Aurora, CO - Earning 522.5 points might come naturally for the 2010 Youth Amateur of the Year Alexandria Desiderio, from Chester, NJ. "It kinda happened by accident—I didn't go out of my way—I just show so much now, it's crazy," says Desiderio. But you can't really say Desiderio's points came easily; unless 30-plus hours a week in the saddle sounds easy.

Desiderio came by her 522.5 points with the help of three horses at 13 shows, including Youth Nationals and Sport Horse Nationals. Simply Irrisistible+ (Apple Hill Ahrah x Stardancer), TL Foolin Around+// (JA Baheem Sharaab x Irish), and Oration (Dormane x Ortie) were her primary mounts with Simply Irrisistible as her favorite "because she's mine," admits Desiderio. With the support that comes along with parents and a brother who are trainers, the only girl of four children says she didn't feel much pressure throughout the 2010 show season. "I didn't have any pressure, it just came along," says Desiderio.

Point chasing doesn't have to become an obsession when one is entered in over 120 classes across 13 shows for the year. A handful of those classes were at Youth Nationals in Albuquerque, N.M. and Sport Horse Nationals in Nampa, ID. Desiderio earned three championships as well as three reserve championships and a Top Ten at Youth Nationals. At Sport Horse Nationals, Desiderio took home a whopping six championships and two Top Tens. Competing exclusively in the hunter discipline (with a very rare in-hand or dressage class added to the mix), Desiderio dominated hunt seat equitation, working hunter, hunter hack, sport horse under saddle and over obstacle classes throughout her region and at the national level in 2010.

"The friends, the feeling of [riding and winning], the people I get to hang out with," is what keeps Desiderio motivated. For 2011, Desiderio will be pleasantly surprised again if she wins Youth Amateur of the Year again. "I don't know if I will really strive for it. I won't go out of my way to win it but it would be nice," she says. When asked if there are as many shows on the 2011 calendar as there were last year, Desiderio says, "I might even do more!" At only 15, Desiderio clearly has a bright horse show future ahead of her.

Desiderio adds, "I would have to thank my mom, dad and brother...they're really helpful."

The AHA Youth Amateur of the Year title is awarded to the youth who earns the most points from January 1-December 31 of each year. Desiderio will receive a $1,500 scholarship, a Montana Silversmith Belt buckle, a screen printed briefcase and recognition in Modern Arabian Horse.

*The top ten point-earners in the youth amateur category were:
1. Alexandria Desiderio; Chester, NJ; 522.5
2. Hillary Boothe; Lompoc, CA; 397.5
3. Olivia Pakula; Scottsdale, AZ; 344
4. Hannah Noelle Bell; Encinitas, CA; 292
5. Isobelle Ehret; Wetaskwin, AB; 291
6. Holly Schnader; Reinolds, PA; 287.5
7. Emily Howser; Louisville, KY; 280
8. Quincy Hernandez; Louisville, KY; 276
9. Sarah Esqueda; Whittier, CA; 259.5
10. Katie Pelphrey; Louisville, KY; 251

For more information on the Amateur Achievement Awards visit www.ArabianHorses.org or [email protected].

ENDS