Aug
7
Written by:
Tina Spangler
8/7/2011 7:17 AM
SUMMER HUFF - NBHA TEEN YOUTH WORLD 1D CHAMPION 2011
Summer Huff not only won the title of Teen Youth World Champion at NBHA Youth World this year but she also posted the fastest time of the weekend on a borrowed horse!
Summer has been riding horses for 12 years, and barrel racing for 7 years. She goes to Tate High School in Pensacola, Florida. You will find Summer on a horse every day of the week! She averages 2 or 3 barrel races per month. She loves horses and barrel racing, she works hard at it and it has paid off for her big at World this year! This win is bitter sweet for Summer, her great horse Stitch passed away in May and as any horse person knows what a loss that is. She was blessed by a friend, Darren Scholl, letting her borrow his mare, Miss Gay Bar, Abby! Imagine that stepping onto a borrowed horse with the level of NBHA Youth World competition and winning the number 1 spot!
I asked Summer what her thought process was on Abby before her runs at World, "I visualized a clean and safe run." Summer has a routine for herself before every run and that is to drink a RED BULL, then just get on and go race! Summer didn't treat the Finals run any different than each go around mentally, but they did have a slightly different game plan, but as always she just warmed up away from the crowd to keep Abby calm.
Some advice Summer shared for barrel racers wanting to step up their competition game is, "Prepare to win, I ride every day, my horses are exercised every day." She also shared, "In each run, I ride the same ride every time....then I just adjust to what the run gives me in the moment." Summer says, "Youth World was special in every way to me, Darren letting me ride Abby to win the Finals was great and even better was running 3 fourteen second runs, not many teams did that." Summer shared some other advice for upcoming youth riders, "Always stay humble and always be willing to learn!"
Summer would like to THANK Darren Scholl for letting her ride Abby, Pam Lambert for giving her lessons and Jennifer Kimbrough of GBA Farms for riding with her every day! Summer is only 15 years old and winning World is a DREAM COME TRUE to her! Her future goals are to continue advancing and hopefully one day to compete at the Pro Rodeo level.
Looks to me like Summer & Darren are on top of the World, Youth World that is! Congratulations Summer! Life is full of ups and downs! Summer is a perfect example of not letting the really hard parts of life make you quit, but to keep trying, keep dreaming and know that dreams can come true! It's also, great to see people like Darren in this world to let someone borrow such a special horse!
By Tina Spangler
Tags: