Pre-Cup Clinics
Team United Kingdom spent time riding at the Kyle Ranch in Whitesboro, Texas, prior to the Youth World Cup.

Not all Youth World Cup teams came to the States just for the competition – several teams took advantage of a chance to come early and get in some training time.
Christy Leach, team manager for Team United Kingdom, happens to be the sister of leading reining non-pro rider Tamra Kyle. As many team members as could make it came early to spend a week riding and learning at Pete and Tamra Kyle’s ranch in Whitesboro, Texas.

They worked on everything from reining and cutting to western riding, western pleasure and hunt seat equitation. The training time was also available to team members that wouldn’t be riding in the competition in Amarillo.

Youth World Cup teams often take advantage of training time in the U.S. throughout the year in preparation; they also bring trainers in for clinics at home. AQHA Pro Horseman Debbie Cooper made several trips to the UK to help coach the team.
It was especially tricky for Team UK to prepare for cutting: the sport is not permitted in the country, and they have to practice with a mechanical flag.

Andrew Plant, 17, worked on both his reining and cutting at the Kyles’.
“It was really good,” he said. “[It’s] little pointers along the way that help, like keeping in the middle of the cow and not letting it get to the fence. You should take penalties sometimes, take a small penalty rather than losing a lot on a bigger penalty.”
“Or like not being able to use your outside leg on them to turn. You’ve got to bump them with the inside to get them to turn around. Completely different.”

Josh Collins, 16, had a lesson with AQHA Pro Horseman Al Dunning in Arizona, over his Easter holidays. It was one of the few times he’s cut with real cattle.
Josh and Andrew appreciated the experience. Josh placed fourth and ninth in the cutting, and Andrew ended up fifth and sixth in the reining.