February 09, 2012
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July 31, 2009

The Patterns of Youth Nationals

Sara Lohbauer and Bailamos LOA

It was one of those perfect horse show mornings. Friday broke clear and beautifully cool. The mountain east of Albuquerque was that lovely blue-green you only see in the southwestern parts of America. Every class in every ring on the Fairgrounds is a final championship today. There is no turning back, no time for complicated, multi-day strategies, there is, literally, only one tomorrow for the 2009 Youth Nationals.

The day was rife with some long classes sprinkled here and there with different sorts of pattern competition. One of the toughest was the early morning Reining Horse JTR 14-17 in the Horse Arena. Even in Youth competition the atmosphere at reining classes is decidedly different from the rest of the show. These are the Arabian breed's real cowboys and they know it. Few personify that image better than the LaRae Fletcher Powell boys. From a multi-generational family of working horse people, Skylar and his brothers are quiet, polite and work hard at their riding. Skylar won the roses in this class on TA Giovanni with a significantly high score, and then came back to win again in the Freestyle Reining in the Tingley at the end of Friday's show. In the Hunter Seat Equitation, a different sort of pattern competition, the Desiderio family from the east often takes the lead. Such was the case Friday with Anthony winning the HA Hunter Seat Equitation Not To Jump JTR 14-17 unanimously with his TL Foolin Around+//, and his little sister Alex taking the roses (also unanimously) in the Hunter Seat Equitation Not To Jump JTR 13 & Under with Breakaway PA. Of course, the Saddle Seat Equitation is the "Queen" of these patterned competitions and last night Alexis Muniz and Astro Man added the HA JTR 14-17 to their 2009 Youth Nationals wins.

Speaking of patterns, the Youth Nationals has set a fine one by cleverly combining fun, light-heartedness and playful pursuits at the show with serious competition. I know we did it for the kids, but this is one pattern we could all learn to happily ride for growth and betterment.

Emily Howser and Hisho	Holding up the rail

	Lucky Saddle