The Journal caught Team Germany’s rider Felix Schnabel back in the barn just after the western riding clinic on Tuesday, July 8.

It’s his first time to compete in a Youth World Cup. We asked him if he learned anything new from clinician Scott Neuman, an AQHA Pro Horseman and Judge from Billings, Montana. (Click here for his perspective.)

“Yeah,” Felix said with a smile. “He told me that I need to go nearer to the …,” and he paused to think of the word in English.

Felix checked with his coach, Sylvia Jaeckle, and finished his sentence: “He told me to not go wide around the cones, but to go close to the cones. Make (more of a) straight line.

“And he told me that I had to count ‘1, 2, 3,’ and then do the lead change,” Felix added.

These talented young riders are even more impressive when you realize not only are they quickly picking up new tips from top trainers, but they are doing so in a language other than their native tongue. And they are on unfamiliar horses.

This trip is Felix’s first time to Canada and the North American continent. But he’s no stranger to western riding – he’s the 2006 and 2007 youth European champion in western riding.

“It’s my favorite class because it takes one minute,” he said. “I don’t like the trail where you have five minutes in there, and I can’t concentrate that much.

“I have a gelding back home – Instant Inpulse,” Felix said. “He is a great western riding horse. I learned it from him.”

His partner for this competition is Total Intrest owned by Judi Woodley of Chelmsford, Ontario.

“You need to ride him a lot (more forward),” Felix said. “But he’s a lot like my horse at home, so that’s good. I like him. He’s great.” 

AQHA Pro Horseman Scott Neuman was a clinician for the western riding clinic.

The Pro's View

Scott Neuman is an AQHA Pro Horseman, Judge and Director from Billings, Montana. He was impressed with the riders he saw in the western riding clinic.

“Most of them did very well and had some experience,” Scott said. “Most of them needed to let their horses go forward a little more, and not interfere with their horse a whole bunch. Just chill out and relax more, and do a little less prepping than they were doing.

“All in all they were very good. (I saw) big improvements," he added. "At the end (of the clinic), they had changed a lot in the way they approached the pattern: sitting back; being quieter; letting their horses go forward.”

Scott was also impressed with the horses that host country Canada has provided.

“I’ve been to two other (Youth World Cups), and I knew the kids would be good riders, which they are,” he said. “The horses here are better (as a group) than any other time. It’s nice to see them get good horses to ride.

“I would expect the western riding (competition) to have some really good gos.”