Youth Nationals is always a challenge. Hard working youth pour in from all over the United States and Canada to attempt to win the coveted roses. To try to sum up all that goes into even getting to nationals in such a short time is difficult. With each child come their parents and friends, families, trainers, horses and huge hopes. Many travel from days away, thru difficult circumstances, overcoming amazing obstacles just to have a chance to be judged at the most difficult show for youth in the nation. The challenges are many and the chances are few. They know this going in.

Our youth National story with Flame actually begins with 2004 nationals. Flame comes to nationals after winning 6 Regional championships at Region 9.Believing him to have a chance after such a great year, Austin Williams comes to nationals with his hopes high and nothing but faith in his stallion. As with many, he learns first hand to take nothing for granted and in an instant his hopes were crushed as Flame was injured in a practice session and was pulled from the show before he was able to compete.

Flame goes home and is in recovery. Austin, not wanting to run the risk of injury to Flame, takes the entire year off. The first time that Flame competes in 2005 is at Youth Nationals. Austin takes it very carefully thru his preliminary cuts and finds himself suddenly in the finals. Flame has shown no recurrence of his injury. With every competition there is a moment of truth, the realization that to fulfill your goal, you have to give all you have and rise beyond the rest if you want to win. You must believe in yourself, your horse, and all those who have worked so hard to present you with this chance in time. The realization of this moment is a humbling expierence.It was a moment of recognition as Austin made his way to the gate to present his stallion to the judges. He knew he was ready and he believed his unknown stallion could beat the veteran show horse that had won this class repeatedly. Flame exhibited all the power, and executed his class beautifully. No mistakes were made and his class was strong. However the competition was tough and no mistakes were made by the current champion…now all that was left was the opinion of the judges. Flame Ison and Austin heard the music in the background and they slowly came forward to claim their national title…and the music playing was The Heat Is On. Several riders in the competition, dismounted from their horses and ran to join the champion team in their photo, a sign of agreement from his fellow competitors that they to agree with the judges decision .the long waited victory for the roses had finally happened. It never happens easily. The pair prevailed thru injury and. recovery .Austin and Flame were presented their roses and their famous trophy. The show ring was theirs and they made their victory pass around the arena, champion among champions .A stallion and his friend. Life has its victories and this is one of the best.

Katie, a student at Legacy Arabians, is a determined young lady. She lives many hours away and usually has to fly or is driven in to practice. Now, before you respond Katie must be wealthy to have horses and fly in, let me assure you she has to work for what she has. Katie works cleaning stalls in her home town of Bourne, Texas.She also rides with another barn in her hometown and works to pay for her lessons. Katie has always wanted an English horse. In an area dominated by western and hunter, she feels the need for speed. The problem is, there is no one in her area to teach her, so she comes to Legacy.

Katie came to ride just over a year ago. When she came all she asked for was a chance. She didn’t expect to win, she just would be happy to learn and ride. She said she had long admired the legacy horses and so with suitcase in hand she comes to ride and her story begins.

Katie’s mom and dad, Karen and John Springer, work hard to keep up with their daughter. As Youth Nationals is being discussed, and cost are weighed they decide to buy a ride on Flame Ison.Katie has always loved the stallion and even though he has never won the roses before, Katie believes this stallion has the heart to do it.

The day of her national ride in Albuquerque starts normal enough. The normal preparations are made. Flame looks and feels great. Katie and her mom Karen are nervous. Karen in fact is so worried that she leaves the warm up area not to let Katie see how she feels. Riding a stallion by her daughter in 13 and under class would make most show moms run for cover, but Katie is starting to feel in control. She heads for the arena to begin showing. Katie barely gets in the arena and hears gate closed when her stirrup falls from her saddle. Her time out is called and the stirrup is repaired and her class begins. She starts to canter and the defective stirrup breaks again! Now this is a definite problem as only one time out can be called during a class. Trainer Kathie looks at Katie from the rail and says” Katie you can do this. You have to ride the class without your stirrup. Another time out will disqualify you. This is your chance and you can do this” The show officials are walking around in center ring holding the stirrup and waiting expectantly for someone to claim the stirrup. When no one calls a time out the class continues and they are called to the canter. Katie stays centered in the saddle and rides the entire class with one stirrup. Now it takes courage to ride nationals, and it takes courage to ride a stallion. But to ride a national class on a stallion in 13 and under, without a stirrup, that is a challenge!

Katie was thrilled when she was called to the Top 10! She had worked so hard and kept calm and she told everyone that this was all she wanted. The announcer started to name the national champion, yet all he said was that sometimes the difference between winning and losing was never giving up. Katie looked expectantly around her fellow competitors to see who won. She never had a clue they were talking about her. The Announcer finally said Flame Ison. Katie was completely stunned. The ring men walked over and reattached the stirrup, and Katie and Flame struggled to walk to the winners circle. As the national champion roses were draped around Flame, Katie heard the amazing words...Unanmous…first on all three judges’ cards!!!

Katie wipes her eyes and hugs her mom; she drapes her arms around the proud stallion’s neck and starts that Victory pass. The moment when all eyes are on the pair and their talent and dreams are recognized. As Katie takes her pass she is saluted by the announcer with a name that will stick for a long, long time…She is “the one stirrup wonder”