The winning run in the youth pole bending finals was all about running clean. When Ceri McCaffery and Smooth San roared into the arena 12th in the go, there were three no times and a lot of poles down. Tobi West and Lady Rum Runner had the lead with a cumulative finals and prelims time of 42.200 seconds. But Ceri and Smooth San delivered a blistering clean 19.775 for a cumulative 40.650 and the world championship. This is the first trip to a Ford AQHYA World Championship Show for the 16-year-old and her chestnut gelding. The Journal talked with her right after she had her championship photo taken at K.C. Montgomery’s booth.
Q. Were you worried about anything coming into the finals?
Ceri: I just got home from Farmington and the National High School Finals, so I was real worried about traveling that much with him. But he was running pretty good. My first go he didn’t fire very hard, but he really ran today.
Q. What made the difference?
Ceri: Being in the pen, probably, and I rode him better today. I was on top of the game.
Q. How long have you had this horse?
Ceri: Had him since he was 4, and he’s 12 now, so quite a while. We picked him up at a horse sale. We trade a lot of horses.
Q. It’s your first Ford Youth World, what made you decide to come this year?
Ceri: Kansas invited me, and I really wanted to come. I’ve heard that it’s a lot of fun, so I was going to come and see what I could get done.
Ceri McCaffery and Smooth San took the 2008 Ford Youth World pole bending world championship with a speedy 19.775 finals run.
Q. Do you do anything for good luck before a go?
Ceri: Not really. I usually always wear this (cross) necklace. That’s it.
Q. Does anyone help you with him?
Ceri: My mom, definitely my mom (Kay). She’s always there. My stepdad (Jack), he’s the one that bought him for me and me and my mom trained him.
Q. Does he have any quirks?
Ceri: Everything about him. He’s a handful; he has an attitude.
Q. Is there anyone you want to thank?
Ceri: I want to thank my mom and my stepdad for always being there and helping me out all the time.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW Ceri, her mom, Kay, stepdad, Jack, and little sister, Paige, just moved from Lake City, Kansas, to Oklahoma. With her family still in the midst of moving, Ceri came to the show by herself.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Smooth San Pedigree: 1998 gelding by Smooth Herman and out of Beulahs San Lady by Freckles San Man Exhibitor: Ceri McCaffery, Lake City, Kansas Owner: Ceri McCaffery, Lake City, Kansas
Total class entries: 76 Sponsored by Metro Golf Cars
