WSF results: Competitors showcase talent during annual youth horse show

4-H and FFA youth from across the Cowboy State came together to showcase their talents during the annual Wyoming State Fair (WSF) Youth Horse Show, held Aug. 12 in Douglas.

Exhibitors across three age divisions competed in several events, testing their showmanship skills during in-hand halter classes, as well as their horsemanship skills across several performance competitions comprising Western and English disciplines. 

Halter results

In the mare four years and younger category, Lindsey Thomas of Goshen County 4-H placed first, followed by Sydnee Vanderpool of Douglas FFA in second.

In the mare five years and older category, Carolina Navarro of Wright FFA came in first, while Miranda Smith of Niobrara County 4-H placed second.

In the gelding four years and younger class, Dani Martin of Goshen County 4-H ranked first, and Thomas earned another ribbon, placing second.

In the gelding five years and older class, Merrilee Michael of Converse County 4-H reigned supreme, followed by Meredith Kennedy of Fremont County 4-H in second.

Overall Grand Champion accolades were awarded to Michael and Navarro, while Thomas earned reserve champion overall honors.

Senior performance results

Thomas picked up several more first-place finishes in the senior performance events, earning top scores in the hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, Western pleasure, Western horsemanship, ranch riding, trail and reining competitions, in addition to placing second in the senior Western riding and working cow horse. 

Kaitlyn Snyder of Campbell County 4-H earned first-place ribbons in hunter hack, Western riding and working cow horse, as well as second place in hunt seat equitation, Western pleasure, ranch riding and reining.

Taebyn McGinley of Campbell County 4-H earned second-place ribbons in the hunter hack and trail divisions. 

Teeka Baker of Sheridan County 4-H took second in the Western horsemanship division, and Taylor Hernandez of Green River FFA took second in the hunter under saddle competition. 

In the barrel racing, Izabelle Pedri of Sweetwater County 4-H took first place, followed by Shae Smith of Albany County 4-H. Smith earned another second-place finish in the pole bending, while first place went to Cheznee Mackey of Uinta County 4-H.

In the goat tying, Paisley Chadwell of Platte County 4-H earned first place, followed by Royal Kremers of Niobrara County 4-H.

Intermediate performance results

Will Kruse of Niobrara County 4-H collected several top finishes in the intermediate performance horse events, including first place in ranch riding and box drive and second place in the reining and trail classes. 

Kendra Bauder of Platte County 4-H placed first in Western pleasure and Western riding, as well as second in hunt seat equitation and ranch riding. Fellow Platte County 4-H’er Tra Bauder placed second in hunter hack and Western riding.

Lexi Free of Teton County 4-H took first in the hunt seat equitation and hunter hack contests, as well as second in hunter under saddle and Western horsemanship.

Mikah Raley of Sheridan County 4-H collected first place in the hunter under saddle and Western horsemanship contests.

Michael placed second in the Western pleasure division, and Deklan McGinley of Campbell County 4-H earned first place in the trail competition. 

In the barrel racing, Claire Jackson of Campbell County 4-H took first, followed by Teagin Savage of Laramie County 4-H. 

In the pole bending, Elizabeth Severude of Shoshoni FFA placed first, followed by Quinn Schneider of Laramie County 4-H.

In the goat tying, Teigen Derner participated for Laramie County 4-H and Burns FFA to take both first and second places. Derner also earned second place in the box drive competition. 

Junior performance results

Natalie Sampers of Niobrara County 4-H placed first in the hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation contests, as well as second in Western horsemanship.

Kate Palen of Platte County 4-H collected second-place finishes in the hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation contests.

Callia Scribner of Fremont County 4-H finished first in Western horsemanship, ranch riding and trail, as well as second in reining.

Darcy Martin of Goshen County 4-H placed first in Western pleasure and second in ranch riding. 

Levi Brandemuehl of Converse County 4-H placed second in the Western pleasure class and first in the cattle boxing competition. First place in cattle boxing went to Jocelyn Morgan of Fremont County 4-H, who also placed first in the reining contest.

Emily Kruse of Niobrara County 4-H earned second-place ribbons in the Western riding and trail contests. Novalee Anderson of Sheridan County 4-H took first place in hunter hack, followed by Zinnia Barton of Crook County 4-H in second. 

In the barrel racing, Sage Derner of Laramie County 4-H earned first, followed by Connor Clark of Niobrara County 4-H in second. The pair swapped placings in the pole bending, with Clark earning first and Derner placing second. 

Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.