3-YEAR-OLD MARES

KRISTINA PAPENDICK WINS A YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN HER FIRST HALTER CLASS.

BY TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON, FIELD EDITOR

Kristina Papendick won her first youth world championship in halter with 3-year-old mare CRL Shesa Cool Coosa.

Kristina Papendick is no stranger to world championships. She has, however, never won a halter world title. That is until now.

Kristina has won a youth world championship in hunter under saddle in 2006 and championships in western riding in 2006 and 2004. But until August 11 when she and CRL Shesa Cool Coosa walked into John Justin Arena at the 2007 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, she had never even shown in a world show halter class.

“This is my halter debut. I’m very excited,” the 19-year-old said. “Halter is different from the other classes I do. It’s a whole new deal, and I had to learn quickly. I really like it. It’s relaxing, but it is a lot harder work than it seems.”

Kristina’s dad, Lew, purchased “J-Lo” last fall at the 2006 All American Quarter Horse Congress, where she won the 2-year-old mare class. Then AQHA Professional Horseman Wayne Halvorson led the horse to her first world championship in the open 2-year-old mares.

“My dad bought her because he wanted to show in halter and he’ll be showing her at this year’s World Show, and my mom will be showing her at the Select World Show this year,” Kristina said.

“She is so awesome and so pretty. For standing there for however long it was, if I had to look at a horse that long, I’m glad it was her. She’s so beautiful.”

Although this is Kristina’s last Ford Youth World, she’s hoping it’s not her last Youth World championship.

“I still have hunter under saddle finals coming up,” she said. “So maybe we can do a repeat in that one.”