For the first time ever, AQHA allowed private media coverage at the AQHYA World Championship Show—and I had the privilege of being there, camera in hand. After more than a decade of photographing APHA, AQHA, and NSBA World Shows for major publications, it was incredibly meaningful to return to ringside in this new role: documenting not just the competition, but the entire experience for the exhibitors and families who poured everything into making it to this level.

Throughout the week, I split my time between video (see reels created for clients on the RGP Instagram) and still photography—mainly capturing patterns on video and switching to photos in the warm-up pen and holding areas to freeze the kinds of candid moments I’ve become known for. I watched riders push themselves with grit and grace, all while showing gracious sportsmanship and deep bonds with their horses.

In between scaling the OG&E Arena’s stairwells 1,000 times and capturing every moment I could, I found myself cheering like an honorary “show aunt”—even holding my breath through “my” girls’ placings and scores; I’m so grateful to the families who trusted me to capture their riders’ shows in this new format.

I can’t wait to bring this service to the AQHA World Show again this fall! Until then, here are some of my favorite moments from the Youth World: