PLAISTOW — The 2009 American Morgan Horse Association Youth of the Year contest took place at this year's Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show Oct. 10-17 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
Fifteen young women from across the country qualified at local and regional contests to compete for a monthlong trip. Christine Harb of Plaistow is the 2009 Youth of the Year winner.
Contestants participate in a rigorous four-part test throughout the course of two days. Included are a written exam, an oral presentation and interview, a ridden or driven horsemanship pattern, and a judging division with a reasons portion. Harb was second in both the written and horse-mastership portions, and she won the judging portion of the contest.
"I was very proud because I worked hard all summer on improving my judging," she said.
Harb is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she is an animal science major with plans to be an equine veterinarian. In 2006 and 2007, Harb was the Reserve Youth of the Year, traveling to Morgan training facilities in Michigan and Illinois.
"Winning the youth contest was overwhelming because I had been working toward that goal since I was in my early teens," Harb said. "I'm not sure where I would like to go yet, but I can't wait to promote the Morgan horse and Morgan youth abroad."
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.
Harb received a monthlong trip, during which she acts as an ambassador for the Morgan breed.
