American Royal Spotlight Shines on Youth Medallion Competitors
Monday, December 8, 2003
By Kelley Colvin
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Youth Medallion program was included among the week's spotlights at the American Royal. The American Hackney Horse Society Youth Medallion program is designed for those youths who show in classes specifically geared toward promoting Hackney horses and ponies. Competitors must have competed all season in the specially named classes and must be under the age of 21.
The American Royal is the culmination of the show season for the Youth Medallion competitors, who show all year in hopes of qualifying to compete in the National Championship in such divisions as Hackney/Harness Combination, Roadster Pony, Pleasure Pony and Pleasure Pony or Horse Under Saddle.
The number of participants for the event this year was about the same as in past years, according to Mary Lou Greenwell, program organizer.
"We need to try to get all of the participants we can for this event so that we can keep promoting the youth through the ponies," Greenwell said.
A special luncheon, sponsored by the Cram family, was held for all the Medallion Finalists. Among the prizes given away were a complimentary black and white page in Hackney World Magazine, a weeklong Road Pony camp with Robert Wilson and a $150 gift certificate to Carl Myers.
Quality competition was the order of the day in the Youth Medallion division. Cindy Cram, in her last year of competition in the Youth Medallion division, rode away with two tricolor awards under the direction of Tim and Roxanne Lockard. Cram expressed that she has enjoyed a full year of success and will miss the program next year.
In the single-entry AHHS Youth Medallion National Championship Hackney/Harness Combination class, Lightning Up and Meredithe Steinhauer were crowned the champions for Denise Steinhauer.
Boxford Courageous Spirit, with Richmond De Hart at the whip, drove to the blue in the AHHS Youth Medallion Roadster Pony 13 & Under National Championship showing under the Hart to Hart banner. Tijuana Souvenir and Dylan Hutson were reserve driving under the Infinity Stable banner. Sarah Sessoms drove Rowdy Yank to the yellow ribbon under the guidance of Diamond View.
Meredithe Steinhauer drove Dun Haven Majestic Motion to the winner's circle in the AHHS Youth Medallion Roadster Pony 14-17 National Championship for Denise Steinhauer. Zeus and owner/exhibitor Cindy Cram drove to the red tricolor. Pure Country and Holli McDowell trotted to the third place tie for Charlotte Goodman.
Zeus and Cindy Cram also claimed top honors in the AHHS Youth Medallion Roadster Pony Under Saddle National Championship for the third year in a row. Boxford Courageous Spirit and Richmond DeHart trotted to a demanding reserve for Hart to Hart Stable. Blockbuster D.V. and Ashlynn Thommes rode to the third place award for Joe Kryzer.
Heartland Parade Time, with Kelsey Herbert at the lines, drove to the tricolor ribbon in the AHHS Youth Medallion Pleasure Driving Pony National Championship for Caleb Herbert. Portrait of a Lady and owner/exhibitor Paul Pippin claimed the reserve. Gabriella Flynn drove Cowboy Magic to the third place ribbon for the Florida Pain Institute.
In a unanimous vote of the judges, Cindy Cram was aboard Dessert Lights to win the AHHS Youth Medallion Pleasure Pony or Horse Under Saddle National Championship under the Oakwoods Farm banner. Great Day and owner/exhibitor Aliyah Asch were reserve. "Outa" The Blue and Makala Wessel took the yellow ribbon home for Mike and Jacqueline Wessel.
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