Skip to content

Stephens Equestrian Student Wins World Championship



COLUMBIA, Mo. – On Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, Stephens College junior Amanda Martin rode her four-year-old five-gaited American Saddlebred to the Junior Five-Gaited World Champion of Champions title in Louisville, Ky. Earlier in the week, on Aug. 18, Martin and her horse, The Daily Lottery, won first place in the very competitive qualifying class as well.

In addition to these wins, the 20-year-old student from Diamondhead, Miss., catch-rode Arrowhead’s Dreamcatcher for owner Deborah Butler to a win in the qualifying class of the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Championship on Aug. 18, and to the Reserve World Championship title in the same category, on Aug. 22.

"Mandy bested a large field of professional trainers to take top honors," says Ellen Beard, chair of the equestrian studies department at Stephens. "This was an amazing feat." Martin’s wins at the 105th World’s Championship Horse Show represent the highest honor in the Saddlebred industry for an amateur rider.

Martin, who started riding horses when she was 7 years old, has competed in The World Cup and won as a member of Team USA several times. In 2004, she helped the team win gold in the five-gaited division, and she also achieved the highest individual score in the competition. The following year she won a gold medal again as member of the invitational team in the five-gaited division. In 2006 Martin was an alternate rider for Team USA in the 3-gaited division. Although she did not compete, the team went on to win gold. Finally, in 2007, Martin rode in the three-gaited and five-gaited divisions with Team USA, which won silver in both competitions. Because The World Cup is a team competition, however, Martin describes her recent wins in the World’s Championship as a great individual honor. She enjoyed being able to compete with her own horse, nicknamed "Dan," because World Cup riders, who are strictly amateurs, are assigned to ride horses unfamiliar to them.

"Winning with my horse, Dan, and competing against professionals was a huge honor," she says.

Martin is grateful to her horse’s caretaker, P.J. Terblanche, and his trainer, Mark Turner, both of DeLovely Farm Inc., in Rockport, Ind., for their work in preparing The Daily Lottery for the show. She also credits the Stephens College equestrian studies department for its role in her success.

"The individual attention you get at Stephens gets you farther," she says. Martin, who as a freshman was able to take a horse to the American Royal Show Horse, has taken full advantage of the early opportunities she has had at Stephens to begin projecting horses, becoming responsible for their care and grooming and being able to work with them outside of class.

"As long as you’re willing to put forth the effort, you can start working directly with the horses at any level," she says. "If you’re willing to put forth the effort, you can get to the top."

More Stories

  • Latest Issue 6 12 23

    Read More
  • Nominations for UPHA Hall of Fame and Lifetime Awards Now Being Accepted

    The United Professional Horsemen's Association is accepting nominations for its UPHA Tom Moore Hall of Fame, Helen K. Crabtree Instructor Hall of Fame, Larry Bacon Lifetime Achievement Award, and Alvin C. Ruxer Lifetime Commitment Award. Read More
  • #FoalsNFocus – Week 11

    Some are just taking their first steps, others are shedding, but the quality of the 2023 foal crop has been spectacular week after week in all of our show breeds. Read More
  • High Spirits Riders Make Horses a Way of Life

    “The journeys for all five of these kids are basically the same. They’ve all become barn rats and it started with lessons and Academy,” said High Spirits Farm instructor Allison Cantrell, referring to the five junior exhibitor riders who just participated at the Madison Classic. “Four of these kids first showed with us and they are riding horses that were bred here. Read More
  • Beth Jones Passes Away

    Saddle Horse Report has learned the sad news of the passing of longtime owner and exhibitor Beth Jones of Bellefontaine, Ohio Monday, June 5th. Read More
  • ASHBA Announces Hunter Task Force

    The Hunter Country Pleasure division is one of the fastest-growing American Saddlebred divisions, with 645 classes across the nation in 2022. ASHBA recognizes the importance of this division and the versatility it offers our breed. Read More
  • Attention Hackney Youth

    The AHHS announced Hackney Youth Creative Arts and Writing Contest. This is your opportunity to showcase your creativity. Your goal is to share YOUR representation of the Hackney using any medium (material) of your choosing. Three lucky winners will be drawn from the entries to receive $500 each, along with select entries receiving featured spots in the youth newsletter. Read More
  • Latest Issue 6 5 23

    Read More
  • Hoof Beats and High Fashion

    The American Saddlebred Museum presents the annual July Fundraiser—Hoof Beats and High Fashion on Friday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m.  Read More
  • Freedman’s Gift Package Raffle

    The American Saddlebred Museum and Freedman's are offering a chance to win an amazing gift package and support the Museum at the same time! The prize package, valued at $550, is full of useful items any horseperson needs and features several exciting new products as well. Read More