19-year-old Strathmore local Aliera Chernoff placed 4th in the world for reining and 7 and 8th place in cutting at the American Quarter Horse Association's (AQHA) youth world cup in Bryan/College Station, Texas last week.

The AQHA Youth World Cup is an international event is hosted every two years by a different country. This event hosts teams from 16 nations around the world. Throughout this competition, each country will ride for gold medals in cutting, reining, horsemanship, ranch riding, trail, western riding, hunt seat equitation, hunter under saddle, and showmanship.

Chernoff was really excited that she won 7 and 8th place for cutting as she has never competed in cutting before.

"I was extremely happy and to be able to place that high when I have never competed in that before was really great."

Cutting is when you have a horse that is trained to sperate certain cattle away from the heard. At the youth world cup Chernoff was judged on how well she could cut her cow out of the heard and keep it away from the heard with the main goal being to cut three cows out in two and a half minutes. 

"My boss owns cutting horses and helped me get into it and ride the cutting horses so then when I had the opportunity to go ride down there for it, I did it. As soon as I learned that I had a spot-on team Canada then I immediately started to watch videos on cutting. I practiced 6 times a day."

As for what Chernoff has planned for the future, her goals are extremely big as she is very passionate about what she does. 

"I'd like to continue to show and use the experience of showing internationally to better myself, and I also hope to be able to maybe be a manager and assistant manager for like the team in 2025 if that's a possibility."

Team Canada for the Youth World Cup came in 6th place overall.   

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