2022 Equestrian Awards Contest Winners
2022 Contest Winner - Melissa Kelly
Photographed is Cascord VA, a 9-year-old holsteiner with his partner, Ella Kelly from Andover, KS. “Ted” as Ella calls him, was purchased by her during the 2021 winter circuit in Ocala, Florida. With the help of her trainer, Ann White from Vermillion Valley Equine Center, this pair qualified for the National Horse Show. This is Ella’s 2nd year qualifying for the National Horse Show. She looks forward to using her prize money from this contest to help pay for the upcoming 2022 winter circuit in Ocala. Photographed by Melissa Kelly.
2022 Honorable Mention - Christina Caldwell
Photographed are 20-year-old POA, Carson Valley Girl, and 12 year old owner-rider Hailey, at a local SNHSA show at Franktown Meadows Equestrian Facility in Washoe, Nevada where they won some beautiful ribbons in the crossrails division. Valley has been in the family since she was 3 years old and has taught Hailey (and her older sister Katie) a true love of horses as they competed in crossrails, short stirrup, and mini hunters. They are also active members in the Silver State Pony Club and Valley has taken Hailey and Katie to their D3 Pony Club certifications. Valley will be retiring from jumping this year as she starts her new job teaching kids their first walk-trot steps at Franktown Meadows Riding Academy as a lesson pony. She is truly a special pony with a heart of gold!
Hailey is so excited to be in this year’s catalog, especially since it is her last year riding her pony. She will spend her prize money on her very first pair of tall boots for the 2022 show season, and some treats for Valley as well! Photographed by Hailey’s mother, Christina Caldwell.
2022 Honorable Mention - Jasmine McGown
Photographed is Faith McGown and Welsh pony, Hersey Blue Danube Dixie who is trained and owned by Kimberly Brunson of Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas. Faith and Dixie were awarded double champion in the NTHJC May Days- Hunter/Jumper Horse Show Mother’s Day weekend. Faith fell in love with riding Father’s Day 2020 and started competing the following spring. Faith will use the prize money to buy Dixie some special treats, fun saddle pads, and a sparkly crop she’s been eyeing online.
2022 Honorable Mention - Stacy Sikkenga
Pictured are Jolie and her Welsh pony cross, Milo (AKA Milo Moon Dancer!). The pair are frequent competitors at a schooling show series held at the barn where they board and train in Norton Shores, Michigan: Pepper Oaks Equestrian Center. The photographer, Stacy Sikkenga, plans to use her prize money to continue to support the barn's schooling show series.
2022 Honorable Mention - Jermaine Horton
Photographed is Say What You Will (Winston) and Kolbi Horton after winning a North Texas Hunter Jumper club flat class for the first time at Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler Texas. Winston is a 5-year-old green welch/ POA cross pony owned and ridden by 10-year-old Kolbi Horton. This team is learning and growing up together as they are guided and trained by Kimberly Brunson at Brunson Equestrian Center. We are excited to watch them grow as a team. Winston is Kolbi’s dream pony and loves him to the moon and back. The prize money will go into Kolbi’s pony fund for Pony Finals (one day). Photographed by Kolbi’s mother, Jermaine Horton.
2022 Honorable Mention - John Reimers
Our pony, Kiwi Pirouette, shown by Arie Strong (pictured here) won Champion Green Medium Hunter Pony at a USEF AA Graded show in Pensacola in late July, 2021.
The pair’s next show was at the USEF Pony Finals where they ribboned twice in the Medium Green Division.
Kiwi Pirouette is trained by Francesca Senior, Castlemane Equestrian, and stabled in Madison, MS, by Reunion Farms LLC. Kiwi is the reigning 2020 two state point leader Champion, MS and LA For Green and Regular (combined) Medium Hunter Pony.
Photo by John Reimers
2022 Honorable Mention - Anna Bowmar
This picture is of Rowan Bomar and her pony Tobie Van De Lufkenshoeve - 2020 Zone 4 Horse of the Year Champions.
2022 Honorable Mention - Jenna Upchurch
Photographed is "Dante Divino" with owner and rider Jenna Upchurch after earning the 2019 US Dressage Finals First Level Open Reserve Championship. "Nick" achieved this placing at only 6 years old as well as the 2019 First Level Freestyle Reserve Championship and three championship wins at the 2020 USDF Region 4 Championships. Jenna purchased "Nick" as a four-year-old, and she did most of the training herself as a young professional with the help of her coach Martin Kuhn. "Nick" passed away in January of 2021. Earning an honorable mention in this contest gives Jenna great joy that she is able to celebrate and share "Nick's" life and story with others. Photographed by Jenna’s mother, Diane Upchurch.
2022 Honorable Mention - Alison Ward
This photo was taken at the Sara Oden Memorial Horse Show. Lead line and walk trot riders Taylor Edenbock, Rosie Mansini, Ryleigh Lyons and instructor Alison Ward all rocking a great show on this special day with these amazing kids.
2022 Honorable Mention - Kacey Kalmar
Macrae Kalmar and Bart, a 31-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, owned by the Kalmar family. Pictured with many of the Hodges Badge awards Bart has won over the years, with our kids aboard. We pulled out boxes of prizes they had won over the years and Bart was the winner of most of them, so we decided he needed his own photo shoot!
2022 Honorable Mention - Jennifer Wahl
Photographed is Linden Hall IEA Dressage Team from Lititz, PA at Dressage Nationals in Tyler, TX. Our winning team from left to right: Brynne McIntyre, Emily Warren, Gloria Wahl, Coach Christina Stamos-Johns, Meg Cramsey, and Sarah Wauls. What an incredible experience to travel to IEA Dressage Nationals at the Texas Rose Horse Park with our team. Winning Reserve National Champion Team and getting these incredible ribbons and plate was the icing on the cake to an experience of a lifetime! This was a big highlight for many of us that are finishing out our high school years and moving on up to the college level of competition. Photograph credit; Rich Wahl.