Oklahoma City, OK – Some of the top youth reiners in the country traveled to the Oklahoma State Fair Park to compete in three age divisions for the title of 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Youth Reining Championship. Asa Peeples won the 13 and under age division; Jason Kvols won the 14-18 age division; and Lacey Vernon won the 19-21 age division. The USEF National Youth Reining Championship was part of the six-day National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby.
Asa Peebles, 13, of Ringgold, GA, and his five-year-old grey Quarter Horse gelding Reeboks Diablo had the best score to win the 13 and under division. Peebles, surrounded by his family, proudly spoke of his ride on Reeboks Diablo.
“He was really, really good,” said Peebles. “He was sort of slow in the stops but other than that he was really good.”
Peebles said that his horse Reeboks Diablo is a very nice horse but is always looking for something to eat. Peebles hopes to go on to compete at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October.
In the 14-18 division, Jason Kvols, 18, of Steamboat Springs, CO, won his division riding Sunny Spotacular. Owned by Jason’s parents, Ann and Kevin Kvols, Sunny Spotacular is a seven-year-old sorrel and white Paint mare. With his proud parents by his side, Kvols said he was honored to be apart of this championship.
“I’m beside myself,” said Kvols. “I came here and I didn’t think that I would do as well as I did. And, to come away with a win, I just really thank God and feel that I have a gift and that he has just blessed me beyond my beliefs. I’m living a dream.”
Kvols came to Oklahoma after winning another championship aboard Sunny Spotacular at the World Championship Paint Horse Show. Kvols said that he and his parents have had Sunny Spotacular for about three years and that he has a very close relationship with her.
“She’s my best friend,” said Kvols.
It was Lacey Vernon and Duncans Dun It who took the 19-21 championship division. Vernon, 19, from Kiowa, CO already has an impressive list of accomplishments and has won over $10,000 in lifetime earnings.
“Well, we went out there and I was extremely nervous,” said Vernon. “This was one of the biggest things that I felt I’ve ever done. Honestly, I wasn’t too thrilled with the ride I had—there are things that I know I need to fix but all in all it was a good ride.”
It was only the fourth time that Vernon competed on Duncans Dun it, a 12-year-old dun Quarter Horse gelding owned by Valerie Vernon.
“We’re still getting to know each other,” said Vernon. “I think once we get on the same page we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”
For the first time this year, Young Reining Riders between the ages of 16 and 21 can earn a spot to compete on a team at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) July 28-August 3 in Parker, CO. The Selection Trial took place in conjunction with the 2008 USEF National Youth Reining Championships. The NAJYRC Reining Teams will be announced this week.
For more information, please contact Courtney Barnett, USEF Director of Reining Programs at (859) 225-6919 or via email at [email protected]
ENDS