Monica Christian of Brookville, OH, has been selected as the 2005 Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Youth of the Year by AHA out of a field of 17 nominees. The high school senior from Region 14 also serves as the Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA) Treasurer, a position she was elected to at the annual AHYA Convention in July of 2005.

AHA honors one outstanding youth member annually with this award, which is based on an individual’s achievements and contributions to the Arabian horse industry, the Association and the community.

Christian followed her dream of horse ownership with the support of a non-horse owning family. She used the widely available 4-H springboard to launch into her equestrian endeavors at 10 years old, eventually finding her perfect partner in an Arabian horse. She has competed in hunt seat, western pleasure, trail and dressage on her purebred Arabian, Regales Love. A highlight of her riding career was qualifying for the Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show in the Hunt Seat Medal Class.

“Because I’m involved with 4-H, it gives me a chance to show new horse owners what Arabians are really like,” says Christian. She also provides a valuable perspective as a member of the AHYA Board since her vast 4-H experience has given her a keen understanding of grassroots horse owners.

She has represented Ohio 4-H at the National 4-H Horse Judging Contest and the Regional 4-H Horse Bowl Contest. She won the Ohio 4-H Horse Skillathon over several hundred participants.

As a member of Los Cahbayos, her local 4-H club, she competes in hippology, judging, horse bowl and on groom and clean teams at the state and national 4-H levels. Besides horse activities, she has raised and shown chickens, rabbits and goats and is a member of the Montgomery Junior Fair and Junior Leadership Boards

She’s a senior at Northmont High School, where she captains the Envirothon (environmental science) team and also participates in the French club, academic challenge teams and varsity track. Christian is involved with service projects, including clothing drives and Habitat for Humanity and works 20 hours a week at a part-time job. “Volunteering gives me pride in my community and myself,” says Christian.

She’s earned enough credits at a local college to start the fall semester at Ohio State University as a junior. Her future career interests include political activism and pharmaceutical research.

As Youth of the Year, Christian will serve as an ambassador for the Arabian breed, speaking on behalf of the Arabian horse and Arabian horse youth. For earning this honor, she will receive a saddle from Arabian Saddle Company and a perpetual plaque from AHA. Arabian Horse Magazine will feature her in an upcoming issue.

Applications for the 2006 AHA Youth of the Year are due September 1, 2006. For more information, contact AHA at (303) 696-4500.


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