Kasey Russell, 18, from Ryegate, Montana, is a true all-around competitor. She shows two horses in eight different events: showmanship, performance halter mares, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, barrels, poles, stake race and heeling.

“(Hunt seat) equitation is my favorite class to compete in. I love the complexity of the patterns,” Kasey said.

She has to warm up and show each horse differently. Mr Alachics Champ is her speed horse and Watz Your Impression, aka “Farrah,” is her all-around horse.

“When I warm up my speed horse, I do a lot of big circles and tight circles,” Kasey said. “I am a little nervous when I ride him. I work on different pieces of the English equitation pattern with Farrah.”

She’ll only be showing Farrah at this year’s Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. According to Kasey, Farrah remembers all of the parts of the patterns she works on.

“I can’t use cones when I am practicing because when I go show her she will anticipate a lot. She’s a smarty pants,” Kasey said.

“With English equitation the pattern is always different, so I have to teach her all of the pieces of the pattern,” she added. “My mare is really easy to handle, but my barrel horse knows exactly what to do in the pattern. If I make a mistake it is really hard to deal with,”

Kasey does not have a difficult time showing in a broad range of classes.

“This is my fifth year showing in all of these events, so I am used to juggling it all,” Kasey said.

She enjoys perfecting the patterns with each horse, no matter how fast or precise they are.