ASHA Convention Hosts Busy Weekend for Youth Members
Friday, February 27, 2004

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The 2004 ASHA Youth Conference, held with the ASHA Convention Feb. 20 - 22, was a fun, fast and friendly weekend. The Embassy Suites hotel off Newtown Pike was the guest facility. While the adults were busy in classes and workshops, the youth of the ASHA indulged in a weekend geared to fun and the enjoyment of the American Saddlebred and fellow riders.

Jennifer Grey of the ASHA heads up this event each year for the youth, scheduling field trips, education and awards. The agenda this year began Friday evening with a circus theme. There were games for all ages and even an opportunity to make a picture frame for a treasured photo of the weekend. Pizza and an abundant supply of drinks were also available. The night ended early so that everyone could get rested and be ready for the big field trip the following day.

Saturday morning after loading four Greyhound buses, the group found its way to Shelbyville, Ky., Saddlebred Capital of the World. The first stop found the group touring the historic Shelbyville fairgrounds and learning about important events and horses pertaining to the breed. A video showing the history of Shelbyville played on the bus monitors. After the fairgrounds the agenda was to travel to Equine Services Surgical Hospital, Alliance Stud and Premier Stables. Each of these facilities were informative and exciting. New medical advancements were seen, stallions displayed and many champion show horses worked for the youth.

Not only were the youth educated, they were able to partake in a little bit of history, by eating lunch at Claudia Sanders Dinner Restaurant. While eating lunch, Don Harris dropped by and ended up signing autographs.

The ASHA Awards Dinner was held Saturday evening. After having dinner in the main area with other ASHA convention members, the youth were dismissed to present their own awards. The hostess for the evening, Keri Jamison, opened the ceremony with a few words and then introduced the guest speaker, Vicki Gillenwater. Gillenwater encouraged the youth with quotes and humor intertwined with personal stories. After finishing her presentation, the awards were presented.

There were many awards given at this conference. Each year not only are awards given to show riders, but also to the academy riders of the industry. The achievements of the academy riders are recorded, and then each rider is awarded gold, silver or bronze for their accomplishments. Youth academy programs came from Nebraska to Florida to take part in this weekend. Not only were the individuals awarded, but many academy youth clubs were acknowledged for their achievements. Junior ASHAG was awarded the Youth Club of the Year. Along with the academy awards came the ASHA Juvenile Choice Awards. The results can be found in this section.

The youth dance capped off the evening. With over 165 youth present the Saddlebred industry is alive and going strong. ASHA Juvenile Choice Awards Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under CH Fox DeJour and Kelsey Price Owned By Pleasant View Farm Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor 14-17 CH Chandler and Lisa McClaren Owned By The Fifth Gait LLC Five-Gaited Pony Jewels For A Lady and Danielle Dunn Owned By Steve and Charlotte Birge Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under CH Undulata’s Perfect Gift ERB and Aaron Stump Owned By O.A. Stump, Jr., Aaron, A. O. Stump III Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor 14-17 CH Sportster and Kate Bryan Owned By Dr. Hugh and Marion Bryan Three-Gaited Pony Simbara’s Audacity and Brittany McGinnis Owned By Fish Creek Stables LLC Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under CH Riva Diva and Ali Judah Owned By Judah Saddlebreds LLC Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor 14-17 Undulata’s Jimmy Hollywood and Careen Dubuc Owned By Edith Loeb Tomasko Trust Show Pleasure Driving Junior Exhibitor CH Advantage Me and Aliyah Asch Owned By Sarah Asch Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under Midtown Man and Kendyl Tracy Owned By Get A Grip & Stuff, Inc. Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Junior Exhibitor 14-17 Cloverleaf’s Pocketful Of Miracles and Shana Jo Brown Owned By Tom Sworm Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor CH My Korbel and Victoria Woodruff Owned By Vonda Goff Saddle Seat Equitation 10 & Under Walk/Trot Chelsea Jo Roby Saddle Seat Equitation 10 & Under Brittany McGinnis Saddle Seat Equitation 13 & Under Kyle Gagnon Saddle Seat Equitation 14-17 Betty Cox Saddle Seat Equitation 13 & Under Jessica Moctezuma Saddle Seat Equitation 14-17 Jessica Harrison 2004 ASHA Youth Club Awards Outstanding Achievement in History Cryst-A-Kell Critters, Paducah, Kentucky Outstanding Achievement in Membership Saddlebred Riders United, Chicago, Illinois Outstanding Achievement in Meetings and Programs Junior ASHAG, Buford, Georgia Outstanding Achievement in Educational Activities Junior ASHAG, Buford, Georgia Outstanding Achievement in Community Service Lovell’s Little Bits, Winston Salem, North Carolina Outstanding Achievement in Fund-raising Biggins Bridle Bunch, Simpsonville, Kentucky Outstanding Achievement in Promotions Junior ASHAG, Buford, Georgia ASHA 2004 Youth Club of the Year Junior ASHAG, Buford, Georgia

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