Youth


Youth 2007 Youth Nationals A Newcomer Show Mom's View of Youth Nationals 2006 2006 Youth Nationals and AHA Youth Contests 2006 Region 10 Youth Roundup--Going to the Dogs! 2005 MHAHA Youth Celebration 2005 Region 10 Youth Roundup Report Experience Youth Nationals Region 10 Youth Program Region 10 Youth Roundup Judging Teams

2007 Youth Nationals

Judging Teams:

MAHA Judging Team Click here for MAHA Thank You note.	WAHA Judging Team Anna Hunt, Katie Pfeil, Pat Davis, Sydney Arnold, Jessica Hornung, Kristen Eckenberg Click here for WAHA Thank You note.

Parade of Golf Carts

Region 10 Youth lead off their entry in the Golf Cart parade.
What a great cart!

A Newcomer Show Mom's View of 2006 Youth Nationals by Mary Mishefske (mother of Betsy Christensen)

A Show Mom’s view of Youth Nationals: My first trip to Arabian Youth Nationals (July 22-29, 2006) was filled with excitement and trepidation. No, I wasn’t riding, but my daughter was. I’m a show mom and 10 days alone together with my 13 year old daughter could be a challenge. How was I to keep her from driving me insane and vice-versa? How long could a couple of classes take? Well, little did I know how busy we would be. The week started with the AHYA convention on Saturday. The kids were wild, pirates everywhere. Youth officers were elected. Yo-Ho. Then presentations of the Art contest winners of which my daughter was one. Later the Region 10 youth met for planning of the parade of regions. We did manage to check on our horse and get my daughter a lesson, too. In fact, there was a hunt clinic where 2 trainers were helping a variety of kids. It was fascinating, except I can’t listen to 2 people at once. Did I mention the Welcome Picnic at which we snuck a peek and grabbed a bite to eat in the rain? Sunday was her first classes. Boy, do those classes go slow. Over 1 hour for her showmanship section. And the heat was extreme (temperature and competition). One unfortunate girl in the next section passed out from the heat. Do you know they choose 8 from each section, first comes the I, II, III preliminary sections, then the A/B sections, so the semifinal/final is usually a class of 16? The largest class this year was 95 (Hunt Pleasure JTR 14-17)! The Region parade in the afternoon was terrific. I didn’t know there were so many kids in Region 10. Many stalls were also decorated for the stall decorating contest with beach chairs, sand castles, lobsters, and Dorothy’s ruby red slippers on wicked witch feet appearing under a stall. Monday was another class after getting to sleep late. We found the award room and saw all the trophies and ribbons to be won. Awesome! There’s the Daily Hoofprint Newsletter to tell you the class results and what you missed. There were 3,212 entries and 1169 horses entered making it the biggest year in its 14 year history. Tuesday, we missed the dog costume contest. Did I mention all the vendors (more than 50) selling tack, jewelry, and clothing. Did you get your ticket for the trailer raffle? Wednesday was the ice cream social, more for the little kids though. There were 2 active arenas holding classes (the Tingley Coliseum and the Horse Barn) plus the dairy barn and outdoor rodeo arenas at select times, so you couldn’t see everything. There were just as many warm-up arenas to use plus a race track and of course the fair grounds themselves. My daughter disappeared several times riding her horse among the people. Thursday was Hippology. My daughter wouldn’t do it unless I did. 10 stations at 2 minutes each was quite an experience in musical chairs. It was very well organized. Little did I know how much I didn’t know. Each station tested a different topic from bits to tack, hoof parts to breeding, horse safety to training. I know a few books I need to get now. My daughter got Reserve National Champion. How’d she do that? On the way out, we passed by the dairy barn and watched dressage for awhile. Friday was the novice judging contest and I was again coerced by my daughter to join in the fun. We sat through a short clinic on how to judge and then decided 4 classes of 4 horses. This time I got National Champion. I didn’t even study, in fact, I’ve never done this before. Now my daughter will have to listen to me, you think? Saturday was more finals to watch (can’t miss your friends) and working cow and hunter jumpers to watch. We missed the road apple rumble and boot scoot street dance. We did find time to visit the mountains, the petroglyphs, the mall, and old Town (more than once). We swam in the hotel pool to cool off and even got to sleep late a few times. Did I mention that I’m looking for a horse for myself now? I rode twice during youth nationals as there are plenty for sale. Never did I expect to come home with ribbons not associated with riding not to mention the fact that I, as a show mom, got ribbons. I had just as much fun as my daughter who is the prettiest, smartest, and best all around kid in the world (I’m just a little partial). Did I mention the 3 ft. Sombrero? Mary Mishefske

AHA Youth Nationals and Creative Contest--2006

Region 10 youth are having a great time at Youth Nationals, and I don't mean just showing horses (see below for that and for other contest results). Look at what they did with the golf cart float decorating contest!

