necessarily in a pattern.

“We just made sure to have fun and productive practices to ensure Ace was prepared mentally,” she said.

In addition to Trail, Braun and Ace placed fourth in Level 2 Horsemanship 14-18 and were finalists in Level 3. They also competed in Showmanship 14-18.

Next up for Braun is college. She started classes at Texas A&M in August.

“For now, I’m trying to navigate that new chapter in my life while Ace gets his much deserved time to relax so we will see,” she ssid.

Winning the 13 & Under Trail at the 2022 Youth World Show were Lilly Ann Jones, of Reelsville, Indiana, and Chillin Ona Dirt Road, a 2011 gelding by Lazy Loper and out of Winnie Persuasion, with a score of 243. Halter

Isabella Buckley, of Hampstead, North Carolina, led Shes Rockin My Dream, to a World Championship title in

Level 3 Performance Halter Mares. The 2017 sorrel mare is by The Rock and out of Secret Dreams.

Buckley said what sets her mare apart from others in the class is her expression.

“What makes her so successful is that when she shows, well she looks amazing, she explained. “She loves to stare at weird things so once she fixates on something her ears are forward the whole time.” Buckley said the competition was tough this year.

“I was up against the previous World Champion and extremely nice horses,” she explained.

Buckley has been showing Shes Rockin My Dream for about a year now and says the mare has a great personality and is great under saddle as well.

“She’s very sweet and loving, loves to be in everyone’s business and just wants attention,” she explained.

In other Level 3 Halter competition:

ESE Extreme, sired by ESE A Looker and out of PF Extreme Supreme, and shown by Sara Lynn Sullivam, of Middletown, Connecticut, won the Yearling Geldings class of six entries.

There were also six entries in the Yearling Mares class and when judging was complete KR Dancin All Night, sired by KR Hes Xceptional and out of FF Private Dancer was declared the champion with McKenna Gibson, Ramona, Oklahoma, as exhibitor.

TNR Latte On Ice, sired by Ecredible and out of Coolatte, won the Level 2-Year-Old Geldings, with Jackson Herman, Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the shank.

She Has Secrets, sired by Best Kept Secret and out of Monstrositee, and McKenna Gibson, Ramona, Oklahoma, teamed to win the 2-Year-Old Mares class of eight entries.

Georgia Cook, of Cypress, Texas, led Jack E Boy, sired by Hez Out Of The Box and out of LilSurfer Girl, to a win in the 3-Year-Old Geldings.

Sheza Cool Sekret, sired by I Gotta Cool Secret and out of MTK Shez Elusive, was the winner of the 3-Year-Old Mares class with Grace Niebrugee, of Effingham, Illinois, leading.

Sydney Sargent, of Paris, Kentucky, captured the top spot in the Aged Geldings class with 15 competitors, with Zydaco, sired by I Gotta Cool Secret our of Shes Elusive.

When the examinations were complete, KR Xfiniti, sired by KR Hes Xceptional and out of Infiniti FX took home the gold globe with Georgia Cook, Cypress, Texas, showing for the win in the 11-entry Aged Mares class. s

ttt Pictured on the opposite page (clockwise from top): Meagan Braun and her show partner, Showin My Ace; a competitor preparing to show in Hunter Under Saddle; a Halter Class lineup; and Alexa Black and Huntin A Hot Cowgirl executing their winning pattern in Level 3 Equitation 14-18. On this page, Isabella Buckley and Shes Rockin My Dream winning the Level 3 Performance Mares Class (left) and Tierney Horton and Sudden Top Notch showing in Level 3 Youth Showmanship 14-18.

Showmanship

Tierney K. Horton, of Larkspar, Colorado, had a theory about how to prepare for the Showmanship at the Youth World Show. She limited practice time so as not to become too dull to the class.

“We went to a couple of shows and did pretty well, but after those shows I think we only practiced a handful of times,” she explained. “We've always thought less was more and that proved to be the case.”

She and Sudden Top Notch (Elvis), a 2008 gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of Semi Sweet, won the Level 3 Showmanship in a tough class of 78 competitors.

“When we first saw the finals pattern both my trainer, Chad Evans, and I knew it was a great pattern for us,” Horton said. “I think our strongest maneuvers were the backups, they were both pretty long backups. I was so excited to see that in the pattern, Elvis can back up so fast and so pretty.”

Horton said the most difficult part of the pattern was the extended walk.

“He's good at the extended walk but we had a lot of issues jogging when we were practicing, so I practiced that part a lot to make sure I wouldn't get any jog steps in there,” she explained.

Horton, who has competed at the AQHA Youth World three times before this year, also showed Elvis in Level 3 Horsemanship 14-18 and Level 2 Showmanship 14-18, placing fourth in both.

“Elvis is the sweetest happiest horse I've ever been around,” she said. “He loves attention and is always expecting treats, peppermints are his favorite.”

