The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, is proud to name its top point-earning amateurs for 2008. Natacha Lesburgueres of Louisville, KY, earned 532 points, becoming the adult amateur winner, while Collier McLeod of Augusta, GA, earned 522.5 points for the youth amateur top spot. The AHA Amateur Achievement Award program began in 2002 and has since tracked the points that individual riders, handlers and drivers earn each year. In 2008 the program was adjusted to recognize adults and youth in two different categories.

Lesburgueres earned her adult amateur points riding 15 horses in 16 shows in dressage, hunter hack, show hack, sport horse under saddle, hunter pleasure, country pleasure, sport horse in-hand, country pleasure driving, hunt seat equitation not to jump, side saddle and mounted native costume. Lesburgueres, only 23 years old, truly enjoys the variety of her experience. “I can’t say I have a favorite horse, but I can pick out my favorite qualities in each horse. I’ve really enjoyed showing the horses my family has bred. Horses that some people didn’t think would be a success and then turn out to love what they do in the show ring and do it really well,” says Lesburgueres.

Nine-and-a-half points behind Lesburgueres, Collier McLeod earned her youth amateur points by riding three horses in 12 shows. Three of those shows were national championships—Youth Nationals, Canadian Nationals and Sport Horse Nationals—where McLeod rode her 11-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding, FF Irish Vodka+++//, known as “Guinness,” to three championships, two reserve championships and ten top 10s. McLeod competed in hunter hack, dressage, working hunter, sport horse under saddle, hunt seat equitation and in-hand classes. “I actually bought Guinness with the intention of putting in a really good show year before leaving for college. I was aiming for this award,” says McLeod. FF Irish Vodka also won the AHA High Point Horse of the Year.

Lesburgueres and McLeod’s accomplishments were recognized Sunday, February 22, at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale, AZ.

The top ten point earners from the Achievement Awards program receive a deluxe tack rack case from AHA official sponsor, Schneider Saddlery. In addition to the tack rack case, McLeod and Lesburgueres will receive an official letterman-style jacket from AHA Corporate Partner, The Hat Lady, and McLeod will receive a $1,500 scholarship while Lesburgueres will receive a $1,500 gift certificate, also from Schneider Saddlery.

The top ten point earners in both the adult and youth amateur categories are:

Adult
1. Natacha Lesburgueres; Louisville, KY; 532
2. Alexandra Ramage; Xenia, OH; 487.75
3. Laura Wolsey; Langley, BC; 252.85
4. Tracy Ratliff Lord; Augusta, GA; 262
5. Jennifer M. Roberts; Chesterfield, NH; 210.5
6. Alexis Starer Doughty; Cape Charles, VA; 205.5
7. Diane Athey; Enid, OK; 202
8. Christina Passey; Surrey, BC; 201.5
9. Lance Bowman; Paducah, KY; 190.5
10. Brianna York; Philomath, OR; 175.5

Youth
1. Collier McLeod; Augusta, GA; 522.5
2. Isobelle Ehret; Wetaskiwin, AB; 379.5
3. Katie Pelphrey; Louisville, KY; 343
4. Madison Stevens; Los Angeles, CA; 280
5. Rachael Swanson; River Falls, WI; 248
6. Katherine Kirby; Sioux Falls, SD; 245
7. Anthony Desiderio; Chester, NJ; 244.5
8. Daniella Gray; Aldergrove, BC; 237
9. Quincy Hernandez; Louisville, KY; 232.5
10. Jessica Passey; Surrey, BC; 222.5