Erin Nicole Mask and Only Because I’m Good Win Youth 12-14 Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

Erin Nicole Mask may be in a young age division, but she is certainly no stranger to the winner’s circle. This talented youth competitor has multiple prior Congress Championships in both Western Pleasure and Halter.

“I won the NYATT Western Pleasure yesterday, and I won the 13 and Under Novice Western Pleasure two years ago and the NYATT Western Pleasure two years ago,” she says. “Also, I was Reserve at the Youth World Show this year.”

Mask was aboard her favorite horse tonight, Only Because I’m Good, aka “Pig.” This pair currently competes under the guidance of the father/son team of Tony and Will Burris.

“She’s really sweet,” Mask says. “Her name is Pig, because she loves to eat! She was really good today, but I was really nervous, so that didn’t help any. But, when I stay calm, she calms down and then we have a better ride.”

At almost the exactly same time Mask was winning her class in the Celeste Arena, her mother, Angie Watts Schmeck, was over in the Coliseum showing her halter horse, Done With A Clu, to a Congress Championship in Amateur Performance Halter Geldings. Schmeck proudly tells us that her daughter is a third generation equestrienne.

Also here at the Congress, this multi-talented youth competitor won the Youth Performance Halter Geldings with Done With A Clu and was Reserve in two additional halter classes. Tomorrow, she will compete in 13 and Under Western Riding.

Although Mask has many horses, Pig is by far her favorite. “She’s always good, and she has helped make all my dreams come true.”

Youth 12-14 Western Pleasure–

1-Only Because I’m Good/Erin Nicole Mask

2-Sheza Home Wrecker/Hannah Wiese

3-Presidential Affair/Mallory Vroegh

4-They Call Me Jake/Kamiah McGrath

5-Shady Impulse/Haley Riddle