With 36 to show in the Level 3 Showmanship 13 & Under, Emma Grace Gore, of Croton, Ohio, captured the gold globe with her show partner, KM Genuinely Best, a 2014 gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of Genuine Goodbar.

Over Fences

Mia Haskins, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, says her show partner, Al Be Joyful, puts her best effort forward even when she’s tired.

That work effort paid off for Haskins and the 2013 mare by Allocate Your Assets out of Too Joyful To Zip, at this year’s AQHA Youth World Show as they won the Hunter Hack there.

To win the class of 22 entries, Haskins said they kept their pace very consistent throughout the whole course.

“The most difficult part to me was keeping her moving forward out of the short turns coming to the first and the second jumps,” she said.

In addition to Hunter Hack, the team of just over a year also claimed bronze trophies in Level 2 Hunter Hack and Level 3 Working Hunter Under Saddle. They placed fourth in Level 3 Working Hunter and were finalists in Level 2 Working Hunter, Level 2 Equitation Over Fences and Level 3 Equitation Over Fences.

To help them prepare for the Level 3 Hunter Hack, Haskins said they practiced in Norick Arena

“After our Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences rounds, we were all warmed up and set to go,” she said.

In other Over Fences action, Victoria Raleigh, of Palm City, Florida, guided The One You Love, a 2011 mare by Natural Iron and out of Ballyme (TB) to a win in Level 3 Equitation Over Fences with 22 entries.

CR Heza Salty Cowboy, a 2007 gelding by CC Blue Mr Tio Salty and out of Sheza Royal Snippy won the nine-entry Youth Jumping with Trinity Kernes, of Oklahoma City, in the irons.

Denim Jo Welhouse, of Poynette, Wisconsin, teamed with Naturally Immortal, a 2011 gelding by Natural Iron and out of Higland Falls (TB), to win the Level 3 Working Hunter with 24 competing.

Western Riding Grant Mastin, of Jackson, Ohio, and Hand Made Machine returned to the 2022 AQHA Youth World Show to defend their title in Level 3 Western Riding and they did just

that by recording a score of 232 in the finals of the class of 37.

Mastin says his strategy in the class is to try not to force anything with his show partner, a 2012 gelding by Machine Made out of Hot Angelina.

“Going into the finals after a long three days, I had to make sure I rode the horse that I had and not force anything to happen,” he said. “Throughout the pattern, I maintained a consistent pace and had great timing on each change, which will take you a long way anytime you step into the Western Riding arena.”

Mastin says Hand Made Machine is a really mellow horse that loves to be the center of attention. To prepare for the show he says planning is key.

“We are strategic about the shows that we go to throughout the year, so when it came to the World Show we created a plan and stuck to it,” he explained.

In addition to Western Riding, Mastin showed Hand Made Machine in Level 3 Trail 14-18, where the team placed eighth. He also showed Rain Makes Me Sleepy in the Level 3 and L2 Western Pleasure. Ranch

Quincy Clagg, of Gastonia, North Carolina put on quite the show in the Ranch classes at this year’s World Show. Teamed with Mr Great Red, a 2017 gelding by Great Red Chex and out of Our Hot Chic, she won the Level 3 Ranch Riding in a tough class of 30 competitors. She also won the Level 3 Ranch Trail with 72 entries teamed with Fancy Blue Roo, a 2009 gelding by Gallo Del Cielo out of MM Fancy Figure. Clagg said to win the Ranch Riding class she focused on being clean and precise. “My transitions were really good. And my lead change was super,” she explained. “The lead change straight across was the most difficult part.” This year marks Clagg’s second appearance at a Youth World Show and she says she worked hard to prepare.

“I got up every morning to ride and work my horses,” she explained.

In other Level 3 Ranch competition, Madison Hayden Rafacz, of Citra, Florida, and Whizenboonsmal, a 2012 gelding by Peptoleap and out of She Whiz A Star, claimed a Championship in the 14-18 division of Ranch Riding.

JT Hancocks Lil Doll, a 2007 mare by Red Tillman Hancock and out of JT Sadies Poco Dot, captured the top spot in the Level 3 Ranch Sorting with Alexia Joseph, of Bever, Utah, in the saddle. Horsemanship

In Level 3 Horsemanship 14-18 a total of 83 competed and when results were tallied, Sydney Ann Swallom, of Kirkland, Washington, was declared the new World Champion riding Almost Invited, a 2015 gelding by Invitation Only out of Fistfula Goodness.

Emma Grace Gore and KM Genuinely Best, a 2014 gelding by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Genuine Goodbar, were the winners of Level 3 Horsemanship 13 & Under.

ttt Pictured on the opposite page (top) is Mia Haskins and Al Be Joyful, winning the Level 3 Hunter Hack at this year’s AQHA Youth World Show and Grant Mastin riding Hand Made Machine to a win in Level 3 Western Riding. On this page (top) Quincy Clagg shows Mr Great Red in Level 3 Ranch Riding with 30 competitors; and contestants waiting for final results.