Michelle Vanrusselt of Belgium Wins First APHA World Title in Novice Amateur Equitation

By: Brittany Bevis

20-year-old Michelle Vanrusselt  has been making an annual trek to the United States from her home in Belgium for the past four years. This year, she was able to lease the APHA gelding, Huntin An Invitation, who belongs to APHA youth competitor, Lillian Woodruff, to compete here at the 2017 APHA World Championship Show.

Today, she won her first World Championship title with “Hunter” in Novice Amateur Equitation. This is only Michelle and Hunter’s second show competing together. They showed for the first time at the Paint Horse Congress earlier this year and were named the Novice Amateur High Point Champions.

In Michelle’s hometown, near Brussels, Paint Horses aren’t very common. She typically works with Quarter Horses back home, so she was excited to spend some time with a flashier variety of equine.

Assisting Michelle and Hunter today with preparations for the class were US-based trainers, Brian Isbell and Scott Suggs, whom she met through a fellow trainer specializing in Appaloosas, Mark Shaffer. “Mark came over to Europe to do a clinic, and he encouraged me to fly over that year to show at the Appaloosa World Show. Then, I met Scott Suggs, who had horses at the show at the time. I rode with Scott a lot and then, from meeting him, I met Brian Isbell.”

Michelle is thankful for the opportunities she’s been given to work with a variety of trainers here in the states, all of whom have taught her valuable knowledge about their disciplines of choice. She especially relied on Brian’s expertise today to hone her body position. “I think my seat was pretty good today,” she says. “My first trot off was really good, and I think that really makes your pattern. Hunter stayed down in the bridle and never came out. The lope offs are challenging for me, because I have to work hard to keep him in the bridle and get the transitions at the correct spots.”

Later on here at the show, Michelle and Hunter will compete in Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Trail, Horsemanship, and Halter. In October, they will be tagging along with Brian as he heads to the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. Michelle has never had the opportunity to attend before, and she’s very excited to experience all that the largest single-breed horse show in the world has to offer.”

The Reserve World Champion in today’s class was Hailey Falk with Sensationally Silver. Third place was Megan Burke with He’s Just Cool Too. Fourth place was Amy Novacek with Sensationalsugardaddy. Fifth place was Allyssa Priester with Zippin Bye You.