They can't wait to get started decorating that float! And just look at the results . . . . But wait, there's more . . . .


2006 YOUTH NATIONALS PLACINGS IN THE SHOW RING AND IN OTHER EXCITING CONTESTS

Steffanie Olson & MM Kingslee+/, WAHA, National Champion Arabian Ladies Sidesaddle Western
Betsy Christensen, WAHA, Hippology 13 & Under, Reserve National Champion
Adam Rickart, MHAHA, Halter Geldings, Top Ten
Betsy Christensen, WAHA, Novice Judging Clinic, Top Ten
Ellyn Harris, WAHA, Novice Judging Clinic, National Champion
Mary Mishefske (Betsy's mom), WAHA, Novice Judging Clinic, National Champion
Ellen Harris, WAHA, Hunter Pleasure 13 & Under, Top Ten
Morgan Kelly & WR Sonaskada+//, MAHA, Country Pleasure JTR 14-17, Top Ten
Morgan Kelly & WR Sonaskada+//, MAHA, Country Pleasure JOTR 14-17, Top Ten
Jordan LeFever, MAHA, Western Pleasure JTR 13 & Under, National Champion
Cassie LeFever, MAHA, Western Pleasure JTR 14-17, Top Ten
Deanna Luce, WAHA, UPHA Arabian Breeds Challenge Cup 14-17, National Champion
Deanna Luce, WAHA, HA/AA Country English Pleasure JTR 14-17, National Champion
Deanna Luce, WAHA, HA/AA Saddleseat Equitation 14-17, Top Ten
Rachel Rhein, WDHA, Show Hack JOTR 17 and Under, Top Ten
Rachel Rhein, WDHA, Costume JOTR 17 and Under, Top Ten


2006 CREATIVE CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to Betsy Christensen. Even before Youth Nationals, she won BOTH the art contest and the creative/photo contest for the 11-13 age group. See her work below. Way to go, Betsy! Betsy is a member of the Wisconsin Arabian Horse Association and shows her horse, Rainier Echo, in Hunter Pleasure and Showmanship classes.

2006 Region 10 Youth Roundup

Every year the Roundup seems like a bigger success than the previous year. Good fun and good competition abound--both in and outside the show ring. Always popular is the dog class, which is getting very competitive (dog eat dog??). Can you pick a favorite??

Annie LeFever, Cowgirl,Top Ten

And there's the all important planning and camaraderie. . . .



Be sure to join us in 2007!

MHAHA's 2005 Youth Celebration
ROCKS Minnesota Horse Lovers

Descriptions of the Day

--by Megan Christianson

The Minnesota Half Arabian Horse Association put on an Arabian Horse Celebration on June 18th. We had approximately 500 people attend. The youth worked very hard to put this event on. The kids met twice a month since January. It was a huge success with 10 different games, horse presentations, AHA booth with Arabian Horse Times, food, pony rides, groom a horse,movie theatre, tattoo's and My Little Pony Hair . The youth and parents that worked very hard to make this event successful are:

Youth Members: Adam Rickart-President, Emily Schofield-Secretary, Kendra and Michaela Hagel-Treasurer, Megan and Emily Christianson-Historian, Amanda Martin, Ahnna and Marissa Olgrady, and Lexa Schaub.

Parents: Chris Rickart-Advisor, Kris Hagel, Amy Christianson, and Leesa Schofield.

It was amazing watching youth sharing with youth their biggest passion, the Arabian Horse. Here is what one of the youth members wrote-

"Where in the wide world can man find nobility without pride, friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity? Here, where grace is laced with muscle and strength by gentleness confined."
~Ronald Duncan

June 18th, 2005. This day will forever be remembered by many, whether it's being remembered by an 8 year old girl, who for one day had the opportunity to be surrounded by horses and the people who love them, or by a youth member who spent the day volunteering to help make the day a success. It will even be remembered by the parents who drove their kids to numerous places to help in the long preparation for this event. June 18th will go down in history as a memorable day for all horses lovers; big and small, city slickers and country folk, horse owners and kids who have dreams of being able to look at a horse.

