Paint and Appaloosa exhibitors competed for big money July 2 in the Hopes & Dreams Barrel Racing and Pole Bending Sweepstakes at the 2016 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show. Paint exhibitors ran for $1,000 added money in the barrel racing class as part of the Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program, and the barrel racing event paid out a total of more than $3,000.
Barrel Racing
Eryn Foust caused some Saturday night commotion with a clock-stopping 15.723 to win the barrel racing sweepstakes. She pocketed $882 in winnings, including a bonus for being PBRIP-enrolled, aboard her 2004 sorrel overo mare, Friday Nite Comotion. Eryn and “Boogie” outpaced the competition by nearly two-tenths of a second, despite Boogie’s unfamiliarity with the John Justin Arena.
“She’s never been in this arena, so I felt really pleased with that run,” Eryn said. “I noticed when I went in the alleyway that the barrels were close to the wall, so I knew I’d have to push her to them way harder than I normally do. I’m very proud of her.”
Eryn is no stranger to running under the lights of the World Show—she has won two pole bending world championships and a pair of reserve world championships in barrel racing. The 13-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, has high hopes for this year after her big win in the sweepstakes.
“It feels awesome to win this kind of money. I came in with hopes, but I knew since it was Boogie’s first time in here that something might go wrong,” Eryn said. “Going in here for her first time and winning that is amazing; it gets my hopes up for the weekend.”
Pole Bending
In the pole-bending arena, Felicity Martin of Fort Worth captured the hearts of the crowd with a third-place finish in the Hopes & Dreams Pole Bending Sweepstakes and a world championship in 13 & Under Pole Bending. Decked out in a red mohawk helmet, the 9-year-old galloped to her second-consecutive pole bending world title aboard Bodacious Hank, a 1999 gray tobiano gelding.
“I feel really happy; the hard work and praying has paid off,” Felicity said. “I just tried to keep pushing him and pull him through, no matter what place we got. ‘Hankers’ did very well.”
Felicity also competed in Youth Solid Paint Bred Pole Bending aboard Slick Angel, a 2007 bay solid gelding. Felicity is training the gelding herself, and although they didn’t log the run she hoped for, the young equestrienne is happy with how her horse has progressed.
“I’m self-training him on the patterns. I like self-training because you can teach them however you want them to run the pattern,” Felicity said. “I’m just now getting used to him, but both of my horses have been doing really well.”
True to her stylish nature, Felicity looks up to champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor and hopes to achieve the same level of success. Felicity’s off to a solid start on the road to her dreams at the Youth World Show.
“I like that Fallon can get on any horse and know how to ride them and train them. She wears whatever she wants and doesn’t try to fit in with anyone else,” Felicity said. “I want to be like her and be a world famous barrel racer and hold the record time for barrel racing someday.”
For full results, check out apha.com/ywcs/results.
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.