Camas Youth Takes Top Title at National Horse Show — Read This!

Tulsa, OK — July was a very busy month for Camas elementary student, Aubrie Wheeler, who won the top title at a National Horse show in Tulsa, OK, which was preceded by wins at two major competitions in Longmont, CO.

“From July 5-6, Aubrie competed at the Rocky Mountain Regional POA High Point Show and won (9 & Under Divison), and from July 7-8, she competed at the World West POA Show High Point (9 & Under Division),” said Mamie Wheeler, Aubrie’s mother. “Then we went on to Tulsa, Oklahoma to our National show, where she won National Congress High Point All Around 9 & Under. That was three overall titles in three shows — at the national level.  It was a huge accomplishment for a little one!”

POA (Pony of the Americas) is the breed of her horse, and over the course of four days, Aubrie competed in 43 classes, and won the overall title for her division at both of those shows. There were participants from nine states, and Aubrie was high point all around 9U for both shows. She had a bunch of class wins, and she was the top of her division in both shows. There were 14 in her division.

Each class is a separate event, or competition. At end of show, judges combine class totals together and name overall titles. She won the national title at the National High Point All Around 9U.

Aubrie Answers Questions

What is your favorite part of showing your Pony? 

AW: Being with my ponies and making new friends.

Who are your new friends this year?

AW: Olivia and Avery Mae (Tennessee), Grace (Georgia), Olivia and Kelly (Oklahoma), Katie (Wisconsin) & McKenzie and Hailey (Illinois).  And I made the trip with my friends Chloe and Kylee from Washington!

What is your favorite event at the shows?

AW: Gaming.

Why do you like Gaming?

AW: Cause you get to go fast.

What does it take to win the an Overall National Championship?

AW: You have to work hard.  Practice a lot.

What is your goal next year for the National POA Congress show?

AW: To win the Overall High Point Championship again!

What do you need to do to reach that goal?

AW: Practice and try hard.

Training

“We do a lot of training ourselves, and we work with two trainers,” said Mamie. “She rides 5-6 days a week, and trains with a trainer in Ridgefield, while the other trainer comes to our house. We’ve been competing since January, and she has competed in two to three competitions a month since March. This was helping her prepare for Nationals — to get lots of practice.”

Her trainers are Anthony Wilson of Wilson Performance Horses in Ridgefield, and Amy Vesneske, of Battle Ground. Veneske specializes in jumping, and Wilson specializes in pleasure horses. Mamie teaches the speed competitions.

“We are a fourth generation equestrian family,” said Mamie. “We raise our own babies. Grandpa did rodeo, and her dad was a professional bull rider for several years. She was born into it, and has competed in rodeos and horse shows since she was 2 years old.”