After a long day of horsemanship preliminaries with 185 entries on August 4, Elizabeth Borders of Wichita Falls, Texas, came back the next day to the finals to compete head to head with 14 of the best youth horsemanship riders in the country. Elizabeth and Finely Principled executed the 720-degree turn with ease and moved flawlessly into the lead change. The newly crowned world champion was all smiles as she shook hands with the other riders amidst the cheers of her own fan section. The Journal caught up with Elizabeth after she took her winning photos with friends and family.
Q: How did the pattern work go for you?
The pattern work was awesome. We schooled on it last night and we had a little bit of errors in some of the parts and we just kept working on it and they got really good. When I was in there, I just kept riding it and putting it together. I rode smart and it worked out really well. He was awesome. He was just the right energy level to give me everything he had today.
Elizabeth Borders and Finely Principled of Wichita Falls, Texas, won the 2008 youth world championship in western horsemanship.
Q: What was the most difficult part of the pattern for you?
The difficult part that I had problems with was the slow down after the fast circle. He just wasn’t staying in stride really well, but otherwise it was great. I love the lines of the pattern. It was a really great finals pattern.
Q: What did you concentrate most on in your rail work?
I wanted him to stay really calm. I really put a lot of emphasis on the pattern work and I really wanted him to look pretty and happy on the rail, and he relaxed a lot today. I was able to just keep him going on the rail and keep him under control. He was really good.
Q: Do you have any good luck rituals before competition?
Prayer. Lots of prayer throughout the whole week: going to practice, going to show, finishing always. We will all take a moment.
Q: Tell me about your horse.
He is mister personality. He’s crazy. He’s a little wild 90 percent of the time we’re out there and he likes to have some fun, which is always interesting. He makes a lot of games out of stuff. But I love him and when he’s there, he tries really hard.
Q: What are your plans now as an amateur?
I don’t know. I’m going to finish up the week and then we’ll see. I’ve got a lot of stuff going on a school this next semester, so that will take up a lot of my time, but horses are definitely always going to be a part of me.
Q: Where are you going to school?
I go to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
Q: Who do you want to thank?
Everyone! My parents, everybody who has helped me get everything together and look as polished as possible out there. And my trainers John and Jill Briggs.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW Not only is Elizabeth the 2006 Ford Youth World champion in showmanship, she is also the 2007 youth high-point award winner in horsemanship and the reserve youth all-around high-point.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Finely Principled Pedigree: 1996 bay gelding by Principle Investment x Ima Smooth Miss by Smooth Town Exhibitor/Owner: Elizabeth Borders, Wichita Falls, Texas Trainer: John and Jill Briggs, Pilot Point, Texas
Total class entries: 185 Sponsored by La Cense Montana
