NEWS

The American Morgan Horse Association has announced that 17-year-old Sophie Proctor of Newbury, Massachusetts, was named the 2018 AMHA Youth of the Year. The announcement was made on October 13 on the final evening of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For winning this prestigious title, Proctor receives a unique prize package valued at $3,500, generously sponsored by the Cynthia Elaine Epperson Trust.

Proctor qualified for the national contest by winning at the Connecticut Morgan Horse Show in June.

Clea Cloutier of Derry, New Hampshire was named the 2018 Reserve Youth of the Year. She qualified at the New England Morgan Horse Show in July. Cloutier, 16, will receive a unique prize package worth $1,500.

Rounding out the top six places this year were:

• 3. Nicole Bobbi, age 19, representing the Massachusetts Morgan
• 4. Randie Jo Evans, age 17, representing Michigan All Morgan Horse Show
• 5. Lina Reis, age 17, representing the Michigan All Morgan Horse Show
• 6. Amanda White, age 16, representing the Morgan Medallion Classic Regional Horse Show

This year, 13 young women from across the country competed for this top youth honor. Also competing and representing their qualifying show were:

• Hannah Champion, age 19, representing Southern States Regional Morgan Horse Show
• Jessica Hyman, age 16, representing the Western New York Morgan Horse Show
• Naquel Johnson, 16, representing the Key Classic Charity Horse Show
• Julia Moura, age 18, representing the Seacoast Morgan Horse Show
• Makayla Ronk, age 16, representing the Morgan Masterpiece Horse Show
• Natalie Sander, age 16, representing the North Star Morgan Americana Horse Show
• Ella Ziemer, age 15, representing the Buckeye Morgan Challenge

Each year, dozens of youth contests are held across the country, hosted by horse shows, state Morgan clubs, and local youth groups. The Youth of the Year program offers participants an opportunity to improve his or her skills in the area of horsemanship, sportsmanship, public speaking, decision-making, and judging. The senior (age 14-21) winner of a local contest qualifies to compete in the Youth of the Year Finals, held each year at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show.

This contest is composed of four rigorous tests. Components included are a written exam, an oral presentation and interview, a ridden or driven horsemanship pattern, and a judging division with a reasons portion.

Youth of Year Contest - Full Results

Youth of Year Written Exam
1. Clea Cloutier
2. Sophie Proctor
3. Nicole Bobbi
4. Hannah Champion
5. Randie Jo Evans
6. Julia Moura

Youth of the Year Oral Presentations
1. Amanda White
2. Nicole Bobbi
3. Naquel Johnson
4. Randie Jo Evans
5. Jessica Hyman
6. Julie Moura

Youth of the Year Horsemanship Pattern
1. Sophie Proctor
2. Clea Cloutier
3. Lina Reis
4. Amanda White
5. Natalie Sander
6. (tie) Hannah Champion
6. Nicole Bobbi

Youth of the Year Judging Division
1. Lina Reis
2. Nicole Bobbi
3. Ella Ziemer
4. Sophie Proctor
5. Randie Jo Evans 
6. Clea Cloutier

Tristanne Weber Childress Memorial Sportsmanship Award
Nicole Bobbi

Junior Invitational Oral Presentations
1. Cassidy Moore
2. Keehan Cox
3. Nini Hodge
4. Gretchen Hamilton
5. Kendall Pierce
6. Mollie Tuten

Junior Invitational Judging Division 
1. Jacqueline Schatzberg
2. Delany Beard
3. Lindsay Heliker
4. Mollie Tuten
5. Kendall Pierce
6. Cassidy Moore

Junior Invitational High-Point Awards
1. Cassidy Moore
2. Keehan Cox
3. Mollie Tuten
4. Kendall Pierce
5. Jacqueline Schatzberg
6. Lindsay Heliker

Individual Judging Division
Lydia Groshong

AMHA Sportsmanship Award in memory of Cecil Brown 
Kehan Cox

W. Dayton Sumner High-Point Award
Jacqueline Schatzberg

-- via AMHA