DEFYING adversity, Kinross’ Holly Gutterson returned from the 2016 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show (WCAYS) in America earlier this month with several top 10 ribbons in tow, she also earned a finalist placing as well.
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The year eight student competed in the Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Bareback Equitation and Trail events, all of which were scored by four judges. Her average scores determined her final placings.
Where her opponents in Forth Worth, Texas, had trained and ridden their horses every day for months leading into the competition Gutterson’s steed was selected and allocated to her by her American trainer and Australian coach, giving her just three weeks to get to know the horse before competing.
On top of that, the mare she rode was young at four years old and had little experience, let alone in a show of the WCAYS’s magnitude.
Despite having her work cut out for her, Gutterson’s determination and focus bore fruit as she claimed four top 10 placings across her nine events.
She finished eighth in the Novice Showmanship 13 and under and the Novice Western Horsemanship 13 and under and ninth in the Bareback Horsemanship 13 and under divisions.
Her best result came in the form of a sixth finish in the Novice Western Pleasure 13 and under competition.
She piloted Don’t Skip Hottie, from Don’t Skip Zip and She’s One Hat Krymsun, in all her events.
