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 2025 Youth Conference Recap

ASHBA Youth had a fun weekend celebrating our youth members at the 2025 ASHBA Annual Youth Conference in Lexington, KY. The conference’s theme, For the Love of the Horse embodied the weekend showcasing some of the industry’s memorable Saddlebred Stars at Lex Studios and the versatility of the American Saddlebred at Sunrise Stables with Melissa Moore.

 The 2025 Youth Conference started with a special inside look at the local Hallway Feeds facility. Hallway Feeds has been operating since 1964 and is a stable feed company in the bluegrass and beyond. Our tour guides, Anthony and Carly gave our group a taste of the feed they produce and we learned where all the ingredients are sourced and how the feed is made and bagged. This was such a fun experience for all!

 The 2nd Youth Legends of Friday night was one to remember with an all-star panel and Emcee Julianne Rafferty. Ava Stachowski, Ella Herrin, Brie Keeton, Griffin Day, Mason Granus, Ryan Visser, Olivia Stollenwerk, and Bella Hodge joined us as the 2025 Youth Legends. Many of these panelists have family members who got them started riding Saddlebreds and they shared some funny stories about how they prepare to enter the show ring. The youth attendees were also able to ask the group questions about how they got started, their favorite horses, and any difficulties they’ve had to overcome. The Carrick House was our setting that night, and they created a fun atmosphere that Valentine’s Day for our youth attendees.

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 Saddlebred Saturday was a fun filled day! Our first stop of the day was at Melissa Moore’s Sunrise Stables. She and Emma Caruso shared a fun and versatility filled lineup of Saddlebreds and Hackney Ponies! Melissa even brought out favorite road horse, Super Shaq. Crowd favorites included Mambacita and hunter pleasure horse, Love Shack Fancy. These beautiful mares put on quite the show for us! Youth Conference attendee Braden Haggard from Louisville Equestrian Center was the lucky one who got a drive with Melissa and Palisades Center Ring.

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Our second stop was lunch at Misdee Wrigley’s Lex Studios and the Saddlebred Stars panel. This panel featured John T. Jones, Larry Hodge and Merrill Murray with Bret Day moderating. These legendary trainers spoke about their famous horses like CHCallaway’s Copyright, CHGarland’s Dream and CHCourageous Lord. Bret opened up questions to the crowd and the youth attendees were able to ask their own questions. After the panel the three trainers signed special posters from the event. Lex Studios is a new production studio in Lexington and after the panel, the youth attendees were able to explore the production studios and capture their own videos with props on the different sets. The rain didn’t stop our fun filled day!

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The Saddlebred Social kicked off our Saturday night Youth Awards Gala. The social hour was sponsored by William Woods University. Youth attendees were able to play the Mix and Mingle Bingo and the Horse Trivia Prize Wheel during the Saddlebred Social to win fun prizes! We also had featured fun drinks named after CH Marc Of Charm and CH The Crowd Went Nuts! Our Youth Awards Ceremony was Co Emceed by Griffin Day and Darien Walker and Youth Council Chair, Alexa Dahl presented the lineup of Youth Awards. Congratulations to all our 2024 Youth Awards Winners! Thank you to all who joined us for such a fun weekend and we hope you join us next year!

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Sally Jackson Youth Ambassador Award – Finley Paul

Youth High Point Award 13 & Under – Ashlyn Deaton

Youth High Point Award 14-21 – Elena Jordan

Youth Photo Contest 13 & Under – Brooklyn Kinney

Youth Photo Contest 14-21 – Zara Linneman

Youth Scholarship 2024 Recipients – Hannah Broughton & Ellie Lang

Youth Club History Award – Lenux Legends

Youth Club Meetings & Programs Award – Lenux Legends

Youth Club Membership Award – Brannon Barnsters

Youth Club Educational Activities Award – Zu-Kru

Youth Club Community Service Award – Grey Ridge Farm Riding Academy

Youth Club Breed Promotion Award – Grey Ridge Farm Riding Academy

Youth Club Fundraising Award – Trinity Trotters

Youth Club of the Year – Trinity Trotters

Joyce Webster American Saddlebred Academy Grant – Laney Gawarecki

Academy Medal Award Winners