Around the Rings – Wednesday, May 21 at 2025 AQHA West L1 Championships
Wednesday, May 21st at the 2025 AQHA West L1 Champions was a landmark day for exhibitor Sawyer Byers. She has been here before with Ill B At The Bar at the L1 Championships in Las Vegas.
This show, however, has stood out. Why is that the case?
“It was my first time winning!” she explains outside the arena, after she and “Troy” were crowned champions in Rookie Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation.
What made the difference is simple – a lot more practice at Shannon Watters Quarter Horses. “Last time I was here, I was busy in high school (she’s in college now), but this time, I went to the barn at least once a week and was very focused,” Sawyer explains.
The element in the pattern that was stood out: getting her diagonals. “Shannon had me do lots of posting without stirrups. Oh, you did, too!” she teased her trainer, and she explains another key was not being allowed to look to see if her diagonals were correct.
Congratulations to the Byers family and to Shannon Watters! View complete results and scoresheets for the class by clicking the links below:
Rookie Amateur Equitation Results
Rookie Amateur Equitation Score Sheets
Right beforehand, Laura Forbes and He Hung The Moon kicked off the day with a championship in the first class, the L1 Amateur Walk Trot Hunt Seat Equitation. They followed it up with a Reserve in the L1 Amateur Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle.
The significance of the success of the duo, Laura explains, is that she just started riding hunt seat in January 2025! “I actually came from a cutting background, so this is all new. My daughter showed with Mike and May as well, and then I just wanted to try it.”
Laura was originally from Washington, bought “Bourbon” aka “Bourbs” as a coming two year old, and Mike and May ended up training him. “They had him for quite some time and I’ve just been slowly bringing him along and getting ready for him. And now we’re here,” says Laura. In fact, the family moved to Arizona, Laura explains, “We had to follow our best trainers!”
Laura adds that Bourbonn is sweet, kind, and really forgiving for her, and she was able to focus on keeping her lines straight, something she has really struggled with. “So I’m really happy we did that! It was fun!”
She carried that joy and determination after her win in Equitation into Hunter Under Saddle, and the team won a Reserve title. Congratulations, Laura and team! View complete results and scoresheets for the classes by clicking the links below:
L1 Amateur WT Equitation Results
L Amateur WT Equitation Score Sheets
L1 Amateur WT Hunter Under Saddle Results
Keep scrolling for some of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s candid photos!
