July 30, 2010
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Youth Nationals

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July 27, 2009

…It Runs in the Family

Gary McDonald and Sonora Rose

The Tingley Arena is the most important venue on the fairgrounds and it was the scene of several major Youth National finals classes on Monday. Bright and early the young halter handlers appeared, coifed, dressed and ready to compete. Among them was Kenny McDonald, son of Scottsdale trainer Gary McDonald and, at the ripe old age of eleven, a veteran of the show ring. Kenny started riding at four, and made his first appearance in the show ring just after his sixth birthday, winning his first Top Ten at the Scottsdale Show. This early start just made Kenny's first Youth National Championship more exciting. He won the roses Monday morning in the Halter Mare JOTH 17 & Under with Sonora Rose.

Alex Muniz

Hailey's Horse

The marvelous UPHA Challenge Cup had its finals today as well, with roses going to Alex Gendron and Ladighazi in the Walk/Trot 10 & Under, Astro Man and Alexis Muniz in the JTR 14-17 and to Wyatt Budd on Sufis Highcommand in the JTR 13 & Under. Wyatt is also part of a horse training family. His father Mike is a respected trainer in the Midwest with his Tri Color Stables, and his brother Dalton took over a half dozen national championships with Sufis Highcommand throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s at the Youth and Canadian National Championships.

Tassels, Bubles and Beads

Kelsey Kuhn

Some of the great highlights of the Youth Nationals are the novelty classes, and in this tradition Monday offers the Stick Horse class. Ages range from babies in strollers to four and five-year-olds, just a touch too young for the Walk Trot 10 & Under division. Some are obviously the sons and daughters of horsemen, while others are pure and simple young horse lovers or the children of horse lovers. All win a blue ribbon and a few moments of pure bliss just for being a part of the extraordinary world of the Arabian horse. All of us older dream chasers can also claim this same simple joy and truth.

The Smallest Cowboy