ASSOCIATION NEWS

her a great foundation and confidence in her riding. Then last May she joined the Cochran Show Horses team. Now, showing in Western Pleasure at AQHA events and futurities consumes Audrey’s new life away from the sports she left behind. “I had one goal this year and that was to win a trophy buckle,” Thomas said. She and Itz Martini Time got that out of the way early, by winning the Novice Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity class at the Back To Berrien Futurity in Michigan in June. “I received a buckle AND a trophy,” she said. “I was over the moon excited.” But that’s not all. They earned circuit championships in Western Pleasure at the Cornhusker Classic and at the Mayflower Circuit. At the National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August they captured two trophies - Reserve Championship in Novice Youth Western Pleasure and Bronze in 1418 Youth Western Pleasure. “I cannot tell you how good this felt,” Thomas said. “This was such a competitive show, with a lot of nice horses and talented youth. It’s a big accomplishment.” Thomas and Olive are making their first Quarter Horse Congress appearance this month where they will compete in Level 1 Youth Western Pleasure and Audrey’s counting on her support team to help guide her through the process. “Pep (Lieurance) is a very strong female role model for me, and a talented trainer who teaches me in and out of the arena,” she said. “My other hero is my other trainer, Jeff Cochran, and I strive to be as funny as he is.” Once this show season is complete Thomas will put some additional work in on her new “project horse,” Lopin My Frost Off, a 3year-old mare by The Lopin Machine and out of a Frosty The Goodbar mare. “She only has 90 days of training and I am having a lot of fun with her,” Thomas said. “She is very good minded and extremely talented.” When she is not riding or at a show, Audrey, a student at Colfax-Mingo High School, is busy with school work but she also enjoys shopping and spending time with friends and family, including her mother, Nicole, who accompanies her to all the shows; as well as her father, Zach, and brother, Dylan, who both support her from home. But there’s nothing like the feeling Audrey gets when she is at a show. “I show because it makes me happy,” she said. “I love my horse and I love the atmosphere at horse shows and all the great people I’ve met. I’ve made some amazing friends and I have learned so much in the last two years,” she said. “Horses are very special and have brought me a lot of joy. So I guess overcoming this has really been a personal accomplishment for me after a painful journey.”

ttt Audrey Thomas is pictured on the opposite page with her current show partner, Itz Martini Time. On this page she is shown with the trophies she won at the NSBA World Show (top); showing at the Back To Berrien Futurity in Michigan; and on a trip to Chicago for a Cubs game with her family – mom, Nicole, brother, Dylan; and dad, Zach. Youth Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for a youth profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

The ASSOCIATIONS

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

(IN) NSBA NEWS

The National Snaffle Bit Association recently awarded its 2022 Youth Of The Year award to Ian McFarlin, of Tallahassee, Florida. The award has been presented annually by the NSBA Foundation since 2017 to a youth who exhibits character in helping others through community service. 2022 marks the second year that the Susan Scott Memorial Scholarship has also been presented to the Youth Of The Year. McFarlin will receive a $4,000 scholarship from the Susan Scott Memorial Fund along with a $500 award to a charity of his choice. McFarlin has served more than 550 hours volunteering for various service organizations throughout his community, but he spends the majority of his volunteer time with Hand and Hearts For Horses, an equine-assisted therapy program in rural Georgia. “It didn’t take much to convince me to get involved with equine-related charity, but I immediate felt a special connection to Hands And Hearts For Horses,” McFarlin said. “I have an amazing sibling who is on the autism spectrum and who also has a mild form of cerebral palsy. I am passionate about recognizing and encouraging all that our differently- abled peers can do and I believe that involvement with horses is one of the most valuable tools available to all humans to help us learn, grow and heal.” McFarlin has worked as a leader/side-walker during lessons as well as serving as camp counselor, and also participates in special projects like improving the ring and footing at the facility as well as exercising horses and general farm chores. He is an incoming freshman at the University of Florida majoring in engineering, with a long-term goal to attend veterinary school. For more information visit www.nsba.com.

APPALOOSA NATIONAL, YOUTH WORLD

2023 SHOWS WILL MOVE TO NORICK ARENA IN OKLAHOMA CITY

The Appaloosa Horse Club recently announced that the 75th National Appaloosa Show and the 2023 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show will be held June 27 to July 5, in the Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. This move is momentous for the organization as it heads back to the home of its 50th and 60th National Appaloosa Shows, to say farewell to the Norick Arena. The contract will extend operations into the new OKC Fairgrounds Coliseum, a state-of-the-art facility will prove pivotal in offering ApHC members premier events worthy of the Appaloosa breed for years. "Oklahoma City has been a part of some of the best times in the Appaloosa Horse Club's history,” said Kristopher Byrd, executive secretary of the Appaloosa Horse Club. “We are excited to have the opportunity to send off the Norick in style, and we look forward to the experience the new Coliseum will provide our members. These shows will truly be next-level events in a premier facility that you don't want to miss. So many members tell me they remember Oklahoma City as home. We are excited to announce, 'We're coming home!’” Fairground officials also expressed their excitement over the decision. "We are very pleased the Appaloosa Horse Club has chosen to return to the OKC Fairgrounds due in large part to the fact we are building a new OKC Fairgrounds Coliseum," said Ron Norick, Chairman of the Board, Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. "This is testament to the old adage of 'build it and they will come.' We are very appreciative of the confidence the citizens of Oklahoma City placed in us when they voted to include a new Coliseum as part of MAPS 4." For additional information about the Appaloosa Horse Club and all of the organization’s upcoming events, visit: www.appaloosa.com For more information on the OKC Fairgrounds, visit: www.okcfairgrounds.com.

