2-Year-Old Mares

Paige Lege claims her first world championship.

by Larri Jo Starkey
The American Quarter Horse Journal

For four years, Paige Lege of Duson, Louisiana, has been showing horses at the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show. But this year was different.

“The other (shows), I just placed in the top 10, but this time I won,” the 15-year-old Paige said August 4 after the 2-year-old mares class.

Paige was showing Bita Nugget, a 2010 chestnut mare by CRS Gold Nugget-Sugars At Last by At Long Last. The mare was bred by 20-year breeder Daniel Chicola of Coushatta, Louisiana.

“We probably qualified (for the Ford Youth World) in three or four (shows),” Paige said, adding that “Lil Ann” is a good show horse.

“She’s real calm and relaxed, and she didn’t get freaked out or anything,” Paige said. “She stood there the whole time. She puts her ears up if I just snap. She’s pretty easy. She had them up most of the time.”

Paige practiced twice August 3 with AQHA Professional Horseman Mike McMillian of Whitesboro, Texas, her trainer.

“He told me to remember all the hand motions he taught me and everything we learned yesterday,” she said.

Paige, dressed in gold to match the trophy she won, said she felt good entering the class.

“I just had a confidence going in.”