MHAO Youth Program
MHAO Youth Newsletter
This newsletter is for you, our youth members! We will be including scholarship opportunities, youth-focused competitions coming up, birthdays, youth activities and tips and tricks for competing in Youth of the Year. We want to hear your ideas! If you have anything you would like included in the newsletter please reach out to one of our authors, social media pages, or email the Youth MHAO email at mhaoyouth@gmail.com .
Meet Your Editors:
Kyndle Cummins
Kyndle Cummins has been a member of MHAO for 4 years and has been a member of the MHAO board for 3 years. She shows her Morgan mare Raindrops on Roses (Reba) in Western Dressage, Showmanship and Western Pleasure. Contact Kyndle at kyndlecummins@gmail.com or by messaging the MHAO Youth Facebook or Instagram pages.
.jpeg)
Camryn Nicholson
Cami Nicholson has been an MHAO member for 4 years and is a board member as of this year. She competes with her Morgan mare Amberfields Flame in Western Pleasure, Western Dressage, trail and In-Hand. Camryn is currently serving as the 2024 MHAO Youth Director and Youth Committee Co-Chair. You can contact her at camrynnicholson7@gmail.com or by messaging the MHAO Youth or Instagram pages.
Click here to see current and past issues of the MHAO Youth Newsletter.
Follow us on Instagram!! @mhaoyouthLike us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mhaoyouth/
Youth Scholarships
Many scholarships are available from a multitude of sources. As we find them, we will post information about them here and in the MHAO Youth Newsletter. If you know of scholarship programs not listed here, please contact Kyndle or Camryn and let them know.
MHAO Alex Mooney Memorial Scholarship
This $500 scholarship is open to anyone of any age who is a member of MHAO. Applications for the year close on May 15th with the chosen recipient announced at the Oregon Morgan Classic in June. For more information and to apply go to the MHAO Program Page for this scholarship. The scholarship payment goes directly to the educational institution on the recipient's behalf. Cami Nicholson was the recipient of this scholarship in 2023 & 2024.
AMHECT Alex M Mooney Memorial Grand National Scholarship
In October 2024 during Morgan Grand Nationals, the $5,000 Alex Mooney Memorial Scholarship was presented to a youth member of MHAO. Congratulations to Cami Nicholson for being this years recipient! This award is for undergraduate academic scholarships and/or professional development.
Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) Youth Educational Scholarship Program.
This scholarship is for anyone under the age of 18 who is an active member in WDAA and USEF. There are 3 scholarship opportunities each for $500 and you can apply in December, April, and August. For more information check out the WDAA website!
Watch for more listings to come!
AMHA Youth Of The Year
Youth of the Year (YOTY) contests are for you, the youth, to show off your skills and knowledge of the Morgan horse. Youth of the Year contests consist of four parts: a written exam, an oral presentation, a judging contest and a horsemanship pattern. Each section of the contest is worth approximately 250 points. Many contests offer divisions for the leadline, walk-trot, and junior aged exhibitors. Expectations for these divisions are modified to be appropriate for the age of contestants.
MHAO has a Youth of the Year contest during the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show (OMC) in June each year. Several shows within our Region offer Youth Of The Year competitions as well. They are all qualifiers and a chance to practice for the main competition at the Grand National each year. The Youth of the Year winner at the Oregon Morgan Classic for the Senior Level becomes eligible to represent OMC at the National competition. If they go to Nationals and compete in the YOTY program for OMC, MHAO offers a reimbursement of up to $400 toward their expenses. A copy of receipts are required.
As the show season goes on, we will be including tips and tricks in the Youth Newsletter for competing in YOTY at the local and national level. Watch for our release of a local study guide you can use to get ready for these competitions authored by Sierra Breckenridge. The primary source of information on this contest is through the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) website. Other AMHA Youth Program information is available from that webpage.
As the show season goes on, we will be including tips and tricks in the Youth Newsletter for competing in YOTY at the local and national level. Watch for our release of a local study guide you can use to get ready for these competitions authored by Sierra Breckenridge. The primary source of information on this contest is through the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) website. Other AMHA Youth Program information is available from that webpage.
MHAO Youth Activities
As we enter a new show season, what are some fun ideas and things you would like to see this year? We are open to try new things and do new events! Some ideas are relay race/ fun obstacle course with horses? Or without horses. Line dancing? If you have some ideas please message the instagram or facebook linked below!
This years MHAO Spring Clinic will be Sunday April 13, 2025 at Silver Tail Farms in Creswell Oregon! It will be a Western Dressage clinic facilitated by Deborah Spence. This year, not only do we have a clinic but we also have the opportunity to get some practice in the day before as Silver Tail is also holding a Spring League Western Dressage Show! Entries close April 9th. For more information or to secure your spot or auditors spots, please contact Patricia Carlson at 503-851-1950. Discounts for Youth are offered for the clinic. There will be an MHAO General Membership Meeting during the clinic's lunch break. Everyone is invited to attend and lunch is provided by MHAO.
See a flyer about the clinic under MHAO Events.
MHAO Youth High Point Program
Along with open competition and Morgan breed awards, MHAO has a full High Point Division set aside for Jr. Exhibitors. It offers 11 awards for the following categories as well as an Overall Division Champion & Reserve Champion award:SHOWMANSHIPWESTERN PLEASURESADDLE SEAT EQUITATIONLEAD LINE
ENGLISH/CLASSIC PLEASUREHUNTER PLEASUREHUNT SEAT EQUITATION
PARK (saddle/harness)PLEASURE/CLASSIC DRIVINGWESTERN EQUITATIONWALK/TROT (All seats but may be divided depending on participation)OVERALL JR. DIVISION CHAMPION & RESERVE
Click here for more information about the full High Point Program. MHAO recognizes all types of competitors thru this program.
Awards are handed out at the annual MHAO Award Banquet and General Membership Meeting. This year the Banquet will be held Sunday, November 9th, 2025 again at the Willamette Heritage Center At The Mill, in the Dye House. The address is 1313 Mill Street SE, Suite 200; Salem OR 97301. Come join the fun, meet other Youth members, and enjoy a free lunch courtesy of MHAO.
MHAO Youth Videos
Click here to see a collection of videos made with young equine enthusiasts in mind.
2025 MHAO Committee Members
Co Chair: Sierra Breckenridge, sierrabreckenridge@gmail.com
Co Chair: Camryn Nicholson (Cami), camrynnicholson7@gmail.com
Kyndle Cummins
Kim Moore
Sara Breyman
Julie Nygaard
Karen Breckenridge