Kaitlyn describes Georgie is an easygoing guy, who throughly enjoys his job. “We’ve tried to teach him lead changes in the off season. He can do them, but he’s not very good at going fast, as you can tell in our little victory lap! That’s his happy speed, and he would like to stay there the whole time.”

Gillespie Show Horses barn mates, Carson Click and Kaitlyn Smith, have more in common than simply being from the same training barn. They are both first time attendees at the APHA Youth World Show. They also split the top two spots today in Novice Youth 14-18 Horsemanship. Carson rode Im First N Line to win, and Kaitlyn was Reserve with Seems Like Heaven. 

“She loves to be the attention grabber, and she loves treats. When I give her a treat, she will push the door back open to get another one. She loves people.”

“I knew it was going to be good when I walked in and she sat down in the bridle before I went over the pole. Then, I got up to cadence. That’s the one thing Sara tells me is that once I get over the pole, I have to get up to cadence and stay there for the whole pattern. She’s a really fun Western Riding horse. I’ve never enjoyed it this much.”

Samantha Stubblefield and Even More Sensational were the repeat winners in 14-18 Showmanship once again this year. Not only that, but they were the unanimous champions. “I think I put a lot of pressure on myself; but, when I went in there, I tried to lay down the best pattern that my horse and I could and give it my best shot.”

“I used to hate it a lot, like a lot, but you just have to work really hard. It’s something that you can work on every day a little bit by sharpening stuff up to make it nice and flowy.”

Christian Britt is more of an AQHA man, so this is his first trip to the APHA Youth World Show to compete with his 4-year-old gelding, Grandioso. Both Christian’s father and Mitch Leonarski assist in the fitting of the impressive gelding by Mr Imprint and out of an Execute mare. “I like his size and his musculature. He’s also got a good head and neck,” Christian says.  

Becky Galyean was in the saddle of Southern Dreamin (Its A Southern Thing X Always In Yer Dreams) to win $10,000 in the Non Pro Open 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure as well as a Super Sires halter, sheet, and hat from Just Stitch It, slinky, Rowdy Silver Champion buckle, Nutrena Feed coupon, Enviro Equine, and Owl Manor Goodies.