An Arabian Celebration………None of us actually knew what those words would come to mean when we unanimously agreed to put on an event of this nature, but we would soon find out! The idea came to us from our youth advisor, Chris Rickart, at our December Holiday party. She informed us that that we would be the first group in Minnesota to put on this event, but however she did specify that it would be done entirely by the youth. The big question arrived: where would we be able to hold an event of this size? Midwest Training Center was kind enough to let us use their training facilities. The first jump was cleared!
January, the start of the long planning journey. Committees were broken down into what we thought was needed and then we each chose which committee would best suit us. Keep in mind that each group had a parent advisor. After months of planning, picking out food, deciding on prizes and games, choosing who can do demonstrations (with the horses resting between horse shows), and which horses would be suitable for pony rides, we were getting close.

At last, we reached the final month of anticipation. All of the small details kept multiplying. The posters were a work in progress, we started handing our fliers at the local schools, and we were getting excited.

The first glimpse that people had when arriving at our event was plush green pastures enclosed with white picket fences and beautiful Arabian horses frolicking in the fields. Upon being greeted at the registration table people were already saying thank you. Guests were directed to pony rides/groom a horse, the carnival games, the movie theater featuring "The Young Black Stallion", the horse demonstrations or the exquisite barns of Midwest Training Center.

Picture two siblings walking out of a place where they never thought they would be. Picture a little boy with his cowboy boots and cowboy hat wearing a deputy sheriff badge, and his older sister holding his hand proudly wearing an Arabian Celebration 2005 t-shirt and carrying a copy of The Arabian Horse Times. It's youth giving to youth-it's turning dreams into reality.

Chris Rickart, thank you for continuously believing in the youth club and encouraging us to always believe in and follow our dreams. David Boggs and all of Midwest for letting us use your fabulous facility, letting the public view your amazing Arabian horses "You touch one, you want one", thank you for always putting youth at the top of your list. Walter Mishek for donating the Arabian Horse Times, Gardner Fencing for your generous donation to the youth club and to all the volunteers that gave of themselves and their time to the youth. We thank you all!

MHAHA Youth Celebration
By: Adam Rickart (President)

On the perfect day of June 18^th, the Minnesota Half Arabian Horse Youth Association celebrated the greatness of the Arabian horse at Midwest Station II. If any of you don’t know what the Arabian Horse Celebration is I will explain it to you. It’s a promotion program made to show the Arabian horse to the public. Our youth group decided to do this at our Christmas party when my mom (Chris Rickart) a.k.a. the youth coordinator told us about it. We all loved the idea and six months later we were the first youth club ever to put this on.

So yes, we invited the whole state of Minnesota to come and see the magic of the Arabian horse. At our celebration we had many fun games, activities, and other horse involved things. A couple of the games that we had were; a trail cake walk, my little pony hair (that was huge), horse trough, wheel of horse, and we also had the movie The Young Black Stallion Playing. We also had pony rides and the coolest and probably the most popular was the horse presentations. And everything was for free. We had all types of Arabian and half Arabian horses showing the crowd there best. For example we had presentations from the following divisions; Halter (a special thanks to Midwest for letting us use Ladie Magnum and Shutup and Dance), English, Hunt, Western, and Dressage. On behalf of the youth club I would like to thank all of the presenters for their hard work and for their time to come and ride.

This celebration I have to say was very rewarding. I say that because all of the smiles on the families faces made me feel that it was so special to own an Arabian horse and how lucky I am too. I bet our whole youth club and the volunteers that do have Arabian horses would think the same. So all of you youth clubs, parent clubs, any clubs, you should defiantly have a celebration for the Arabian horse!! It’s worth it.

So on behalf of our youth club, I would like to thank these people. Chris Rickart, my mom and the person that keeps this youth group alive. She deserves the world for all of the hard work she puts into everything!! David, Terry Anne, Courtney, Lindsey, and Emma Boggs, thank you so much for letting us use your farm. It wouldn’t have been such a success without you letting us use Midwest Station II. All of the volunteers. It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you. Victor and Lori Rigliano, thank you for taking pictures during this event. Gardner Fence, thank you for donating $500 dollars. Walter Mishek, thank you for donating Arabian Horse Times. Sorry if I didn’t spell that right. And most of all, the 500 people that came. Thank you all very much!