ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When Katherine Rich-Elzig says it was a good show at Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals, she is one to know: She has made it to the last 19 of them.

Rich-Elzig, the 31-year-old trainer at the venerable Green Acres Ranch in Temecula, won her first Youth National Championship in 1996 –- aboard Tinka-Exouds Son in Hunt Seat Equitation. Today, the third-generation Arabian horseperson is coaching pupils like Olivia Welch and Whitney Campbell to National Championships of their own at the show, she says, she likes above all others.

“In my opinion, it’s the best horse show that the Arabian Horse Association puts on,” said Rich-Elzig, who with husband Tyler Elzig are building a new momentum under the Green Acres banner. “The people who won the show are really wonderful, hard-working individuals who put their heart and soul into making this event special for these kids, every single year.”

Ferrara photo

Whitney Campbell rides Wyman Oaks Joey +// to an English Show Hack JTR 13-Under National Championship.

Welch, 13, concluded her 13-under division career by winning her first Youth National title on her KD Kontagious in Mounted Native Costume. Campbell, 12, entered five classes and finished Top Ten in all of them, including a National title in Show Hack and a reserve in Native Costume.
“It was just a really rewarding show for us as a whole,” said Rich-Elzig. “A couple of my horses were kind of underdogs coming up, and my kids all had their own little stories. They worked so hard, each and every day — it’s nice to see it all pay off for them.”

The Green Acres barn also cheered on 16-year-old Cubby Sporrong to the Half-Arabian Mare Breeding Saddle Pleasure JTH 17-under title with Rich-Elzig’s mare, Judith Amore BPA. It was the first National Championship for Sporrong, who trains with Alyssa Baird and Ashley Robinson of Mistical Marketing

“They work really well together,” Rich-Elzig said of “Judita”, whom she purchased with her husband Tyler Elzig last December. “My mare really likes Cubby.”

Students of Cynthia Burkman and the Burkman Training Centre in Los Alamos had a strong Youth Nationals trip in 2012. Holland Stevens led the way with multiple National Championships and Reserves on Apollos Cary Grant, Maverick Afire, GR Khaleidoscope, Captain Jack Sparrow PGA and Aflair CF.

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