Page 128 - April 2017

CHARLES C. LEE
A 17-year-old junior who is home- schooled in McAllen, Texas
Charles C. Lee epitomizes the hard- working young people who are involved with the Texas Quarter Horse
Youth Association. The well-spoken young man not only has forged lifetime friendships through the TQHYA, he has given back by serving in a variety of capacities.
Just 17, Charles has spent about 10 years of his life affiliated with the TQHYA. He began as a reporter, served as president for 2015-16, and is now vice president and youth advisor.
“The TQHYA has opened so many doors for me and has provided so many opportunities for me, from leadership to showing to racing,” said Charles. “I am so grateful to be a part of an amazing organization.”
Through the TQHYA and the American Quarter Horse Association, Charles has taken part in the AQHA Youth World Cup in Tamworth, Australia, TQHYA Race Horse Experience, and AQHA National Youth Racing Experience. During the latter, he had the opportunity to shadow trainer Elena Andrade at Los Alamitos.
Charles especially appreciated being able to watch World Champion JRC Callas First, a Texas-bred, compete in California.
“I was so impressed by his record in racing, and I actually got to meet his owner and trainer at the TQHA year-end banquet this year,” said Charles. “It was really surreal to see people
Charles at the AQHA National Youth Racing Experience with Graded stakes placed winner Jess Cuz, who was trained in her race career by Elena Andrade.
from my home state in California competing at such a prestigious level.”
Charles comes from a halter and perfor- mance background. His parents, Chris and Amy, had horses, and his grandfather Daniel
“He is the youngest person to win the title in that event.”
Small showed halter horses. Charles’ own show experience began at age 8 in 4-H and at AQHA youth shows with his grandfather’s halter horses.
“I showed Kidarrific Cowboy, aka ‘Clyde,’ to a qualification on Team Texas for the Built Ford Tough AQHA Youth World Show three times and placed in the Top 15 every time,” Charles said.
After watching competitors in reining and working cow horse, Charles told his father that he wanted to try those disciplines.
“I got on a cow horse we had gotten from a family friend, Lito Benavides, and ever since then, I was hooked into reining and working cow horse,” Charles said.
Riding Quemados Shadow, Charles quali- fied to the Youth World Show in working cow horse, barrel racing, pole bending, and stakes race. He currently rides Peppilena and Sassy Greyt Lady. On Peppilena, Charles was the bronze champion in reining, fifth in ranch rid- ing, and a finalist in breakaway roping at the 2014 Zoetis/AQHA Level 1 Championships.
Charles has competed on both horses at the Youth World Show, where in 2012 he
also earned a World Champion title in public speaking. He is the youngest person to win the title in that event.
Before he participated in the regional and national racing experiences, Charles admitted
that he expected racehorses to be animals “that were losing their brains every five minutes and were very naughty—boy, was I wrong.” At the Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale, Charles learned that racing horsemen used some of the same training techniques that his halter peers do.
“When they entered the ring, they would square their feet up and show them off like in
a halter class,” said Charles. “My grandfather actually bought a horse out of the yearling sale.”
Charles plans to attend Texas A&M University after he graduates from high school. He wants to pursue a degree in biomedical sci- ence to possibly work as a physician’s assistant.
Horses will always be a part of his life, however, either showing horses as an adult or perhaps even as a racehorse owner.
“My grandfather continues to indulge my interest,” said Charles. “I love being around horses and the excitement, but horse racing continues to be a ‘rich man’s sport’ and I have a long way to go.”
126 SPEEDHORSE, April 2017
Charles at the AQHA Youth World Cup in Australia with Fred, who was an alternate called up to compete for team France.
YOUTH INDUSTRY PROFILE