Lexington, KY – It was a good day to be a first timer at the 2006 United States Equestrian Federation® Youth Reining Championship. The winners in all three divisions were first-timers to the Championship. Taking the title in the 13 and under division was McKenzie Lantz, 13, from Fremont, MI with a score of 213.5. The blue ribbon winner in the 14-18 division was Ian Barnard, 17, of Kendallville, IN with the high score of 221. The gold medal winner in the 19-21 division was Heather Dudley, 21, of Erie, PA with a score of 210.5.

The Championship was held this afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY as part of the Clayton Woosley Hall of Fame Reining. All riders in the Youth Championship, regardless of age division, rode USEF pattern 5.

Lantz purchased her eight-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, Royalee Rundy, earlier this year but has a long history with her mount. She showed him last year at the National Reining Horse Association’s Futurity & Championship Show when her horse went lame, and her mother showed the horse before that.

“It was a pretty nice ride. I was getting a little frustrated in the center. There was a big bug or something on him so he was moving around a lot. It was definitely one of our better rides, though.”

Barnard and his horse, Got It Dun, a six-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, have only been partners since March. He bought the horse from Tim McQuay, with the help of Dan and Wendy Huss, who also helped him train the horse.

“He’s the kind of horse that no matter how hard you ride him he’s very gentle-minded, he never really scowls at you. He’s a really tough horse and he’s been through a lot. I’ve been showing him quite a bit.”

When asked if he thought he’d do this well at the competition, Barnard replied “It’s always there in your mind, there’s a lot that could happen, and a lot of other good riders so anything can happen.

Dudley rode her 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, Good Gyrations. She bought him from her trainer three years ago, and their first year showing together, the pair were top ten for NRHA’s Limited Non-Pro. Last year the pair were NRHA Limited Non-Pro reserve world champions.

“It felt pretty good. I could have got turned around a little better but other than that I basically went out there and did what I wanted to do so it was pretty good. My horse is really, really consistent. He’s one of those horses that is just there every time, I mean every time, and so it doesn’t really surprise me that we did well, but I was really happy that we placed as well as we did.”
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