Youth Reining 13&U

Diamonds are forever, and so is the 2011 Youth Reining 13 & Under world title earned by defending champions Rylee Justus and Diamond Gun.

Defending champion Rylee Justus takes home the Youth Reining 13 & Under title with Diamond Gun.

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. For Rylee Justus, a 13-year-old from Larkspur, Colorado, the saying definitely holds true when it comes to the eighth grader's 2005 sorrel overo gelding, Diamond Gun. Entering the pen July 1 midway through the Youth Reining 13 & Under draw, Rylee and “Henry” could not be caught after posting a 208, the highest score of the evening. The Paint Horse Journal caught up with the defending world champions before they hauled back to Oklahoma City to compete in several classes at the National Reining Horse Association Derby the next day.

Q: Henry was your first of two rides in tonight’s class—your second ride being aboard Bright Lil Gun, on whom you placed fourth overall. Tell me about your ride on Henry.

Rylee: It went really well. He was a good boy. He was just there.

Q: Your trainer, Devin Warren, was stuck in traffic this afternoon as he drove to Fort Worth from the National Reining Horse Association Derby in Oklahoma City. How did you feel as you got ready for your class this afternoon, not knowing if he was going to make it.

Rylee: I felt pretty nervous because I was like “Where’s my trainer?” But I was really happy [that he came] because my trainer didn’t have to be here. He has a run back in Oklahoma City the next morning. I just want to say thank you to him.

Q: You also showed at the Derby. Did you show both of your Paints?

Rylee: I did. I rode Henry in the Youth Derby. We didn’t place, but that was OK. He came down a little harder than I would have liked him to. I rode “Jessie”—Bright Lil Gun—in the Non-Pro, and we came in ninth out of 35. She was very good.

Q: It seems like showing at the Derby and the AjPHA Youth World Show is a lot to juggle. Was that tough?

Rylee: It’s harder on the horses than it is on me, but it does take a toll.

Q: You told me that Henry is not deaf, and Jessie is deaf. What have you learned from riding a hearing horse as well as a deaf horse?

Rylee: They have really just taught me how to ride. Henry has taught me to just be a quiet rider and to not get too hyped up. She’s just the same way. There’s a difference between them, obviously, but I try to ride as if they can both hear so I keep it the same on both.

Q: Is Jessie more sensitive to your cues and body position?

Rylee: Probably.

Q: Why does Henry do so well in reining?

Rylee: I think he does well in reining because he has a good mind.

Q: How often do you get to ride?

Rylee: I try to ride a lot. During the school year, I get to ride twice a week, but I try to get out almost every day in the summer.

Q: Why do you enjoy reining?

Rylee: Reining events are just fun. You can just go there without any pressure. People are just more relaxed in reining events.

Q: You won the Youth Reining 13 & Under class last year with Henry. How does it feel to be a defending world champion? 

Rylee: It feels really good.

Q: Were you expecting that going into today’s class?

Rylee: I just went in there to do the best that I could. I got it again, and I’m just really thankful that I can do it two years in a row.

Q: Will Henry get anything special tonight for being so good?

Rylee: He’s going to get a cookie—a big ol’ cookie.

Q: Is that his favorite kind of treat?

Rylee: He loves cookies, carrots and he likes to lick people.

Q: What three words would you use to describe Henry?

Rylee: Quiet, calm and honest.

Q: And what about Jessie?

Rylee: Honest, sensitive and just all-over good.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Rylee: Devin. I really want to thank him for coming down here. Like I said before, he didn’t have to be here––he has a huge show of his own tomorrow morning. He made the finals at the Derby of the Level 3 and he has to show in the morning. I want to thank him, my parents, Jolene [Warren] and Alyece [Norgren].

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