Youth riders, youth programme and youth world cup - American Quarter Horse Association of New Zealand

New Zealand team results
	Show One	Show Two
Trail	5th Steffi Young 8th Georgia Higgins	8th Steffi Young
Hunter Under Saddle		5th Kristin Gribble-Bowring
Western Horsemanship	4th Steffi Young
Western Riding	9th Steffi Young	4th Steffi Young
Showmanship
Cutting	9th Steffi Young	7th Steffi Young

HORSES Drawn by Team NZ
Final Devotion (owned by Tara Altman)
Mr Te Skips Softly (Susan Campbell)
Redfords Next Star (Barbara/Jim Lockyer)
The Lasting Star (Jack/Kyla Simpson)
Triple My Stars Next (Kelly Sparks)

Schedule for Youth World Cup 2008 - click here to see what they'll be up to from 5th - 13th July 08 in London, Ontario, Canada. Not long to go!

Team Biographies

Georgia Higgins
Age: 14
Grade in School: Year 10
Email: goldenhills@quarterhorse.co.nz
Have you participated in the AQHA Youth World Cup before? If so, what was your best memory from the event? No
How did you become involved in showing American Quarter Horses? My Mum breeds them so I have been around them all my life.
What are your favorite AQHA events and why? Showmanship, Western ridinq and Trail. I like these events because I enjoy ridinq patterns.
What do you like best about showing American Quarter Horses? Their athletic ability , Trainability and intelliqent nature.
What are your other hobbies and interests? Basketball, Rugby, Athletics and Readinq.
What is one thing you are looking forward to during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Meeting all the different people from around the world, making new friendships and riding quality show horses.
What is one thing you would like to do or see during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Visiting the western show clothing and equipment stores as we don't have many stores at home.

Kristin Gribble-Bowring
Age: 16
Grade in School: Year 12
Email: bailifscourt@xtra.co.nz
Have you participated in the AQHA Youth World Cup before? If so, what was your best memory from the event? Yes, I participated at the 2006 YWC in Amarillo, Texas… My best memory would be the opening ceremony when Team NZ walked in and they played our national anthem, it was one of the most emotional things I have experienced.
How did you become involved in showing American Quarter Horses? I started off riding English, then later met some western performance youth and brought my first quarter horse named Settenna Cracker. I was seven years of age.
What are your favorite AQHA events and why? Though I enjoy showing in all events, my favorite would have to be reining for speed and precision of the class, it is extremely challenging and gives you a huge adrenaline rush!
What do you like best about showing American Quarter Horses? Their versatility and willingness to adapt to any event
What are your other hobbies and interests? Though most of my time is put into riding and competing my horses, I also enjoy volleyball, swimming and doing drama performances.
What is one thing you are looking forward to during the 2008 Youth World Cup? I am really looking forward to representing my country and doing the best I can. I am also very excited about meeting new people and seeing old friends.
What is one thing you would like to do or see during the 2008 Youth World Cup? My goal is to do the best I possibly can for my country and improve my riding. I am looking forward to doing the Clinic's to help me achieve this.

Steffi Young
Age: 19
Grade in School: n/a Working
Email: dave.marg1@actrix.co.nz
Have you participated in the AQHA Youth World Cup before? If so, what was your best memory from the event? Yes I completed in the 2006 WC. My best memory would have to be out team doing our "gumboot" skit together on the last night, it was so fun!
How did you become involved in showing American Quarter Horses? My parents have been involved in showing horses for over 25 years and I grew up riding them from the age of 3.
What are your favorite AQHA events and why? My favourite events are still cutting and western riding. I love the thrill of cutting when you have a really good run and I love the difficulty of laying down a good pattern in western riding.
What do you like best about showing American Quarter Horses? The versatility of the breed and their trainability
What are your other hobbies and interests? I enjoy art, snowboarding and being outdoors and working with animals.
What is one thing you are looking forward to during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Meeting people from other teams and improving knowledge on training and showing the quarter horse. I am also looking forward to working with the trainers that the WC is offering
What is one thing you would like to do or see during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Being part of the opening ceremony at my first World Cup. I would love to see our team work together well and do the best we can. I would also like to visit a local training/breeding establishment.

Mikel West
Age: 17
Grade in School: n/a
Email: Westweaver@xtra.co.nz
Have you participated in the AQHA Youth World Cup before? If so, what was your best memory from the event? No I have not competed in the AQHQ Youth World Cup before.
How did you become involved in showing American Quarter Horses? Thru a neighbour asking If I would exercise her Quarter Horse for her.
What are your favorite AQHA events and why? My favorite AQHA event is Trail because I love the technical side to it.
What do you like best about showing American Quarter Horses? The placid nature and versatility of such a beautiful animal
What are your other hobbies and interests? shopping, being with friends, and family and just having a good time.
What is one thing you are looking forward to during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Meeting new people from other countries and representing New Zealand, also getting the chance to compete on different horses.
What is one thing you would like to do or see during the 2008 Youth World Cup? just enjoy the experience of the whole trip and meeting new people from all over the world

Kayla Drake
Age: 13
Grade in School: Year 9
Email: drakey1@xtra.co.nz
Have you participated in the AQHA Youth World Cup before? If so, what was your best memory from the event? No
How did you become involved in showing American Quarter Horses? As a family we love Western Riding and that we found Quarter Horses are the best to do that with.
What are your favorite AQHA events and why? Western Pleasure because it is a challenge every time, Cutting because I like the way the horse moves underneath you and the competition of you and the cow and I also like Hunter Under Saddle because I like the way the horses stretch's out.
What do you like best about showing American Quarter Horses? Best thing about showing Quarter Horses is that they are always willing to work and have an awesome personality and heart .
What are your other hobbies and interests? Basket Ball & Cross Country , spending time with family and friends
What is one thing you are looking forward to during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Meeting all the youth & riding different horses.
What is one thing you would like to do or see during the 2008 Youth World Cup? Being part of the opening ceremony at my first World Cup.