SHELBURNE, VT— A group of six young equestrians traveled to Middelburg, South Africa, in March as Team Morgan 2009 to compete in an international saddle seat competition. Team Morgan is an international multi-discipline competition program for Morgan youth ages 14-21. Its mission is to promote the breed through international competition and provide educational experiences to Morgan youth.

Team Morgan 2009 was comprised of Lyssa Bomgaars of Walled Lake, Michigan; Brynne Cummings of South Woodstock, Connecticut; Kelsey Irvine of Green Bay, Wisconsin; Rachel Menard of Walpole, Massachusetts; Taylor Sams of La Mesa, California; and Maggie Smith of Ballston Spa, New York. Alternate Caitlyn Scholl of Wellington, Ohio, also took part in the competition. Cindy Mugnier of Belchertown, Massachusetts, was the team coach; Sarah Gove of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, was assistant coach; and Whitney Porter of Chandler, Arizona, was the team's manager. Cummings and Smith were voted as co-captains.

Team Morgan competed against the South African Boerperd Amateur Union (SABAU) and rode Saddlebreds and Boerperds, an equine breed native to South Africa during the two-day competition. Cummings was the overall individual champion and in the overall standings, Team Morgan finished with the silver medal.

A total of $25,000 was raised, which paid all travel expenses for the team members, coach, assistant coach, and manager, as well as for the team uniforms. Many generous individual and businesses donated money to fund the trip.

It has been confirmed that a new South African equitation team will travel to the United States in September to participate in a competition to take place at the Jubilee Regional Morgan Horse Show in Springfield, Illinois, September 2-5, 2009. Applications are being accepted by new riders wanting to compete in this event. For more information, contact AMHA at (802) 985-4944.