THE top Quarter Horse kids from across the world will tough it out at the 20th American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Cup at Tamworth this week.
About 110 Quarter Horse members between the ages 13 of 18 are competing at the event, hosted by the Australian Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) held at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre.
Teams from 13 nations – Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Britain and the United States – took part in an opening ceremony last Friday before competition began with cutting events on Sunday.
The event, only held outside the US every two years, includes a series of clinics from the top horsemen in the US and Australia.
AQHA marketing co-ordinator Vanessa Roach said more than 100 donated horses would be used for the week.
“The horses are all on loan from AQHA members – they’ve been trucked from NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria,” Mrs Roach said.
“As well as horses, we’ve had to supply each visiting rider with two saddles – western and English – and they’ve all come from Australian members.”
Competition began on Sunday with the cutting, with both rounds won by American teenager Austria Arnold
“Cutting was her discipline – she came for one event and won the gold,” Mrs Roach said.
Competitors now have western pleasure, hunt seat equitation showmanship, ranch riding, reining and trail competitions ahead of them tomorrow and Saturday.
“The youth world cup is about forming friendships and being able to do clinics and learn the finer points of each discipline from the best in the business,” Mrs Roach said.
”Every competitor is on a horse they’ve never ridden before – even the Australians have no advantage, because we’ve graded horses into groups so that each group of horses has the same level of ability.
“That's what the youth world cup is all about – being able to get on a horse you don’t know, find all the buttons and compete successfully.”
The Australian team (pictured above) includes Bonnie Grosso Oaklands Junction, Victoria; Adam Salt, Teesdale, Victoria; Natasha Rapley, Woolomin; Kasey Wise, Girgarre, Victoria; Kylie Phillips, Bowen, Queensland; Krystee Muscat, Walkerston, Queensland; Lana Kelderman, Glenburn, Victoria; Rachell Robinson, Collinsvale, Tasmania and Sarah Mammone, Horsley Park.
The event ends on Sunday with an awards breakfast.
