The youth are the future of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and on Saturday, May 19, the youth became a highlight of the 2007 NRHA Derby. The morning featured a whole host of youth ancillary classes including the new 10 & Under Short Stirrup Class.
The competition started with the Youth 13 & Under ancillary class. Emily Winegar, of Aubrey, TX, won first place on Miss Jerry Cat (Jerry Lees Surprise x Foxy Ali Cat) with a score of 212. Miss Jerry Cat is owned by Green Valley Ranch in Aubrey, TX. Winegar also won the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Regular Youth 13 & Under class.
Jordan Donnelly, of Aubrey, TX, won the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Youth 13 & Under class. Donnelly won second in the Youth 13 & Under ancillary class on her Hollywood All Star (Hollywood Dun It x Judy Elderberry) with a score of 211.
Up next was the Youth 14-18 ancillary class. Christy McElreath, of Prosper, TX, won with a score of 214 on her Tejons Impy (Tejons Peppy Doc x Hot Stuff Renae). McElreath also won the AQHA Youth 14-18 class.
The Derby crowd was also treated to one of the NRHA’s newest classes offered for the youngest reiners. It’s the Youth 10 & Under Short Stirrup class. The youngsters rode Pattern #11, a modified pattern created especially for the little ones. As each child went through their pattern, the crowd whistled and cheered them on. It was quite an accomplishment for them to guide their horses when their boots barely cleared the saddle pads. Andee Bradford, a 10-year-old from Plano, TX, won on Chics Velvet Lady (Smart Chic Olena x Texas Velvet Lady), owned by Mark Bradford also of Plano.
Other young reiners who competed in the 10 & Under Short Stirrup class include Alexa Beaty, from Aubrey, TX, Colleen Bridges, from Weatherford, TX, Cade McCutcheon, from Aubrey, TX, and Ben Wagman, from Talala, OK.
