Albuquerque, NM - It was devilishly hot when the trainers and horses arrived and unloaded their vans for the 19th Annual Arabian Youth National Championships Tuesday and Wednesday, just a few short days before the beginning of the show. As the horses and tack trunks were walked or lifted off of the vans the temperature poked its nose over the 100-degree mark, leaving man and mount sweating and equally eager for a drink of water and a cool spot in the shade.

After nearly 20 years in the limelight, the Arabian Youth National Championships are an undeniable success story. In spite of the expected annual turnover in riders and families, due primarily to teenagers who “age out” and head off to college, entry numbers at the show have grown and maintained solid consistency through good times and not so good. Youth Nationals provides a vigorous market for many types of Arabian horses in numerous divisions and has given dozens of aspiring or languishing lesson coaches a new or renewed lease in the Arabian horse industry. It was the success of the Youth National Championship Show that originally sparked interest in the possibility of a fourth Arabian National Show: the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals.

Although it was held for several years in Oklahoma City, the show currently makes its home in New Mexico at the Albuquerque State Fairgrounds. As this is an end-of-July show, that’s a good thing. Albuquerque, like Denver, is a mile high and the weather is normally considerably cooler and far less humid than Oklahoma in mid-summer. By Friday, the day of the annual pre-show convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico was initiating its typical summer version of Monsoon season. That weather pattern includes cooler mornings, hot days and thunder and lightning afternoons or early evenings peppered by torrential downpours. At least this weather provides some breaks from the heat and is actually predictable. Riding and lessons are all in the mornings with time for suit fittings, tack purchases and socializing throughout the late afternoons. This pleasant time period only lasts a day or two. On Friday, the Youth Convention takes center stage and the Arabian Horse Youth Association holds its yearly elections. On Saturday morning the show begins slowly, but in earnest, with class sectionals and Trail competition.

The new 2011-2012 executive Arabian Horse Youth Association board included Laura Killian, President; Haley Harrington, Vice President; Hannah Bell, Treasurer and Missy Jensen, Secretary. During the course of the meeting a resolution was passed regarding allowing a judge to have the top four riders switch their mounts in Hunter Equitation on the flat and over fences (information provided by Barbie Wittenberg, Region 8 Director).

In 2011 the Youth National Championship Show runs Saturday through Saturday, July 23rd through the 30th. The first few days of the show include a great many sectionals and cuts and narrow down to a select group for the finals late in the week. The largest classes this year include 60 to 70 exhibitors, so the preliminary classes are very necessary. There are around 135 classes at the 2011 Youth National show and about 900 horses competing. Young riders and handlers at this show frequently exhibit more than one horse. Some have six to ten horses that they own, lease or borrow for the competition.

The classes, the welcome street party and barn parties are not the only form of entertainment at the Youth National Show. On the first Sunday afternoon, there is a Parade of Regions - a great opportunity for costumes, golf cart decoration and high-spirited, friendly competition between Regions. On Monday, there is a stick horse class. On Tuesda,y there is a dog costume competition and later in the week there is an ice cream social with free ice cream. On occasion the show has hosted fashion shows and even live entertainment from Country Music capitol, Nashville, Tennessee.

Most importantly, the Youth National Show provides an exceptional opportunity for the young people of the Arabian breed to gather, compete, share their love for their horses, and vie for roses and championship trophies with the best of their peers. It’s also a chance for families to participate together, and it’s delightful to watch the kids, their friends, siblings, parents and grandparents share so much joy and excitement annually at the Arabian Youth National Championships.