Shelburne, VT—AMHA is pleased to announce the following equestrians have been named to Team Morgan and will take part in an international competition in North Carolina next month.

Jordan Cusumano, 19, Brighton, MI
Gaetana D'Alesio-Spina, 17, Mendon, MA
Kimberly Forster 17, Fall City, WA
Nena Marlin, 17, Brunswick, ME
Rachel Menard, 17, Walpole, MA
Sarah Shimmer, 18, Marshall, MI
Emma Ziemer, 15, Sheboygan Falls, WI

Morgan trainer Sandy Sessink of South Lyon, MI, has been named the team's coach.

Originally slated to take place at the Jubilee Regional Morgan Horse Show in September, the event was rescheduled to take place August 16-18 in Winston-Salem, NC. AMHA is pleased to partner with Cash Lovell Stables to hold this international competition.

Team Morgan will compete against a team from South Africa and an American Saddlebred team. Seven riders from each team will compete using World Cup rules. A three-member equitation judging panel will mark the cards and awards will be given to the overall high-point rider for both rail and pattern and the overall high-point team.

In addition to visiting the Lovells, the teams will visit Flintlock Farms in Chapel Hill. "Pete and Gael Jaeger immediately stepped up and offered to host a cookout and provide a parade of Morgans," said AMHA Executive Director, Julie Broadway. "We see this as a very special way to expose the South African youth to our great breed!"

Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations.

For more information on America’s original horse breed, contact the American Morgan Horse Association, Inc., 122 Bostwick Road, Shelburne, VT 05482; (802) 985-4944; www.morganhorse.com.

Christina Koliander

ENDS