Skip to content

Meg Allen: FRANK OGLETREE YOUTH AWARD



Posted march 8, 2002
Editor's Note: The following speech was read by Brooke Jacobs at the ASHA Annual Convention Awards Banquet held on Saturday, February 23, 2002.
This evening, the American Saddlebred Horse Association awards the 17th Frank Ogletree Youth award. This award honors an outstanding young person who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment and dedication to the American Saddlebred, who serves as a positive role model, who has earned awards for accomplishments in horsemanship at the local, state or national levels of competition and who exemplifies true sportsmanship principles.

This year’s recipient is especially deserving. Having fallen in love with horses at the age of eight, this bright young lady managed to win the World Champion title in this year’s Open Seventeen Year Old Equitation class at the KY State Fair. What carried Meg Allen, this year’s Frank Ogletree Award honoree, to this level of competition, is what makes her so special. For unlike so many young people whose work for the blue consists solely of improving their equitation skills, Meg, has also had to work to financially support her horse activities.

As a sales rep for her father’s heating and cooling business in Elizabethtown, KY, as well as doing any available jobs at the barn with her trainer and cheerleader, Tammy Devore, Meg has managed as a teenager to do something most adults won’t or can’t do…support a horse and the expenses that go with it! She knew what she wanted and had the gumption to go out and do what it took to make her dream of riding and showing come true.

It was her dad who got her into this at the age of 8.Dad’s gift of Santana’s Flash and two years on the county fair circuit sealed her desire to make horses a part of her life. At ten she started working at the barn with Tammy in exchange for riding lessons. It was not until she was fourteen and could lease a suitable mount that she was able to return to the show ring. And in that first year "back in the saddle" she qualified for Madison Square Garden’s NHS Good Hands final as well as the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion finals though she could not afford to go to either.

As a fifteen year old, she once again qualified for the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation finals, this time on a leased, blind and unequitated horse. She worked even harder and managed to finance the trip to St. Louis for the Medallion finals. She didn’t win a ribbon, but was thrilled just being there competing!

In 2000, at age sixteen, Meg bought a three-year-old horse herself and won the Pleasure Equitation classes at Harrodsburg and Shelbyville. This horse was sold at the end of the summer before the finals and made Meg enough money to buy her "dream horse"…one which would show off her talents in her final year in juvenile classes in 2001. This horse was Stoneview’s Joy! With her steadfast friend, supporter and trainer, Tammy Devore, Meg hit the road with " Stoney" and came out on the winning end at Atlanta Pro Am, Rock Creek, Lexington Junior League, Decatur, a Reserve National UPHA National Senior Pleasure Equitation Championship and as stated before the World’s Championship at the KY State Fair in the Open 17 year old age division! She truly saved the best for last! What more need be said?

Well actually there is more to say about Meg. She is graduating from Elizabethtown High School this spring where she is an A/B student! She is a member of the Spanish and Pep clubs and represented her school at the Future Business Leaders of America! She plays Powder Puff football as well as being a reporter for her school’s yearbook and paper. Meg volunteers her time to Good Will where she puts together baskets for needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Meg will continue her studies this fall at college!

Tammy Devore says of Meg…."Meg is a hardworking, dependable, caring and loyal young lady who I have had the privilege of instructing since she was eight year old….as well as getting to know as a friend. Meg is one who is always there supporting all of my riders even when she couldn’t show herself and ……always with a smile on her face!"

Past recipients of the Frank Ogletree award have been Heather Cairns, Vickie Gillenwater, Kate Harvey, David Antonacci, Lindsay Lavery, Nicole Bearman, Adolph Zell, Jennifer Richardson, Gabe Deknatel, Sarah Howe,Matthew Shiflet, Ann Mary Robertson, Will Cannon, Deveau Zubrod and myself. Frank Ogletree encouraged commitment and dedication and would be especially pleased with this years honoree. As a past recipient of this very prestigious award, it is indeed an honor to present this year’s honoree, Miss Meg Allen.

More Stories

  • Letter To The Editor

    Dear Kentucky State Fair Board,

    My name is Melissa Moore; I am an American Saddlebred, Hackney and Roadster horse trainer. I am a second generation horse trainer whose family is deeply immersed in this equine industry and has been for over 75 years.  

    Read More
  • UPHA Office Moving

    UPHA is relocating to a new address. Kindly update your records with our new location. The postal address is P.O. Box 3728, Midway, KY 40347 and the physical address is 123 East Main St, Midway, KY 40347. Read More
  • From the Desk of Edward R. “Hoppy” Bennett

    Dear Members of The American Saddlebred Community, 

    As predicted, we have received pushback from various members of the Saddlebred industry, namely the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA).  When we made our decision to replace the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with Equine Sports Council (ESC), we were aware of and discussed this pushback and moved forward with the changes, knowingly.

    Read More
  • River Ridge Is USEF Lite Rated

    Barbara Dunham, manager of the River Ridge Charity Horse Show, announced that the show has been granted USEF Lite status for its April 24-27 event at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    In response to recent developments surrounding the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage to serve as a news hub for its members. This webpage will provide timely updates and information as the situation evolves. Read More
  • Morgan Grand National Update On New Coliseum

    The Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show is one step closer to the beginning of a new era as progress on the new state-of-the-art coliseum in Oklahoma City continues on schedule. Read More
  • Update On Citrus Cup Regional - New Venue and Dates For 2024

    Join in for fun in the sun at Citrus Cup at its new location, the fabulous World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, on April 24-27, 2024. Fay Lowry will be judging all main ring classes. The new revised class schedule includes classes for Morgans, Saddlebreds, Hackney, Harness Pony, Open breed, carriage, ranch riding, and dressage divisions. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    Many of you received an email today from David Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues, that indicates a decision has already been made by the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) to change the governance of the World's Championship Horse Show from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).  Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is extending the National and National Amateur Futurity weanling nomination deadline until May 1, 2024... Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) has given the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) notice to terminate its 1995 agreement with the KSFB to provide support to the World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS). The termination notice was hand delivered to the KSFB on Friday, March 15. Read More