Tristan Watson happily accepts her world championship title with Nates Skipster in Youth Pole Bending 14–18.
Tristan Watson and Nates Skipster wove a victory out of Youth Pole Bending 14–18.
Tristan Watson was thrilled to win a world championship with her mom's horse, 2004 black tobiano mare Nates Skipster, at the 2011 AjPHA World Show. Though the pair from Nowata, Oklahoma, have only competed together a handful of times, 14-year-old Tristan and the gelding powered through the pattern with ease. They bested 10 other riders after turning in a time of :22.251 to win the class. Crying happy tears, high-school freshman Tristan visited with the Paint Horse Journal after her class.
Q: How does it feel to be a world champion?
Tristan: It feels really good.
Q: Is this your first World Show?
Tristan: I’ve been here a lot with different horses. This one is actually my mom’s. I’m really excited.
Q: Well, congratulations. You did a great job. Why does this world championship mean so much to you?
Tristan: Because I tried really hard, and I finally did it.
Q: How many times have you competed on this horse?
Tristan: I’ve ridden him twice [in competition].
Q: Who is your trainer?
Tristan: He’s actually my dad, Wayne Watson.
Q: Did he give you any advice before you went into the pen?
Tristan: Yeah, he said “Ride him.” [laughs]
Q: Who do you want to give credit to for helping you with this win?
Tristan: My mom--Teresa Watson--and my dad.
Q: Do you have a favorite World Show food?
Tristan: Any food, really.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your performance?
Tristan: He did really well. He just tried really hard. He’s really young, so he was a little confused. He figured it out after we got him in there—he was like “Oh, OK.”
Q: How was your horse acting this morning? Did you think he was going to do this well?
Tristan: He kind of had the attitude like he was going to be good. He acted like he was “on” and he was ready to run.
Q: What’s his personality like?
Tristan: Really friendly and he likes to eat just about anything. He’s really sweet.
Q: What’s his favorite treat?
Tristan: Popcicles. I think he likes sherbert.
Q: What’s your favorite color?
Tristan: Blue.
Q: Have you always been a barrel racer, or did you do other things with horses?
Tristan: I’ve always been a barrel racer. I started running barrels when I was 2. I've been riding since then.
Q: Now that you’ve won a world championship, where do you go from here?
Tristan: I plan to bring my colt back next year and run him.
Q: What do you do other than ride horses?
Tristan: I play basketball, run track and I like to play softball.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Tristan: I want to be a pharmacist and go to the National Finals Rodeo.
Q: Do you have anything to add about your performance and your win today?
Tristan: No, I’m just really proud of him.
Click here for APHA's reprint policy of copyrighted material.
World Champion Stats Horse: Nates Skipster, 2004 black tobiano gelding
Pedigree: Hallucinator x Ship Along Nichole (QH)
Exhibitor: Tristan Watson, Nowata, Oklahoma
Owner: Wayne and Teresa Watshon, Nowata, Oklahoma
Trainer: Wayne Watson, Nowata, Oklahoma
Breeder: Double Bar B, Trenton, Texas
Total Class Entries: 11
World Champion Prizes: Gist buckle, courtesy of APHA; monogramed jacket, courtesy of APHA and Tioga Territory; insulated carryall, courtesy of Paint Horse Journal; $50 APHA General Store gift certificate, courtesy of APHA; and AjPHA letter jacket patch, courtesy of APHA
|