2002 Youth Nationals Celebrates a Decade of Champions

Ten years ago, the first Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show surprised exhibitors with the diverse number of classes and the huge slate of youth activities. Today those classes have almost doubled going from 58 to more than 100 classes covering everything from dressage, English pleasure, hunter pleasure and halter to western pleasure, native costume, reining and working cow. This year's show featured 910 horses and 2,393 class entries. New classes for 2002 offered more for the younger exhibitors with the addition of Showmanship JTR 10 & Under, Freestyle Reining Exhibition JTR 13 & Under and the UPHA Arabian Breeds Walk/ Trot Challenge Cup 10 & under.

The first championship roses of the 2002 Youth National horse show were awarded to Missiaen Jenkins aboard Satans Alimo (Sur-Bonan x Bit O' Angel) in the Hunt Seat Equitation Over Obstacles championship. The championship performances were echoed in the Half-Arabian/ Anglo-Arabian Regular Working Hunter championship and Arabian Regular Working Hunter championship when Missiaen Jenkins rode Anglo-Arabian Satans Alimo and Michael Desiderio rode the Arabian gelding Ser Imanask+ (Serinask x Lady-Imaron) to their respective championships.

At the first Youth National Halter Showmanship JTH 10 and Under class, which showcased the skills of nine competitors ranging in age from 6 to 11, Macie Long and GS Knight Wind+// (Crimson Knight x GSA Wild Allure) were awarded the championship. The reserve championship went to a very excited Krista Williams and Mine Allmine+ (Sky Fighter x MM Mon Cheri).

The show's Dressage High Point Award went to the Arabian gelding Time Zone+/ (One More Time x La Maya) ridden by Natasha Lesburgueres to a combined score of 181 in the Dressage Training Level JTR 14-17 championship class. Time Zone+/ received a dressage bridle donated by the Arabian Saddle Company as the Dressage High Point Award. In addition to the championship title and High Point Award, Time Zone+/ also picked up four top tens in training level, first level and introductory level dressage.

Earning two national championships in less than an hour makes for an unforgettable day. Austin Knipe took back-to-back championships in Half-Arabian Saddle/ Pleasure Type Geldings and Half-Arabian Stock/ Hunter Type Geldings with Time of Yorr Life (Tikuahs Orr x Smanthas Frosty Time) and DRA Eqyty (Eqynox+ x CF Mamie's Night Out). Proud parents, Kenneth and Susan Knipe were ecstatic about the wins, "Austin rides but he loves to show halter. We are so excited, we hoped for this but we didn't expect this at all."

The Freestyle Reining exhibition class once again delighted spectators in its third appearance at Youth Nationals. This year, however, the division was split offering a championship for juniors 13 and under and 14-17. The two classes featured 12 competitors in individual presentations that included characters like Barbie and Ken, Shrek, Nicole Kidman, and peace-loving ninjas. The win in the 13 & Under division went to Amanda Redmond and Jaborrs Impack+// (Jaborr x RF Fadjurs Flame) for their "Barbie's World" interpretation. Hillary Hoffman and Khaartoume not only won the Freestyle Reining 14-17 division, but also received a custom saddle donated by Western Tradition for earning the highest freestyle reining score on their "The Devil went Down to Georgia" number.

Youth activities gave exhibitors plenty of opportunities to relax and have fun during the week-long competition. The week's festivities started with the annual Parade of Regions, in which members from each region decorated a golf cart and then paraded in center ring. On Monday afternoon children aged 8 and under turned wooden dowels, socks, yarn and googly eyes into original stick horse creations for a special stick horse class that evening. The "anything goes" annual Dog Costume Contest and Dog Race held on Tuesday featured dogs dressed as cheetahs, ballerinas, "pugs in black," sheep and angels. The annual hippology and horse judging contests offered novices the chance to test their horse knowledge while competing for ribbons and top ten plaques.

Former Youth National competitor and trainer Jessica Bein may have summed up the atmosphere of this year's Youth Nationals best, "The social aspect of Youth Nationals is very important. The show gives kids a goal for the year; the atmosphere and activities keep it fun for the youth. It's important for kids to get the Youth Nationals experience, not just a ribbon."

Youth National Unanimous Champions:
Monvovia X (Barbary+++ x Mi Kauai) and Skyler Vento : Arabian Country English Pleasure JOTR 14-17
ZA Candiman+++/ (ZA MR Independent x CR Candelabra) and Shannon Timms: Arabian Hunter Pl JO 13 & Under
Captive Moment (CH Captive Spirit x Darmeina) and Jacqueline Venier: HA/AA Mare Breeding Saddle/Pleasure JOTR 17 & Under
OA Star Struck+// (MHR Nobility x Bermuda Star) and Morgan Wiggs: HA/AA English Pleasure JOTR 13 & Under
OA Star Struck+// (MHR Nobility x Bermuda Star) and Morgan Wiggs: HA/AA English Pleasure JTR 13 & Under
FSR Final Cheers (Barbary+++ x Luv That Status) and Whitney Taylor : HA/AA Country English Pleasure JOTR 13 & Under
FSR Final Cheers (Barbary+++ x Luv That Status) and Whitney Taylor: HA/AA Country English Pleasure JTR 13 & Under
WCF EL Matador++// (Zodiac Matador x A Fair Maiden) and Amy Hisrich: HA/AA Country Pleasure Driving JTD 17 & Under
Scene Stealer++++ (Comoshun x SS Sweet Samantha) and Pearl Taylor: HA/AA Western Pleasure JTR 14-17
TL Take Notice+/ (Take Heart x Retazahr) and Alexis Muniz: A/HA/AA Saddle Seat Equitation Walk/Trot 10 & Under
TJ Omniscient+ (Wisdom x FA Allusion) Paige Wagner: A/HA/AA Hunter Seat Equitation Not To Jump JTR 13 & Under
LJR Hucka Burnin Luv (Hucklebey Berry x Honey Dont) Samantha L Schmidt: A/HA/AA UPHA Arabian Breeds Challenge Cup JTR 14-17

Congratulations to all the 2002 Youth National winners.

IAHA® is a 28,000 member breed association that registers Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, administers more than $4 million in prize money annually, produces national events, maintains official event records , recognizes more than 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides a ctivities and programs that promote Arabian horse breeding and ownership. For in formation about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail iaha@iaha.com or visit www.iaha.com

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