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2008 AQHA YOUTH WORLD CUP TEAM UNITED STATES MEETS THE WORLD! Team USA blogs the daily experience for the folks back home; meet the team on the bio page. Sunday, July 13 - Signing Off Well, the end is finally in sight, and I can say that Youth World Cup has been an amazing experience for me and my team. From the clinics, to the activities, to the crazy times at the dorms and finally the great experience of the competition, this has been the neatest and most rewarding event of my horse career. I’ve gotten to know most of the teams, but I will never forget the Italians, Germans, the Aussies, the Czechs (and their fear of falling elevators) and last, but not least, the Canadians. The service of the volunteers, grounds crew, cooks, and the horse donors has gone above and beyond what they ever had to do. In the beginning, I thought that Canada would be boringly similar to the States, but it’s really been interesting and enjoyable. The French and other European cultures affect everything including food (they don’t have sweet tea, get out while you can), music, clothing, and just plain ordinary things. I believe Americans could implement Canadian practices for the betterment of all. For example, by every trash can there are several different recycling containers (which double as hockey goals). I’m ready to go home and to eat American food and tell everyone about the adventures of the 2008 Youth World Cup in London, Ontario. Signing Off, --Zane Pluhar
Saturday, July 12 - Cutting and "Cream-Crackered" On Thursday, Kyle Fuller and I met a cheeky young fellow from across the pond by the name of Josh Collins. As we spent time with the ol' chap, we realized how brilliant his accent was, and Kyle and I soon decided to develop our British accents. We stayed up most of the night (3 a.m.) Thursday to work on our newly acquired dialects, and when we woke up Friday morning they were near perfect. All day Friday we talked to any bloke who we passed in our accents, especially the real English fellows. As Friday wore on Kyle and I did our cutting, not breaking English character of course, and really smashed that cutting for six. Last night, we went swimming and all and had a smashing time, but during that time we realized that when we tried to talk in our normal Southern accents again we could not. So today we walk around talking in our British accents not only because we find them rather smart and dashing, but simply because we cannot resort back to our previous Southern drawls. We’re going to have to figure out how to talk before we get back to the States. Well, I hear Dawn calling for me. I better go before I get knackered and cream-crackered. Cheerio Ole Chap, --T. Joe Jeane Yay! Great success! We did really well in the cutting yesterday with a first and a third under one judge and a fifth under the other. The seats were full, and there was a humongous cheering section for each country. I’ve really liked the way the (Ontario Quarter Horse Association) has treated the spectators. All of the results are said in French and English since Canada is a mix of English-speakers and French-speakers. Last night, most of the world-cuppers played sand volleyball and swam at the University Pool. I have to admit that the diving board was much better than anything I’ve jumped off of in the states. Kyle and Katie Jo are in the reining in a little while so check the Web site for score updates. Talk to you later, --Zane Pluhar Friday, July 11 - Surprising FindsOver the last week, Team USA has gotten to know each other better and have formed an unbreakable bond. Most everyone on the team has known each other since we were kids, but this week in Canada has really made us “click”. We’ve made many memories, but I will always remember the inside jokes. If any of the readers think they know Kyle Fuller of Arkansas, you might want to reevaluate your relationship with him. Just ask him why he needs baby powder every morning, and you’ll be quite surprised. Last night, Kyle and T. Joe were half admiring Josh’s (Team UK) British accent and half making fun of Dawn Forest’s (Team USA manager) accent. So the two of them (as of 9 o’clock last night) have taken on the beautiful accent of the country across the pond (see my sarcasm). While they’ve gotten better with their voices, their ability to annoy me and the other six members of Team USA has grown exponentially. But place Kyle and T. Joe’s love of the language aside. Those two have been taking cutting lessons for months now, just to prepare for today. The cutting starts in 15 minutes and Team USA is ready to make some noise, Adios! --Zane Pluhar When I was first accepted to Team USA, I thought that the other countries would be shy and not outgoing. Wow! I was wrong about that! The icebreaker with the Canadian Cowgirls was a complete blast, and I got to mingle with a German, a gal from France, a Canadian and a kid from the UK. They told us to bring no laptops, so the computer room is always packed. I’ve met many kids in the line to get on the computer. I sang songs with the Italians and learned many Italian words on the way to Niagara Falls. And speaking of Niagara, can you say SCARY when you are just feet from the base of the falls?Ciao! --Mamie Tomlin Thursday, July 10 - International Incidents T. Joe Jeane won the pleasure on a horse that has spent the last five years out to pasture and working with a special needs girl. Awesome All Star has grown to be the favorite horse on the team and gets a hand-delivered apple for breakfast everyday. Whew! Today has been hectic. This morning we got to the AgriPlex early and found our palomino mare, the one that was lame yesterday, completely sound. Team USA started off the day with a great big bang, getting first, third, and fourth in the showmanship. Last night, all of the guys for Team USA got pedicures (more like we were forced to). The worker at the nail salon said that T. Joe’s feet were the nastiest she’d ever seen. He even broke the dead skin shaver with his moldy feet. There was also an international incident yesterday. The Italians playfully stole one of our Team USA sweatshirts. We retaliated by stealing it back and putting popcorn under their sheets. Then a huge water fight broke out after the girls were attacked with shaving cream. Hopefully, we have come to a cease fire with the Italians. I’ll keep you posted. --Zane Pluhar Wednesday, July 9 - Competition Prep
Last Sunday we were blessed to draw an amazing group of horses. Apparently, we have one of the Canadian “rock star” horses in For The General (a 17-plus hand horse affectionately known as “Shorty”). We were also blessed with Jackson, Star (the best horse in the world), Lucky, and Maggie. This morning the curse of the horse industry, lameness, descended upon Team USA and one of our horses. We are currently treating it and hope to have the horse back tomorrow for the showmanship. We feel prepared and ready for competition tomorrow, but we haven’t completely forgotten about fun. About 10 minutes after curfew last night (don’t tell Dawn), 30 World Cuppers sat in the hall joking, playing, and singing. When all of a sudden Two-Bits showed up and really got the party going. We finally herded the mob away from our rooms (Nancy slept through the commotion). I feel all of the teams have gotten to know everybody here well, and I hope to get to know each and every one of the World Cuppers a little better, Ttyl, --Zane Pluhar Sunday, July 6 – London Fun
The five riders, two alternates, two leadership delegates, coach and manager from the United States have felt right at home in Canada. We started off Saturday evening with a welcome dinner and a lesson in how to play a bongo drum (my ears are still ringing and my hands still ache!). Right from the start the other fifteen countries bonded, and we’re having a blast!! Youth World Cup has enjoyed performances from the Canadian Cowgirls, a professional drill team! Those crazy Canadians were doing things on horseback that I couldn’t do in a lifetime! For our evening activities the Canadian Cowgirls rotated us through a series of stations to different activities. At one of the activities we were paired up with a kid from another country. We painted our countries flag on their arm with watercolors and signed our names. That station was under control until my group showed up. After drawing the Stars & Stripes, I started to sign my name on Monica’s (Dominican Republic) arm. Apparently I signed my name too large. A small watercolor fight ensued, which led into a large mob of foreign kids attempting to paint each other. Then, our friends from “Down Under” staged a massive dunking of the Americans with soapy water. I chased down the Australian coach and made sure she got a “little wet”. I wish I could make this longer, but I have to go get on the bus to Niagara Falls. Talk to you later! -- AQHYA President Zane Pluhar
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Check out a recap of all the AQHA World Championship Shows!
2007 FORD AQHYA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
2007 BAYER SELECT AQHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
2007 AQHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
2008 FORT DODGE VERSATILITY RANCH HORSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
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