The local Youth Of The Year (YOTY) contest at the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show (OMC) is built upon the Youth of the Year Program and AMHA Youth Merit Program of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA). The Merit Program is designed to build up knowledge and competence. It is designed to deveop this through the years of growth for our youth. The Merit Program can also be used over time to develop the knowlege needed to be successful in the AMHA Youth Of The Year Contest at Nationals or at the local shows. The Morgan Horse Association of Oregon (MHAO) is a club member of AMHA. What follows is an overview of the AMHA Programs.
The AMHA Merit Program
The AMHAY Merit Program is designed to help you become a competent horseperson. The six successive levels of study and testing are designed to increase knowledge of the Morgan breed and general horsemanship while receiving recognition for hard work.
AMHA Merit Program achievers must be under 22 years of age (as of December 1st) and all badge work must be completed with a registered Morgan horse.
Badge work is challenging, but the rewards and benefits are well worth the effort. Badge Achiever’s are announced on multiple forms of AMHA Social Media Outlets. Click on the links below to learn more about each Merit Program level. Those links will open up booklets for you to work through.
AMHA Merit Program achievers must be under 22 years of age (as of December 1st) and all badge work must be completed with a registered Morgan horse.
Badge work is challenging, but the rewards and benefits are well worth the effort. Badge Achiever’s are announced on multiple forms of AMHA Social Media Outlets. Click on the links below to learn more about each Merit Program level. Those links will open up booklets for you to work through.
Levels of the AMHA Merit Program:
Figure Badge - introductory level. FOR NON-MEMBERS OF AMHA ONLY. Youth receives a FREE youth AMHA Membership for the remainder of the year upon completion. Try it out!
Bulrush - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Bulrush pin
Woodbury - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Woodbury pin.
Sherman - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Sherman pin.
Black Hawk - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Black Hawk pin.
Justin Morgan - The highest of badge achievements. Awards include a certificate, gift card, Justin Morgan pin, Custom AMHA Jacket and recognition on the AMHA Website.
Each level builds on the knowledge from the one before it. All these booklets are filled with fun projects and puzzles, and the wonderful drawings are by our local Life Member, Nancy Eidam. Download a booklet, print it, and work thru it.
Bulrush - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Bulrush pin
Woodbury - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Woodbury pin.
Sherman - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Sherman pin.
Black Hawk - Awards include a certificate, gift card and Black Hawk pin.
Justin Morgan - The highest of badge achievements. Awards include a certificate, gift card, Justin Morgan pin, Custom AMHA Jacket and recognition on the AMHA Website.
Each level builds on the knowledge from the one before it. All these booklets are filled with fun projects and puzzles, and the wonderful drawings are by our local Life Member, Nancy Eidam. Download a booklet, print it, and work thru it.
AMHA Youth of the Year Program
Morgan horses have long been defined by their ability to suit people with varying interests. Similarly, AMHA believes that Morgan youths should also be versatile.
Youth of the Year contests are designed to recognize top achievers. Youth of the Year contests consist of four parts:
Many contests offer divisions for the leadline, walk-trot, and junior aged exhibitors. Expectations for these divisions are modified to be appropriate for the age of contestants. Please contact your local contest organizer for more information on the divisions being offered at your local contest. That organizer for the Oregon Morgan Classic is Sierra Breckenridge, [email protected].
Youth who win the Senior division or who score over 800 points in the Senior division at local contests qualify to compete for AMHA Youth of the Year at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City. The winner of this prestigious title receives a unique prize package customized by the winner valued at $3,500. The reserve winner receives a unique prize package customized by the reserve winner valued at $1,500. Local and regional contests are open to youth of all ages, but only those aged 14 years and older can qualify to compete in Oklahoma.
If a Senior division participant scores over 800 points and goes to Nationals to represent the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show, MHAO will reimburse up to $400 toward their travel expenses. Some parts of the YOTY Program may be completed virtually. Watch for announcements on our Facebook page or in the MHAO Youth Stable Sheet Newsletter.
