9 Year-Old Cheyenne Augsburger Makes Trail Finals at Ford Youth World

Contributed by Kelley Mundrick

Cheyenne “Scootie” Augsburger is likely one of the youngest exhibitors at this year’s Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show, at just turned 9 years-old.  This is her first AQHYA World Show, but that doesn’t stop this little girl from chasing the dream or being intimidated by older, more seasoned competitors.  Scootie is the daughter of trainers, Andrew and Lori Augsburger of Loxahatchee, FL, who run Pinetree Quarter Horses, owned by Jimmy and Doris Collier, the proud grandparents of Scootie.  Every kid dreams of attending the AQHYA World Show, but it usually takes a few years to even come close to being ready to attend and better yet, make the finals.  Yesterday was quite an emotional day for the Pinetree Family and everyone who is a “Scootie fan.”

Aboard Huntin For Candy, affectionately known as “Skamper”, Scootie first made the shoot-out of the trail going 13th of approximately 161 horses and scoring a 220.5.   After the shoot-out, Cheyenne secured making the finals with an amazing score of 223.5.  “Skamp-O”, as Scootie calls her 6 year-old gelding by Huntin For Chocolate, “was amazing, it was probably one of my best rides ever on him.”  

Scootie just started showing Skamper in March after the family purchased him in December.  Coincidentally, her father, Andrew, started Skamper as a 2 year-old for his previous owners and has been training and showing him since.  The family purchased Skamper after Scootie had been showing her older more seasoned show horses, The Black Force “Force” and An Awesome Fantasy “Ava”, from the ripe age of 2 years-old in lead line.   Not only were they the horses the family trusted with their baby girl, and they also helped contribute to the rider that Scoot is today.  These days, they are semi-retired at the farm and still are ridden by Scootie. 

When I asked Scootie if she was nervous at all she commented, “Yes, just a little but, the ‘AMAZING Skamper’ was great for me!”

“He did his job, and it was so much fun,” she continued on.

She was getting ready to show Dynamic AllNite Long “Jay” in the showmanship when I spoke to her.  She also showed Jay in the horsemanship and western riding and will be quite the threat as they grow as a team with Dave Archer helping her.  Dave’s wife, Courtney, showed Jay for many years to numerous awards.

I’d have to say that this little girl is quite lucky, but it is not without sweat, tears, blood and more.  Scoot is constantly working hard and wants to learn so without a doubt, Cheyenne deserved this achievement.

Best wishes to Scootie on Wednesday as she shows in her first AQHYA World Show Finals, which is sure not to be her last.