Youth Solid Paint-Bred Horsemanship

Sensational Lilo and Caitlin Dunsmore made the perfect team, capturing the Youth Solid Paint-Bred Horsemanship world title.

Q: Congratulations! How does it feel to win?

Caitlin: It feels great. After all the hard work you put in, it feels great to just be able to get out there and have a good ride.

Q: How did you react when you found out you won?

Caitlin: I was really excited. It was pretty exciting because it wasn’t a class I was expecting to win in. I was really happy with my pattern.

Q: How long have you had Lilo?

Caitlin: I have had him for five years.

Q: Have you been to the World Show before?

Caitlin: I was here last year. I was world champion in the Western Pleasure and reserve world champion in the Horsemanship last year.

Q: Tell me about your ride.

Caitlin: It was a great ride. I was very happy with the way he acted. He did a flying lead change and that was kind of new for us.

Q: What made you decide to do the flying lead change? You didn’t have to do that.

Caitlin: I just thought it would be good to get him out there to do it. We’re going to start Western riding. It was big enough that I knew we’d be able to do it.

Q: How did you feel about the class going into the arena?

Caitlin: I was feeling a bit nervous. I actually didn’t think this was the class I was going to win. Just because we were first to go. I was a little nervous about going in and showing the pattern first.

Q: What was your horse’s mood like this morning?

Caitlin: He was really good. He was acting really good. Didn’t have any problems with his attitude.

Q: What’s his personality like?

Caitlin: He has a really unique personality. He’s really "chillaxed," but he knows when it’s time to show, it’s time to get down to business and work for you.

Q: Does he act the same here as he does at home?

Caitlin: Yeah, he’s usually good at every show.

Q: What do you love the most about your horse?

Caitlin: He’s just a sweetheart. I’m glad we got him. He was a great steal. He’s just fun to ride.

Q: Who is your trainer?

Caitlin: I actually don’t have a full-time trainer. I never really thought I wanted to jump into full-time training. Basically, I just train with a lot of different trainers.

Q: What advice would you give other riders wanting to win a world championship?

Caitlin: I would just say be confident. Because you are a world champion no matter what. Just listen to your horse, because you are a team. If you don’t work out together, then it’s not going to happen.

Q: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you do for good luck before you show?

Caitlin: No, I just get in there and hope for the best. Sometimes my horse gets a little bit of a pep talk.

Q: Who gives him a pep talk?

Caitlin: Some of my friends. They like to pump him up. A lot of the times it works.

Q: Does he have a fan club?

Caitlin: He does have a fan club. He’s got a big fan club. We call it Lilo’s Fan Club.

Q: Does he have any favorite treats?

Caitlin: Hay and grain. He doesn’t really eat apples or anything. He doesn’t really have any front teeth. He just doesn’t like treats very well. But he does love feed.

Q: If he was a celebrity, who would he be?

Caitlin: He would be the ladies' man. He could be Justin Bieber. A ladies’ man, but a spastic little kid at times.

Q: What are your plans now that you have won this championship?

Caitlin: I am planning on going to the Texas State horseshow in 2½ weeks and I’m hoping we can win a bunch of classes there. And then hopefully we can go to some futurities.

Q: Did any of your family come to watch you?

Caitlin: Yep. My mom did and my dad did and my little sister did.

Q: How many times have you shown at the 2011 show?

Caitlin: Five times. This is the end. I am done. He’s pretty happy.

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