The final day of 2009 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show competition opened with 23 entries in the yearling mares class. Abigail Pait is the last one to show from New Jersey’s youth team. Many of her friends in the ring she only sees at this show and the All American Quarter Horse Congress. The daughter of AQHA Professional Horseman Jeffrey and Bronwyn Pait, Jeffrey sent Abigail through the Gateway of Champions with a “good luck, go get ‘em.” When she walked out with her first gold trophy, he was there in the chute to hug her. “I’m the one with the gold trophy this time!” she said, crying but with a big smile on her face.
Q. How does it feel to walk out with a gold trophy?
Abigail: Amazing! I’ve never been happier.
Q. You’ve been coming to Oklahoma City for world shows for a long time, explain how it feels different when you’re showing?
Abigail: I don’t know. It’s not a nervous, but an intense feeling. It’s a rush walking down the chute. But once you get in there and everything goes well, it’s a great feeling.
Q. What is it that you enjoy about showing halter?
Abigail: For us, a lot of the halter horses that we show, we have bred. Being there for their first breath and taking care of them as they grow up, it’s really special to show them.
Q. What’s made Taryn Rose unique for you?
Abigail: She beats to her own drum. But she was by one of our great mares MBJ Mini Obvious, Unfortunately, Mini just passed away this year. So it’s really special to come win with one of her babies.
Q. So this filly’s not going anywhere.
Abigail: [Laughing] No, I don’t think so.
Q. She beats to her own drum, how?
Abigail: Her mama would do whatever you wanted from her and would always be happy. But this one, she’s in charge most of the time, and you’ve just got to go with her. You can’t do your own thing; you’ve got to listen to her.
Q. Is there something your dad says to you over and over again?
Abigail: A lot of things, but always smile, look confident, do a good job.
Q. You are an AQHYA director from Region Five, what’s it like to hold that position?
Abigail: Oh, I love it, it’s so much fun and everyone is so great. I’ve never had such a good experience before in my life. It’s really nice to be able to get to socialize and get to know a lot of the kids that all do the same thing.
Q. Who else do you want to thank, who helped you on the road to this world championship?
Abigail: Besides my parents and my whole family, Mrs. Peggy Cofrancesco, Aunt Peg. She has been so supportive and great, the entire Cofrancesco family has. I’m very happy to have them in my life, as well as my parents and Chris Thompson, I love them all so much.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW Abigail's filly, Taryn Rose, was named by AQHA Executive Committee Member Peter Cofrancesco III's mother, Peggy, after a famous Italian shoe designer. As a weanling, Taryn Rose won the All American Quarter Horse Congress Masters Halter fillies championship in 2008.
Abigail Pait won her first youth world championship, leading yearling mare Taryn Rose.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Taryn Rose Pedigree: 2008 sorrel mare by Kid Coolsified x MBJ Mini Obvious by Obvious Conclusion Exhibitor/Owner: Abigail Pait, Sparta, New Jersey
Trainer: AQHA Professional Horseman Jeffrey Pait
Total class entries: 23 entries Sponsored by Turner/Bradshaw
