Aug 22, 2013 2 min read

Paige Stopperich, 17, a senior at Peters Township High School, was named the 2013 American Quarter House Association Youth World Champion with her chestnut gelding, Cowboys R Hot, in the Hunt Seat Equitation class.

Stopperich qualified and showed in five different events at the show, which was held earlier this month in Oklahoma City, Okla. There were 138 exhibitors from around the world who participatied in the class.

“I’ve worked really hard all year for this,” Stopperich said in an interview with the American Quarter Horse Journal after winning the championship. “This is the best class and my best class. I just wanted to go in and do the very best I could.

“The atmosphere at Youth World is so intense because everyone wants to do really well. But then, the parade of teams is a realization that this is really all just about trying your best, having fun and meeting new people.”

Stopperich, daughter of Shawn and Lauren Stopperich of Peters Township, is a longtime equestrian and has been showing American quarter horses since she was 8 years old.

She has won numerous events and titles throughout the years, and last summer was one of 10 individuals selected to represent the United States on the AQHA Youth World Cup team that traveled to Krueth, Germany. She won a silver medal in the Hunt Seat Equitation.

Stopperich plans to ride for an NCAA equestrian team after completing high school. She has numerous invitations to visit colleges in the fall.