Appaloosa Youth Exchange Program brings international riders to compete in the United States

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) recently announced the international participants for the 2012 Appaloosa Youth Exchange Program. Each of the participants will spend a week with a host family and then compete at the World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show in Tulsa, Okla. this July. These young riders have been nominated by their home country’s ApHC affiliate.

This year’s international participants are:

• Ronja Schmid from Switzerland, hosted by Meneely Show Horses of Conyers, Georgia
• Katie Evans from North Wales, hosted by Marshall Appaloosas of Lexington, Oklahoma
• Mariella Lucarelli Amadei Silva from Brazil, hosted by Larrabee Appaloosas of Corrales, New Mexico
• Fernando Vera, Jr. from Guadalajara, Mexico, hosted by Raggio Ranch of Pilot Point, Texas
• Elisabeth Kulmer from Austria, hosted by Saddlebrook Appaloosas of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
• Natalie Samek from Austria, hosted by Mark Shaffer Show Horses of Tioga, Texas
• Noemi Pichler from Austria, hosted by Mark Shaffer Show Horses of Tioga, Texas

Since 2005, the ApHC has sponsored this exchange program, which is open to members of the Appaloosa Youth Association between ages 14 and 18. In addition to bringing in Appaloosa enthusiasts from other countries, the program offers American youth riders the chance to travel to Europe and experience the horse industry in another country. The ApHC selects two or three applicants to live with a host family and compete at the European Championships. In the past, the championship has been held in Germany, but this year it will be in France.

The ApHC handles finding host families and covers some of the costs, including class fees and hotel costs for the show.

To learn more about the application process for youth participants or for anyone interested in hosting a participant in the future, visit www.appaloosayouth.com.