After an exciting afternoon in Oklahoma City at the 2008 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, Alexi Child slid into a working cow horse world championship.  Alexi, of Aurora, Oregon, beat out 40 competitors in dry work and fence work to bring home the gold and was mobbed with a crowd of overjoyed friends and family members as she rode out of the arena.  Amidst the many hugs and congratulations, the Journal managed to ask Alexi a few questions about her run.

Q: How did your dry work go for you?

In my dry work, he was really good. I wanted to go in there and at the first circle make sure that my horse knew it was a world show final. I wanted to go in there and go big or go home so I asked a little bit more and he gave it, and I was really happy with it.

Q: How did your fence work go?

My fence work has consistently been really, really good with this horse. He’s a great fence horse, a great cow horse. I got in there, the cow let me do some work on the back fence, probably in retrospect should have done a little bit longer, but it clearly didn’t hurt me in the end.  I went down, got a big left turn, came down and got an open field turn on the right. I went to circle, my second set of circles was a lot better but he still circled up pretty good and I was just really really happy.

Q: Do you have any good luck rituals before competition?

Good luck rituals…(she thinks for a moment) I make sure I’m extremely focused and just make sure I go through my pattern and that I have everything centered, that everything is right on my horse and that nothing is out of the ordinary. Just day-to-day stuff.

Q: What was it like riding under the Gateway of Champions this year?

Really nerve-wracking! It’s an amazing feeling, though, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Going in there is just the most amazing thing ever. 

Q: Tell me about your horse.

I got this guy from Dan Roeser a little over a year ago, and he’s just been phenomenal. I got this horse after my previous cow horse went down and broke his leg. That was a really hard Christmas, but this guy has been a great cow horse for me, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. He just does everything I ask him. 

Q: Did you and your horse have any obstacles that you had to overcome?

Me. I was a major obstacle.  Making sure the pilot didn’t do any stupid pilot errors (she said with a laugh). Just making sure that we were bonding and little things to make everything go together.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies?

I play soccer year-round. I was on my high school varsity team when I was a freshman. We’ve gone to state semifinals.  I’m a really intense athlete.  I take AP classes, and I had a 4.0 (GPA) all last year. And I have a social life.  I had the most amazing cheering section up there (in the arena). So I’d like to thank them and everyone else for helping.

Q: Who is your trainer?

Brian Croft. I’ve been with him for over five years. I want to say I went to him when I was about 10. We’ve gone through a lot of horses since then, and he’s made me who I am today.

Q: Is there anyone you want to thank?

There’s a really long list, and I know I will forget people, but – the whole Bayer family, Trent Peterson, the whole Christianson family and everyone who has helped me. Dan Roeser, of course. It’s been an amazing experience.  If I’ve forgotten anybody, I’m really sorry and thank you very much!

BETCHA DIDN'T KNOW

Gotta Have Cash has won $34,033 in National Reined Cow Horse Association lifetime earnings and was the 2004 NRCHA world champion youth limited horse.