March 3rd 2001, SSHBEA Sport Horse sponsored the 1st Annual Youth Day at the Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, TN. The day was totally devoted to the Youth. The event began at 10 a.m. with group lessons in Equitation and Sport Horse Events. Thirty-one youth showed up to take a part in this first-time event, many of them new faces to Sport Horse. These youth were divided up by age into an 11 and under group and a 12 to 17 year old group.
Each group moved through several stations where Sport Horse Committee members gave instruction to each horse and rider. The stations included Obstacles with John Mohon and Jason Smith, Reining with Virginia Lally and Jason Stoneback, Poles and Barrels with Tammy Coffman and John Staten, Jumping with Jana Preston and Freda Bullard, and a special station with Equitation done by Liz Hestle-Gassaway.
After a morning of learning, the kids built up an appetite and it was time for a lunch break. Papa John's Pizza sponsored by Phil Dunivan Stables was brought in to feed the hungry bunch. Lunch also gave the SSHBEA Youth Council a chance to meet and sign up new members. After lunch, lessons resumed till 1 p.m. when the Fun Show began.
The show had five divisions divided into two age groups. First came the Egg & Spoon class. Breanna Molitor took home this win in the 11 and under group. In the 12 to 17 year old group, competition was fierce, and the classes ended in a three-way tie when Amanda Eaton, Samantha Mohon, and Daniel Preston all lost their egg after having to hold the spoon in their mouth. The Second class of the day was the keyhole race. Brooke Burgess saddled her way to win the 11 and under class, while Haley Sorrels won the 12 to 17 year old class. Musical buckets was next. The adults enjoyed watching this class almost as much as the youth like participating. The youth ran hard as the adults scrambled to catch horses as Kelsie Graham won the 11 and under class. The 12 to 17 years old class was just as competitive as Margaret Trudrang won the class. Then things sped up with speed classes. Pole bending was the first of the two speed classes. Kelsie Graham made her second win of the day, saddling around the poles in the 11 and under class.
The older youth ran the poles as Samantha Mohon won the 12 to 17 old divisions. Barrel racing was next. Brooke Burgess saddled her way to victory in the 11 and under class. Samantha Mohon was not to be out run in the 12 to 17 year old barrel class.
Each winner and participant received prizes from an array of things including hoof picks, t-shirts, tapes and CD's, horses brushes, horse shampoo, a reining lesson, and lots of other things. All prizes were donated by Sponsors of youth day.
A special thanks to all the parents, grandparents, friends, and trainers for bringing the youth to try something new, and to all the sponsors who helped during the day and donated prizes.
Youth Day 11 and Under Participants: Kala Motes, Carley Fetzer, andy Motes, Clay Dunivan, Montgomery Basham, Tyler Sapp, Kelsie Graham, Brooke Burgess, Taylor Staten, Samantha Walker, Breanna Molitor, Blake Everett, Nickki Burdick, and Nick Forest.
Youth 12-17 Participants: Jordon Shields, Melissa Lawson, Michelle Bogle, Casey BarTett, Claire Englehart, Angela Smotherman, Katie Schmiede, Ashleigh Beard, Haley Sorrells, Daniel Preston, Samantha Mohon, Jerren Guthrie, Parker Molitor, Jared Eaton, Taylor Gannon, Amanda Eaton.