2025 Youth of the Year

    Registration for 2025 Submit Below

Youth of the Year Contact 
Kim Thomas
​440.823.8458
[email protected]
Youth of the Year contests are challenging, fun, and exciting way to share your love and knowledge of our wonderful Morgan horse.  If you have taken the time to prepare and take part you will be rewarded with friends and experiences that will help you to succeed in all parts of life.
The contest is divided into three age groups (Senior, Junior, and Walk-Trot); competing in three phases (Written Test, Oral Presentation, and Horsemanship).
The youth with the highest accumulation of points at the Buckeye Morgan Challenge in the senior age division will receive  a $500 scholarship to go on and complete at the AMHA Youth of the Year at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City. ​

Junior & Senior DIVISION 2025

The Walk/Trot, Junior, and Senior Divisions will complete:
Test
Pattern
Speech
​Judging

Some Guidelines:

The AMHA Youth Department has prepared some guidelines to help you do your best at the upcoming contest, use these to study and test your knowledge as you prepare. Sources for the Written Test include: The Complete Morgan Horse by Jeanne Mellin, The Morgan Horse Judging Standards, The AMHA Registration Rules, The AMHAY Horsemastership Program, The USEF Rule Book, Practical Guide To Lameness in Horses by Ted S. Stashak, The Horse by J.Warren Evans, Anthony Borton, Harold Hintz, and L. Dale Van Vleck, The Illustrated Veterinary Encyclopedia For Horsemen by Equine Research inc., and Feeding and Care of the Horse by Lon D. Lewis. Sources for the Horse.
 
The oral presentation, or speech, will be on a topic provided to you beforehand by the contest organizer. There is a five minute time limit for this phase. Visual aids can add a polished look to a presentation but make sure that they are appropriate to the topic, neatly prepared, and that you have all of the materials you need. Bring three extra copies of your speech to give to the judges before you begin. Don’t forget to include a bibliography; list any books, magazine articles, websites or other resources you used, and list anyone that you may have interviewed as a part of your research. Judges will consider the following while scoring: General appearance, voice, poise, posture and manner of speech 50 points, Presentation of subject, including organization of material, proper grammar and vocabulary 75 points, Subject matter, including background information, originality and constructive thoughts 100 points, and Interview and question responses 25 points.
 
            The horsemastership patterns are designed to evaluate your riding or driving ability. It is important to realize that this is a horsemanship pattern, not an equitation pattern. You will be provided with the pattern beforehand so that you can practice, the pattern will be executed from memory.  Academy tack and attire is appropriate if the contestant is entered in the academy division of the show. The pattern will be scored as follows: Obedience & correctness in the execution of the pattern 50 points, Transitions & smoothness of overall performance 50 points, Position of the rider/driver and overall appearance & use of aids 50 points, Showmanship & poise 50 points, and Grooming of horse & rider/driver 50 points.
Youth of the Year Contact:
Kim Thomas
​440.823.8458
k[email protected]
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