Lamar teen qualifies for national equestrian event

Shelburne, Vt.-- Alana Little of Lamar, Mo. competed at the Wheat State Regional MHS horse show held in Hutchinson, Ka.n on June 11th through the 15th, and finished first in the equitation class Hunter on the Flat. Alana will be rewarded with a certificate from the American Morgan Horse Association for her wonderful performance and the chance to compete for the seat's Gold Medal at the 2007 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show held in Oklahoma City in October.

Alana is a seasoned youth competitor and has been honing her Hunter on the Flat skills for the last several years. In 2006 Alana took home a first place award at the national event and has been a frequent participant ever since.

Alana is an AMHA youth member, an association that supports Morgan-only classes at horse shows across the country. Officials at AMHA are proud of the performances by Samantha and look forward to seeing her compete this October in Oklahoma City.

Excellence in equitation is valued by the American Morgan Horse Association and is recognized through the AMHA Medal Classes, held at local and regional Morgan and all-breed shows. All junior riders who are AMHA members are invited to compete on a Morgan. AMHA Silver Medals are awarded in each of the six seats: Saddle Seat, Western Seat, Hunter Seat on the Flat, Hunter Seat Over Fences, Reining Seat, and Dressage.

Those who place first or second in an AMHA Silver Medal Class are qualified to participate in the 2007 Gold Medal Finals at the Grand Nationals held October 6-13 in Oklahoma City,Okla. The highest AMHA equitation honor, Gold Medals are awarded in each of the six seats.

Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations.

For more information on America's original horse breed, contact the American Morgan Horse Association, Inc., 122 Bostwick Road, Shelburne, Vermont 05482; (802) 985-4944 or visit www.morganhorse.com