Each November, the United Professional Horsemen’s Association supports and features their UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Finals at the prestigious American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City, Missouri. This ambitious program promotes many different breeds of horses and riders of all ages and was first introduced in 1999.
The American Royal is an exciting venue for all riders to compete, as it is a highly competitive show for American Saddlebreds, Hackney Ponies and Roadsters and therefore presents a thrilling venue for our exceptional riders to experience.
It is a long trip to Kansas City and requires many hours of hard work by both MTRA instructors and their students, not to mention the expense. This year, MTRA riders were recognized with several impressive wins and we were thrilled to have played a part in their success!
- Megan Whitehead on Flash – Champion UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup WalkTrot Level 5 With Assistance
- Sheryl Aguirre on Nate – Reserve Champion UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Walk/Trot Level 4 With Assistance
- Janae Olivares on Nate – Top Ten UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Level 2 Finals
We are also indebted to Fire Stables of Lenexa, Kansas, and their trainers Nichole Morton and Skyler Raye for lending us their wonderful horses as well as their time and assistance. MTRA Instructors Sally Ann Lyle and Lisa Parker accompanied our riders and did a wonderful job preparing them for this event. Our riders just had two short rides on their loaned horses, a challenge of adjustment to an unfamiliar horse all by itself!
