When it came to Laura Sumrall’s strategy for becoming the Kentucky Reining Cup’s World Freestyle Reigning champ, she just “Let It Go.”
Sumrall and her horse Wimpys Top Model took home the title after performing Disney’s hit tune from the movie “Frozen.”
Sumrall trotted into the Alltech Arena atop of her horse in a purple cloak.
The music plays, and she throws back her cloak to reveal her full Elsa-esque regalia.
“This was the first time I had done this routine. We came up with it pretty quickly after we got the invitation to compete at the Kentucky Reining Cup,” the 22-year-old said.
“Frozen came together pretty quickly. It was really fun to put together. My mom came up with the concept and did all the handiwork on my costume.”
The competition involves being able to navigate a horse’s gracefulness as it performs various circles, spins, and stops. It is known as Reining.
“I’m at school at Texas A & M so I wasn’t in the same place as my horse, so practicing was a little challenging,” Sumrall said. “I set out a pattern and ran it on a couple of different horses.”
That work paid off because she won the “crown jewel” of the competition.
This was the $120,000 Kentucky Reining Cup and the title of World Freestyle Reining champion.
Not only did the competition’s audience enjoy her performance, but so did the internet.
It went viral and has been viewed more than 17 million times.
“I had all kinds of mums from all over the world email me and say, ‘I love your video and my daughter really, really loves it and now all she wants to do is put on her Elsa costume and ride her pony!’” said Sumrall.
“I’ve inspired a lot of little girls to really go out there and ride their ponies which makes me really happy.”
According to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), Reining originates come from the rancher skills from the Old West and is combined with a “razzmatazz.”
Reining demonstrates the skills and athletic abilities that are necessary for a working ranch horse.
This is done within the boundaries of a show pen.
The movements displayed at competitions are a lot more precise and refined than what you would see on a regular ranch.
There are 12 approved Reining patterns.
The horses individually perform “compulsory movements that include slow circles, large fast circles, flying changes of lead, roll-backs, and quick 36-degree spins.
FEI says that sliding stops are the “hallmark of the Reining horse.”
Some Reining champions have earned more than $6 million through their Reining career.
Reigning was incorporated into the FEI World Equestrian Games schedule in 2022.
A single or multiple judges will score the horse each time they complete one of the approved patterns.
Scores are from zero to infinity.
Seventy is an average score. Each horse will automatically begin a pattern with a 70.
The judges will then add or deduct points based on the quality of the maneuver.
Check out Wimpys Top Model’s fancy footwork in the video below.
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