Summer youth news
The Bank of America Youth Excellence Seminar (YES) is held in Amarillo, Texas, July 11-13. Ohio will be sending 10 youth: Brooke Bradley, Ellexxah Maxwell, Caleb Sturgeon, Olivia Tordoff, Emily Ambrose, Emma Brown, Riley Jacobs Bell, Natalie Hilty, Millie Landon, and Alexia Tordoff.
The summer highlight for many OQHYA youth is the AQHA Ford World Show, held August 4-12 in Oklahoma City. New for 2017, AQHA has added Adequan Level 2 classes. Ohio will be very well represented this year as our numbers of nationally and state qualified youth are up! We are sending 67 youth, 79 horses for 237 entries. We are also sending 2 Judging Teams and have multiple youth involved in the art/photo, scrap book contests, and fashion show. Good Luck to all youth, Ohio Hustles Harder! #Reach Out– Inspire, Impact, Grow, Excite
A reminder that the OQHYA is still collecting any type of horse supplies for RE-RIDE Quarter Horse Adaption Program. Please put your donations in the collection boxes at all horse shows or bring to a meeting. The youth are also holding a canned food drive, bring your canned goods to a horse show or meeting.
Summer Youth Spotlight: Kyleigh Buhl
Nine years ago Kyleigh Buhl began her career showing horses at local open shows. Next month, she will be traveling to Oklahoma City to compete in the American Quarter Horse Youth World Championship Show.
Buhl, 18, who lives in Ashland with her mom and dad, began showing horses when she was nine years old. In middle school she leased a horse, became involved with 4-H and competed in more open shows. In 2014 Buhl got her current showing partner, Lonesome At The Bar. She started showing him at small shows because he had never been to a horse show when he came to her.
“I always wanted to challenge myself so I went where the competition was and that was OQHA,” Buhl said. “I have already achieved so many goals such as placing first in horsemanship and second in trail at the Level 1 Youth Championship show in North Carolina.”
Buhl has also won the Level 1 Youth High Point All Around at the Madness and the Northern Ohio Novice shows. She credits her success to her mom, cousins and trainers who have pushed her to always be her best.
“Throughout the many years of showing my mom has always been by my side pushing me to be better but also ensuring that I learn the many lessons that come with showing horses,” Buhl said. “My cousins Shelly Nalle-Icenhour and Addie Icenhour have helped me to make my goals a reality and my trainers, Marion and Kirsty Troyer push me to be my best.”
Buhl has also been active in her community through National Honors Society, Junior Fair Board, and many hours of community service. I played volleyball and basketball for Mapleton High School. I have also been involved in 4-H and was the Secretary in FFA.
Besides horses, her passion is science. She has already graduated with an Associate of Applied Sciences in Biological Sciences from North Central State College after taking dual credit in high school. And is currently an intern at Charles River Laboratories.
In the future, Buhl plans on attending the University of Akron to major in nursing.
As for what her horse passion has taught her, Bugl said, “all of my experiences with horses have taught me many lessons that not only apply to riding but life as well and I am very grateful for that.”
