MURFREESBORO, TENN –The Walking Horse Owners’ Association (WHOA) and the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) have announced the Youth Challenge Program will be a joint effort in 2008. The Youth Challenge program offers incentives to horse shows as well as youth riders to encourage participation in the Youth 17 & Under Performance Canter division.
“The 2007 Youth Challenge Program was very successful with 42 shows participating and we anticipate 2008 to be another record year for this program”, says Mark Taylor, WHOA sales & marketing director. “Montverde Academy Equestrian Program of Montverde, FL. graciously sponsored the inaugural year of the Youth Challenge and we certainly appreciate Montverde’s support again this year as a Platinum Sponsor. We also welcome the Andrew Waites Family of Hattiesburg, MS as a Platinum sponsor for 2008 along with other generous Silver & Gold sponsors”.
Gold Sponsors for 2008 include Georgia Career Institute & Joyce Meadows- McMinnville / Murfreesboro, TN & Conyers, GA . Silver Sponsors are Jack & Mary Mack Hall, Wartrace, TN, Sandy Shumate & Rae Schumate-Tysar / Schumate Mechanical - Cumming, GA and Pushover's Power Stroke – Standing at Womack Stables in Murfreesboro, TN & Tommy McGee/Richard and Gail Greer-Lenoir, NC.
The top five High Point winners receive a total of $3,000 in scholarship money along with awards during the WHOA National Convention. The 2007 High Point winners will be honored on Saturday, February 9 in Murfreesboro, TN.
The class is available to any horse show regardless of HIO affiliation. Show managers who would like to host a WHOA-TWHBEA Youth Challenge Class should contact the WHOA office and complete their application at least 21 days prior to the show. The Program will provide a $200 sponsorship for the class along with a trophy and ribbons. Show managers should contact Mark Taylor at 615-494-8824 for more information. Youth Challenge applications are available at www.walkinghorseowners.com and www.twhbea.com