Allan Ehrlick from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, took home top honors for this year’s Amateur High-Point Achievement Award with 451 points. Ehrlick showed four horses in 10 shows—three purebreds and one Half-Arabian. Most of his points were earned on Dal-Apollo, (Sea Ben Ben Bilal x Rudaynah), a 13-year-old purebred gelding who earned Ehrlick two national championships, two reserve national championships and six Top 10s at the 2007 Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington, VA, and Canadian Nationals in Regina, Saskatchewan. Ehrlick’s Anglo-Arabian, R Jay Bakaro (Emkay Bakaro x Elexe Joy) earned three national championships, a reserve national championship and three Top 10s at the same two shows.

Ehrlick’s journey to showing Arabians has an interesting start. He rode a variety of horses growing up, learning to ride around the age of three, but Ehrlick’s preference for Arabians came about accidentally after he rode an Anglo-Arabian in the 1968 Olympics. Assuming the horse’s strength and stamina was a unique virtue to that particular horse he didn’t think to seek out Arabians until later. As Ehrlick got involved with showing Arabians in the 80s he realized the qualities he admired in his Anglo-Arabian were abundant in purebreds and Half-Arabians as well. From then on, Ehrlick has enjoyed showing Arabians and Half-Arabians in hunter over fences, jumpers and hunter hack. He attributes a lot of his success to his wife, Cheryl, who doubles as his trainer, as well as his opportunity to ride great horses and train at their beautiful facility.

“I am truly blessed,” says Ehrlick. At 61, Ehrlick considers himself lucky to be able to compete at a high level with excellent competitors. He says he has never been a “point chaser,” but was informed by a friend at the 2007 Sport Horse Nationals that he was leading the pack for this year’s high point award. “To have a season like this is a fairytale,” says Ehrlick. “Everything fell into place.”

2007 Top Ten Amateur Achievement Award Winners:

1. Allan Ehrick - Campellville, Ontario - 451 pts

2. McKenna Marshall - Scottsdale, AZ - 411 pts

3. Jennifer M. Roberts - Chesterfield, NH - 348.5 pts

4. Daniella Gray - Aldergrove, British Columbia - 344.5 pts

5. Bridget Atwood - Temecula, CA - 338.5 pts

6. Hannah Beall - Redlands, CA - 331 pts

7. Brittany Nokelberg - Eugene, OR - 329.5 pts

8. Liz Steffes - Apple Valley, MN - 326.5 pts

9. Caitlin Pigott - Wittier, CA - 318.5 pts

10. Anthony Desiderio - Chester, NJ - 309 pts

ENDS