Youth

My name is Chase Wenstad, I am 17 years old, and I have been involved in sorting since I was about 9 years old. I took a break when I was 11, but when I got back into it around 15, I went all in. Since then, I’ve been putting as much time as I can into riding, practicing, and learning, because this hobby means a lot to me and I want to keep improving as both a rider and a partner.

I started on my mom’s old sorting horse, Lena. She taught me a lot and helped me build my confidence and foundation in sorting. Lena was the horse that got me to where I was ready for the next level. Seeing how serious I was becoming, my parents made an investment on a new horse for herself which I took over. She was 11 years old and had been a cutting horse, which made me have to turn her into a sorting horse myself.

We bought Rita right before my first NCSA Finals. At the time I was still riding Lena, but during that show I realized it was time to start stepping up and riding Rita more seriously. Over that winter, Rita and I struggled some and didn’t progress as fast as I wanted, but that taught me patience and I can’t be too quick to win all the time. Instead of giving up, I worked harder and slowed down the practicing. About a month before Sioux Falls, I rode her every day and focused on improving. I was also taking weekly lessons from my trainer, Kenny Kresbach, who helped me become a better rider and taught me how to connect better with my horse.

When Sioux Falls came around, everything started clicking. Rita and I did really well and that turned into a hot streak at the shows that followed. It felt rewarding because all the work was finally paying off. Then in August, Rita got a bad abscess and later cut her back leg open, which was a huge setback. It was frustrating after how well we had been doing, but it also taught me how quickly things can change and how important it is to adapt.

Because of that, I had to take over riding my mom’s newer horse, Spicy. Switching horses again was a challenge, but it pushed me to learn even more. I rode Spicy at NCSA Finals this past year and the start didn’t go well but the next day it went amazing, and since then I’ve kept riding her and improving every day while getting ready for Sioux Falls this year. Every horse has taught me something different, and those experiences have helped shape me as a rider.

One thing ranch sorting has taught me is that progress comes from hard work and consistency. There are good runs and bad runs, wins and losses, but every ride teaches you something. I’ve learned patience, responsibility, sportsmanship, and how to keep working even when things aren’t going my way.

Another important part of horsemanship to me is helping younger kids who are getting started. I enjoy being around younger riders, helping them feel comfortable, and showing them that this sport is supposed to be fun while also teaching. Even though I’m still learning myself, I like helping kids with things I’ve picked up along the way, whether it’s giving them riding tips, helping build their confidence, or just encouraging them at shows. I know how much support and advice helped me when I was younger, and I want to be that kind of person for others. I believe being a good person is not only about your own success, but also about helping others grow in the sport.

If I were awarded this scholarship, I would use the $500 toward clinics and lessons with trainers. I’ve already seen how much lessons have helped me improve, especially working with Kenny Kresbach. More clinics and training opportunities would help me keep building my skills, correcting mistakes, and learning from experienced horsemen. It would also give me knowledge I can use to help other riders too.

In the future, I plan to stay involved in the equine industry and continue riding and competing. I want to keep improving, gaining experience, and pushing myself to be better. Horses have taught me discipline, dedication, and how to work through setbacks, and those lessons carry over into everyday life.

Overall, horses have become a huge part of who I am. I take pride in how far I’ve come, from learning on Lena, to growing with Rita, to continuing to improve with Spicy. This scholarship would help me continue growing in the sport and give me more opportunities to learn, improve, and give back to the sorting community that has given me so much.