It was the last class of the last show for Chelsey Sample. The Ohio State University sophomore had just rushed from the hunt seat equitation finals to the hunter hack. She and Imasgoodasitgets, aka “Davis,” didn’t miss a beat though. They graceful trotted in to begin their pattern, moved to their first jump, then their second, came around the corner and made a clean stop at the cone. With a smile and a pat on Davis’ shoulder, they walked out of the ring. The next time they entered it was for the awards ceremony and when they left, they were the world champions.

Q. Tell me about your ride tonight.

CHELSEY: It was really good. I just stayed on my count and went to the first jump. Got it good and then went down the line and came up to the cone and stopped. And he was really good on the rail.

Q. Did you feel good about your pattern work?

CHELSEY: Yes. It was soft and nice and pretty. I felt good about it.

Q. Were you able to watch any of the other go’s?

CHELSEY: I actually did not. I came straight out of the hunt seat eq class. I went, changed my helmet and got back on.

Q. How did you do in the hunt seat equitation finals?

CHELSEY: I got fourth. He had a really good run in that class, too.

Q. Is it nerve racking to have to rush from one finals to the next like that?

CHELSEY: I was a little rushed, but I was OK. He stays pretty calm through it all. It was good.

Q. Lainie DeBoer is your trainer. Did she give you some good advice before you went in for the hunter hack?

CHELSEY: Yes. She always does. She told me exactly what I did, “Stay on the count, find my place and keep it soft.”

Q. What did Lainie say to you when you came out?

CHELSEY: She said I was really good, and she was waiting there for me.

Q. Tell me about your horse.

CHELSEY: He’s a big black gelding, and he’s got a very odd personality but he’s really fun. I love him.

Q. What makes him odd?

CHELSEY: He just has weird tendencies. He eats weird. He like bites his leg and kicks the wall. He’s just weird but he’s really cool. He’s funny.

Q. How many Ford Youth World Shows have you shown at?

CHELSEY: This is my third and my second with him.

Q. And this is your first youth world championship. What does it feel like?

CHELSEY: It’s great. It’s really fun. I’m excited.

Q. When the placings were being called out and it was just you and Indy Roper left in the arena, what were you thinking?

CHELSEY: When I heard them call the National Snaffle Bit Association, because my horse is not NSBA registered, I knew I won. It was just great. I knew he was good boy. I was excited.

Q. Who would you like to thank?

CHELSEY: Everyone who has given me this opportunity: my parents, my sister, my brother, Lainie and anyone who has helped me along the way.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW …
Throughout the interview, Chelsey held “Cracky,” a ceramic squirrel that is somewhat the mascot for the Lainie DeBoer barn. “Cracky is our good luck charm,” Chelsey explained. “He comes to the ring and to all of the World Shows and sits there and watches us tack up. Cracky is always around. He’ll be in my winning photo, too.”