The
American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup, an international leadership
event that includes educational horsemanship clinics and a friendly
Olympic-style competition, is hosting youth from 16 countries July 3-11
in Oklahoma City.
Each of the 16
teams consist of five competing American Quarter Horse Youth
Association members. Additionally, teams can bring leadership
participants.
This year’s Youth World
Cup will include teams from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy,
New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
The host country provides the American Quarter Horses used in the
competition.
During the Youth World
Cup, American Quarter Horse experts from North America will conduct
clinics and one-on-one instruction for the youth competitors. Clinicians
include AQHA Professional Horsemen and horsewomen Charlie Cole, Terry
Cross, David Dellin, Casey Hinton, Vicky Holt, Patti Carter Pratt and
Carla Wennberg along with top professionals Shawn Flarida, Gil Galyean,
Holly Hover, Robin Frid and many more.
“These kids from around
the world are the future of the
American Quarter Horse Association,” said David Avery, AQHA director of
international affairs. “The horses don’t have language barriers these
kids can watch and imitate the clinicians and learn so much from their
Youth World Cup experience.”
The
Youth World Cup started in 1986 with support from Skip Parker of
Carrollton, Texas and members of the Australian Quarter Horse
Association as a way to connect youth from around the world for friendly
competition, educational camaraderie and international experience for
American Quarter Horse Youth Association members. Since then, the Youth
World Cup has been held in Canada; Italy, Australia; Germany; and in the
United States, Texas and Arizona. This is the first year the Youth
World Cup will be held in Oklahoma.
