Lincoln High Student Named Florida Horseman of the Year

Morgan Burns, a Lincoln High School Senior and student athlete, was recognized as the State of Florida’s 2010 4-H Horseman of the Year at the State Horse Show held in Tampa in July.

Criteria for consideration of the prestigious title and award include more than just showing horses. It is to recognize and promote the total involvement and development of the 4-H member in all aspects of the Florida 4-H program. There are over 2600 youth involved in the Florida 4-H Horse program. Competitors have to be involved with community service, leadership projects, and be well rounded individuals. Besides submitting project books and an intensive application detailing all individual accomplishments, there is a personal interview at the University of Florida. Only 6 students from around the state made it to the interview stage.  As winner of the Horseman of the Year award, Morgan received a plaque, cash and a college scholarship.

Morgan has been the 4-H Area A Horse Show High Point All-Around Champion for the past five years and won National and Championship titles with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and the Palomino Horse Breeders Association (PHBA).

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=11551

Tags: equestrian community, equestrian disciplines, NAYRC, Reining, State of Florida’s 2010 4-H Horseman of the Year, Western, Young Riders

U.S. Dressage Chef D’Equipe Anne Gribbons Praises Todd Flettrich on Preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games

Todd Flettrich and Otto. Photo by: Susan J. Stickle

Wellington, FL – May 10, 2010 – Based in Coatesville, PA, and Wellington, FL, Todd Flettrich has had a successful dressage career and is well on his way to qualifying for this year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).  Anne Gribbons, a renowned rider and trainer who has known Flettrich since the start of his career, has watched Flettrich as a young rider, has competed with him and against him, and has judged him in competition for years. Now the United States Dressage Team Chef D’Equipe, Gribbons watched Flettrich and his Grand Prix mount Otto very closely this season and thinks that it looks promising for the talented duo to qualify for the U.S. Team that will compete at the WEG in the fall.

Cherry Knoll Farm purchased Otto, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Rambo X Rampal), in 2009 and he and Flettrich have since formed an excellent partnership and have earned several top placings throughout the country.  Gribbons watched Flettrich and Otto ride in educational clinics put on by the United States Equestrian Federation in the fall and has followed every qualifier for the WEG that the pair has shown in. “I must say that Todd is blessed with a confident and experienced horse that is very ambitious and can do all of the movements very well,” Gribbons noted. “We have lovely horses coming along, but some of them at this point are still green and that is not Todd’s horse, his horse is very competent and confident, so that is great.”

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Tags: 2010 World Equestrian Games, Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, dressage, equestrian disciplines, NAYRC, North American Young Riders Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation, Todd Flettrich, U.S. Dressage Chef D'Equipe Anne Gribbons, USDF, USEF, WEG