August 9, 2001

Wednesday's Child is all About Speed

Fast. That single word best describes what Wednesday was all about in Fort Worth, Texas, the halfway point of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show.

Mr Little Brown Jug probably shouldn't have been in Wednesday's pole bending finals at all, much less running away with a world championship title.

In May, the feisty brown gelding suffered a devastating injury to both heels but recovered sufficiently to set a blazing 20.223 final run to capture the youth world championship with rider Tisha Linn Burress aboard.

The significance of a trip from recovery to a world championship wasn't lost on Burress. "It feels great to be a world champion, but just like when my horse got hurt, it can all be gone in an instant," she explained.

The 17-year-old gelding just missed a second world championship in stakes race, narrowly losing out to Osceola, Nebraska's Dustin Tonniges, who rode Candy Bar Frost. Tonniges clocked an 8.144 run to best Burress' 8.173 effort.

Tonniges struggled with his own nerves shortly before the final run but was confident in the gray mare that he's ridden since his first days on a horse. "I was so nervous," Tonniges quipped after the run. "But this mare has been so good. She was good even when she didn't have much of a rider."

Burress and Mr Little Brown Jug have partnered on the poles for 11 years, a combination of experience and trust that edged out the team of King Dynamite Lady and rider Bonnie Castle, who finished second with a 20.50 clocking.

The brother team of Hunter and Hayden Byram finished first and third respectively in the barrel racing competition. Hunter rode Carte Blanc to a 17.430 timing and Hayden boarded Hickory Bill Doc. Their placings were split by fellow Arkansan, Rachel Moore who ran the cloverleaf in 17.434 to complete the Arkansas sweep.

The Youth World Show continues through Saturday, August 11. For more information, including photos and videos, visit www.aqha.com.