TEAM USA FIRST

T. Joe Jeane of Valley View, Texas, took home another first place win for Team USA in western pleasure. Owned by a special needs youth in Clinton, Ontario, Awesome All Star hadn’t been shown in five years and today is mostly used for riding trails. With a never-ending smile and just the tiniest bit of astonishment on his face, T.Joe told The Journal talked about his winning run. 

Tell me about your ride today.

It was pretty cool. I didn’t know it was going to be like that. I thought it was going to be a little bit worse. We thought the other horse was going to win. It was fun. I was just waiting as the placings were called out, and I was hoping they would say my name. I was thinking with the second judge, "Maybe if I’m in the top three I’ll win," but as they got to the third and then second I thought, “Maybe I’m not even in it.” So it was pretty cool to come in first.

What do you like about this horse?

He hasn’t been shown in five years, and he’s a trail ride horse for a special needs kid. She doesn’t really like other people riding her horse, so I’m really glad she let us borrow him. We’ve all been working on him the whole week trying to get him to where he is now. I didn’t know we could get him this far but he’s come a long way. He’s kind of been my horse from the start and my project.

Did the western pleasure clinic help you?

Yes. It was very informative. It really helped me with his head. He wanted to stay behind the vertical, and the clinic really helped me fix his face.

What have you liked best about Youth World Cup so far?

Everything! All the kids are really cool. I’ve gotten to meet all the different kids, and it’s pretty neat.

Anyone you want to thank?

My mom and the girl who owns “Star.” He’s one of the team’s favorite horses. My dad couldn’t make it because he had to stay home to take care of the horses. Hopefully, he’ll be up here for the second show though.

Fun Fact: T. Joe Jeane is the son of Joe Jeane and AQHA Professional Horseman Suzy Jeane, who both operate Down The Rail Performance Prospects. T. Joe says he cannot remember a time when showing horses wasn’t a part of his life.

TEAM ITALY SECOND

"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" That’s what members of Team Italy kept shouting to fellow member Sara D’Imperio when she placed second in western pleasure. She rode Im A Major Triple, owned by Judith Anne Fewer of Caistor Centre, Ontario. Between bouts of excited laughter and people congratulating her, Sara told The Journal about her ride.

Talk about your ride today.

I think it was really great. I’ve never show him before so I wasn’t sure what would happen. But I’m so very happy because he was so fantastic (And she started to laugh again). It was awesome and very good.

What do you like about Im A Major Triple?

I like all of him. He listens really good. Now I will ride him in the horsemanship, and I hope to do well on him again. It’s so exciting.

Did you learn anything from the western pleasure clinic that helped you?

I learned lots of things. I learned how to ride this horse and my showmanship horse. (She stopped, with a large grin spreading across her face.) I’m really excited. I don’t have a word now.

Fun Fact: Sara participated in the 2004 and 2006 AQHA Youth World Cups. In 2006, Sara won a first in trail and western horsemanship.