Youth Barrel Racing 14-18

Lauren B'Oris and Summers April Te make the most out of their first--and last--World Show. The pair captured a world championship in Youth Barrel Racing 14–18.

Lauren B'Oris ends her Youth career on a high note, capturing her first world championship.

Summers April Te has had quite a comeback. Two years ago, the 1998 black tovero mare was injured in a trailer accident on the way home from the Wrangler Nationals High School Rodeo Finals. A tornado hit the rig and flipped the trailer, with “Gucci” inside. Gucci has since completely recovered, and his owner Lauren B'Oris is now studying petroleum engineering at Texas A&M. The 18-year-old from Magnolia, Texas, decided to make the most of her last year in Youth and took her mare to their very first AjPHA World Show. The pair clocked a smoking :15.583 in barrels—just tenths of a second ahead of the reserve champion, Shelton Headley. The Paint Horse Journal caught up with Lauren and Gucci after their speed events were done for the day to get their story.

Q: Congratulations!

Lauren: Thank you!

Q: What is your horse’s barn name?

Lauren: Gucci.

Q: Why is her name Gucci?

Lauren: I didn’t name her that, the girl before me named her that. I just never changed it. She’s high maintenance though, that’s for sure.

Q: Walk me through your performance.

Lauren: My horse just went in there and did it like we practiced. I just went in there, kicked her around the first turn, checked her and pulled her up so we had a nice turn and kept it going, pushed her as hard as I can. We just go for it every time.

Q: Have you ever been to the World Show before?

Lauren: No, this is my first and last year.

Q: What made you decide to come this year?

Lauren: I’m in college now, so I don’t have the high school state finals and nationals. So, I thought that I might as well come here, to this big show. I haven’t been to any yet this year.

Q: Have you ever won a world championship before?

Lauren: I won the State Finals in high school rodeo and I placed at Nationals, but I’ve never won a world championship.

Q: How does it feel to win a world championship in APHA?

Lauren: It feels good. It’s nice to know that she still can do it.

Q: How long have you had her?

Lauren: Five years now.

Q: So y’all are pretty good friends?

Lauren: Yes. She’s my best friend, of course.

Q: Who’s your trainer?

Lauren: I trained her myself, but my neighbor Ronnie Griffin helps me with everything. Before a big show I’ll go to his house once a week and just have him tune me up and make sure that everything’s going good with her.

Q: Who all came out to watch you ride today?

Lauren: The family, and then we have some friends that are also here. They also cheered us on, and they were competing.

Q: What’s her personality like?

Lauren: She’s very high maintenance, She’s a little priss. She’s spoiled. If she’s not, she’ll bang the stall until she gets spoiled. That’s just how she is.

Q: What do you love about her?

Lauren: Her personality. It makes her different from every horse. That’s why I like her being a Paint too. At big shows I get made fun of like “Oh you’re riding a Paint Horse. Indians used to ride those because they were the slowest ones you could catch.” But I love her. She's different. She’s unique.

Q: And you prove them wrong when you do well right?

Lauren: She does!

Q: What was your mood?

Lauren: She felt good. She wasn’t too sure about those poles, but she was ready for barrels. She was ready to run.

Q: What are your plans with her now?

Lauren: I’m doing college rodeo, I’m on the team at A&M. So I plan to do that and just keep hitting some rodeos.

Q: What’s your major?

Lauren: Petroleum engineering.

Q: How do you balance school and horses?

Lauren: it’s not easy, but I’m able to do it. I spend about two hours a day with her at the barn. Besides that, I’m studying and going to class.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?

Lauren: She was in a tornado and the trailer flipped when we were driving home after Nationals. After she flipped in that tornado, I thought she was dead. But I’m glad she’s back and healed up ok. Everything is good. She’s back, and she can still run! Two years later she won!

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