July 30, 2010
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July 30, 2009

Junior Journalist Reports: AHYA Hippology Contest

As the storm picked up and the rain fell hard, there was one thing keeping some people busy: the hippology contest. Run in the Youth Hall, the hippology contest consisted of 18 stations made up of various questions having to do with horses. Questions ranged from everything to labeling different parts of saddles, bridles and hooves, all the way to questions regarding horse food and its nutrition.

Contestants face a random assortment of horse-related questions. The turn-out this year was great.

The contest was split into four different age groups: 9 and under, 10-13, 14-18, and 19 and up. With approximately 100 people participating in the entire contest, the 14-18 section was definitely the busiest.

Shelly Simon participated in the 19 & Over age group for the contest.

The contest allows people to get a quick break from the horse show and all the stress while still doing what they love to do and dealing with horses. "I really enjoyed getting to put my knowledge about horses to use in something that was fun and has a reward," said Leanna Vandlen from Hillsborough, California.

In addition to just competing in the contest, Top 10s were given out to the top 10 scorers from each age group, and presented in Tingley Coliseum on Thursday night.

The winners gather in center ring.

Dee Dee Kramer, from Kramer Training in Woodside, California, was able to compete in the contest along side other adults and trainers. "Each year when I come to Youth Nationals with my students, I look forward to not only the horse show, but also being able to participate in the hippology along side my students," she said.

The hippology contest is a great activity enjoyed by many, and brought people from all different regions and disciplines together.

This story and coverage was done by Youth Nationals Junior Journalist Zoë Aron, 16 years old from Burlingame, California.