BY LYNSEY MADISON, JUNIOR JOURNALIST
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Denim Smith relaxes in the barn with her puppy, Goldy. |
With a whole load of classes, Denim Smith of Hannibal, Missouri, will be sure to keep busy at this year’s 2007 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show.
The 11-year-old worked very hard this past year to qualify three horses in various events, all to be shown this week.
- Strait Silver Doc, aka “George,” will compete in barrels, poles and stakes.
- Kools Last, aka “Dude,” will compete in breakaway roping, and competed on August 4 in prelims for team penning and ranch sorting, and made it to finals in both events.
- Hazard Yet Forward, aka “Hazard,” competed in team penning and ranch sorting as well but didn’t make it back to the finals.
Denim was sure to mention that it would not have been possible without her teammates for team penning and ranch sorting, Cody Shepard and Jason Weiczorek.
When asked which event was most difficult to qualify for she said ranch sorting because it is a new event this year and she and her teammates had never done it before.
“We all just wanted to try it,” Denim said.
Denim, like so many other competitors, has her mother Dawn Smith's full support.
“I’m the one that stays nervous during the show,” Dawn said.
Dawn also emphasized that it is not worth it unless you have fun while you are doing it. Once the fun factor is lost, it is no longer worth the effort for many youth.