COLOR BREED CONGRESS NOV. 4-12

(IN) PtHA NEWS

The Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. will present the Color Breed Congress, a show exhibiting four separate horse breeds simultaneously, Nov. 4-12, at Tulsa Expo Square. Participating associations include the Pinto Horse Association, Palomino Horse Breeders of America, Appaloosa Horse Club, American Buckskin Registry Association, National Snaffle Bit Association, Ranch Horse Congress and Long Ear Congress. Exhibitors compete against each other in the Champion of Champion classes for winners of youth, amateur and open classes in three arenas and the event features a trade show. For more information visit www.pinto.org.

All That Show Clothes .............................4 Allison MacDonald Show Horses ..........24 Arrington Perf Horses ......................46-48

Backes QH .............................64-66, 197 Baker Futurity Horses ..........160-165, 197 Baker Show Horses .............................2-3 Bar H Photography .............................201 Barger QH .........................................197 Barry, Jon ...........................................201 Black Top Ranch .............................94-95 Blue Ribbon Tack ...............................197 Boo Yah Custom Clothing .....................199 Boxell, John .......................................198 Briere, Pierre ......................................197 Brinks Hattery .............................8, 20-21 Britton, Blake ......................184-185, 196 Buckley QH .................................85, .BC Burris, Tony ........................................196

CAC Show Horses ...............176-177, 196 Caplinger Qtr Horses ...........................200 Chafin Perf. Horses ............................199 Coast To Coast Trailers ..........................200 Cochran Show Horses .....................49-57 Corrival Ranch ............................166-169 CR Ranchwear ...................................198 Croel Show Horses .............................153 CT QH ................................172-173, 198 Custom Tails ......................................200

DAC ..................................................199 Darci’s Show Horses ............................199 Davis, Wayne & Judy ...........................199 DeBuhr, Denton .........................158-159 DeBuhr, Drew ......................................34 Dickerson Show Horses ......147-152, 201 Dobbs Insurance ................................196 Equine Healthcare Int ..............................6 Empyre Show Horses ............................118 English Show Horses................25-29, 197

Fair Hill Saddlery ...............................178 Faulkner Show Horses .....................96-99 Fisher, Alan ........................................201 Folck Insurance ..................................201 Fowler Perf Horses ...............................11

Galyean, Gil ...........................85-93, 198 Garcia Quarter Horses .........................198 Gillespie Show Horses ................192-193 Gilliam Show Horses ...........................35 Glover/Galyean .................................200 Golden West ......................................197 Gumz Farms ......................................200

Harris Leather ..............................14, 198 HighPoint Perf Horses .....................22-23 Horn, Ron ..........................................199 Hutchinson Perf Horses .............FC, 15-19

Jeff Kirkbride Photography ...................198 Jones, Chris & Melissa ...........................200 JML Design ........................................197 JS Show Horses ...............................75-76

Kazakevicius, Rebekah .............FC, 16-19 Kathy’s Tails ........................................198 Kendalls Western Hats .........................196 Kennedy, Kathie .................................199 Knelly, Laura ......................................197 Kungle, Taylor .....................................BC

Lakins, Kenny ......................133-135, 196 Leeman Farms ....................................199

Malone QH .......................................198 March To The Arch .............................174 Mathis Show Horses ...................180-181 McLendon, Farley ............................5,7,9 Menard, Mallory ..................................13

NCM Show Horses .....................144-146 Noiseux Show Horses ..........................203 North Farm .....................................30-33

Parks Show Horses ......................136-137 Parrish Quarter Horses .........................199 Pickard Hanson Show Horses...........67-74 Pilot Knob ..........................................196 Powder Brook Farm ............................100 Powers, Tom ......................................201 Pro Horse Services .......................10, 111

Recchiuti, Donnie ..............................198 Reid Thomas Show Horses ...................110 Roberts, Alyse ................................... 196 Roberts Quarter Horses ........................197 Ryan Geiger Photography ....................200

Samantha Martin Show Horses ...........120 Sara Black Perf Horses .................188-189 Shane Rux Photography .......................201 Show Horses By Shannon ...........126-132 ShowString ..........................................88 Starnes Insurance Agency ....................200 Sweet Shop ........................................200

Terlizzi, Tali ....................................27-33 Trendsetter ..........................................77

Voge Quarter Horses .......................40-41

Weiss Show Horses ..............................99 Wheeler Show Horses ..........................196 Williams, Kathy .................................196