FOR their efforts over the past 18 months, four teenage girls have been named in the Australian team to contest the Appaloosa Youth World Show in Fort Worth, Texas in June.
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Orange’s Holly Gutterson (14) and 15-year-olds Prezlea Brouggy (Dubbo), Siobhan Kurtzer (Temora) and South Australian Jessica Pascoe used last week’s National Appaloosa Show at AELEC in Tamworth to fine tune their talents before heading to Texas in June for the week of high class competition, team co-ordinator Pat Thompson said.
“They were selected on team spirit, their activities in their respective clubs and promoting the appaloosa across different horse codes over the last 18 months,” she said.
“We’ll be travelling over two-and-a-half weeks early so the girls can get used to the borrowed horses. That’s a huge thing for them to compete at high level on a horse they don’t know.
“Competition over there is huge. What we have here in one show would take in one class over there.”
For Thompson, it won’t be her first trip to Texas. She accompanied her daughter Brittnee to the same show three years ago.
“Brittnee had a ball, but it was the size of it that stood out – totally different to here.
“Riding different horses is part of the experience they’ll gain. They’re very generous there too, one lady is taking three of her own horses down for three of our girls to train and compete on.” Holly will contest the 13-15yr division while the older three will compete in the 15-18yr division. At this stage though, the Aussies aren’t sure of what events they’ll be competing in.
“It’ll really depend on what the horse is trained for. Probably the western and English classes, showmanship and equitation. They’ll basically be concentrating on getting to know the horse and the events for the first two weeks.” And to ease the financial burden, the four girls have raised an amazing $8000 each.
“They’ve done that through raffles, cleaning stables – you name it. So if there are any sponsors out there willing to help out, we’d welcome them with open arms,” Thompson quipped.