A "Spot" for Youth

 

Six girls from Alberta descended on the Keystone Center in Brandon, Manitoba on July 28, 2007 to compete in the 50th Canadian National Appaloosa Show. 

The" Alberta X-treme Youth Team" consisted of: 

Tanya Jacobsen from North Star, 
Katie Ford from Carseland, 
Stephanie Dewes from Chipman, 
Brittany Hennig from Ardrossan, 
Candace Stewart from Drayton Valley
Karissa Makowecki from Vegreville. 

The day before the show found the team and their families decorating for a "50's" theme  and of course, riding and socializing with the many other folks they hadn't seen in a while!  When the show started on Monday morning, everyone got down to the business at hand - getting horses and girls ready to show, all the while sweeping and keeping our stall area clean.

 

The team was entered in 15 classes (up to 2 team members per class) - everything from Western Pleasure to Barrel Racing to the Costume Class. The girls helped each other in many ways during the week by lending clothes when it was found that someone had forgotten something at home, running back to the barn (or hotel room) to find a missing number, running through patterns in the alleyway and raising each other's spirits when a class didn't go as planned.

 

At the end of 5 1/2 days of showing, the Alberta X-treme youth team won the Team Tournament as well as winning the Stable Management Award (for keeping our area neat and tidy).  Our team also had some personal awards with Brittany winning High Point Versatility 14-18 and Candace Reserve High Point, Stephanie winning judged events and Katie winning the Sportsmanship award. There was an abundance of laughter throughout the week, friendships made and of course, fun.

Thank you to all the girls and their families for having made the Nationals such a memorable, positive experience.

Rita Ford - Youth Director