In 2023, the AMHA Youth of the Year contest received a generous educational scholarship enhancement honoring the memory of Morgan industry icon, Mr. Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., this enhancement awards an additional $5,000 to the winner and $2,500 to the reserve winner of the Youth of the Year contest. Thank you to the Kohler family for this generous addition to the program.
Why should you compete in a Youth of the Year Contest? Youth of the Year contests reward those who are well-versed in horsemanship skills. They provide a wonderful opportunity to improve one's horse knowledge as well as a means of setting realistic goals and learning the benefits of hard work and dedication. Most importantly, youth contests create a positive atmosphere in which young people and adults who share a love of the Morgan can interact. Friendships developed through youth contests are a rewarding and fulfilling benefit. How can you become involved?
Sign up to participate or volunteer in a youth contest! There is no better time to become involved than right now! Every region offers Youth of the Year contests, so keep your eyes open. Discover where the next contest is being held. You have nothing to lose and lots to gain!
The knowlege you need for this program can be obtained by working through the Merit Programs discussed above.
Youth of the Year at the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show
Below is a study guide to help you prepare for any Youth of the Year contest. This guide was prepared by Sierra Breckenridge for the contest at the Oregon Morgan Classic.
Riding patterns and speeches will be virtual in 2026 and be submitted to Sierra Breckenridge via her email address: [email protected].
Contact Sierra with any questions you might have.
Youth of the Year contests are designed to recognize top achievers. Youth of the Year contests consist of four parts:
- a written exam
- an oral presentation
- a judging contest and
- a horsemanship pattern
Many contests offer divisions for the leadline, walk-trot, and junior aged exhibitors. Expectations for these divisions are modified to be appropriate for the age of contestants. Please contact your local contest organizer for more information on the divisions being offered at your local contest. That organizer for the Oregon Morgan Classic is Sierra Breckenridge, [email protected].
Youth who win the Senior division or who score over 800 points in the Senior division at local contests qualify to compete for AMHA Youth of the Year at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City. The winner of this prestigious title receives a unique prize package customized by the winner valued at $3,500. The reserve winner receives a unique prize package customized by the reserve winner valued at $1,500. Local and regional contests are open to youth of all ages, but only those aged 14 years and older can qualify to compete in Oklahoma.
If a Senior division participant scores over 800 points and goes to Nationals to represent the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show, MHAO will reimburse up to $400 toward their travel expenses. Some parts of the YOTY Program may be completed virtually. Watch for announcements on our Facebook page or in the MHAO Youth Stable Sheet Newsletter.
In 2023, the AMHA Youth of the Year contest received a generous educational scholarship enhancement honoring the memory of Morgan industry icon, Mr. Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., this enhancement awards an additional $5,000 to the winner and $2,500 to the reserve winner of the Youth of the Year contest. Thank you to the Kohler family for this generous addition to the program.
Why should you compete in a Youth of the Year Contest? Youth of the Year contests reward those who are well-versed in horsemanship skills. They provide a wonderful opportunity to improve one's horse knowledge as well as a means of setting realistic goals and learning the benefits of hard work and dedication. Most importantly, youth contests create a positive atmosphere in which young people and adults who share a love of the Morgan can interact. Friendships developed through youth contests are a rewarding and fulfilling benefit. How can you become involved?
Sign up to participate or volunteer in a youth contest! There is no better time to become involved than right now! Every region offers Youth of the Year contests, so keep your eyes open. Discover where the next contest is being held. You have nothing to lose and lots to gain!
The knowlege you need for this program can be obtained by working through the Merit Programs discussed above.
Youth of the Year at the Oregon Morgan Classic Horse Show
Below is a study guide to help you prepare for any Youth of the Year contest. This guide was prepared by Sierra Breckenridge for the contest at the Oregon Morgan Classic.
Riding patterns and speeches will be virtual in 2026 and be submitted to Sierra Breckenridge via her email address: [email protected].
Contact Sierra with any questions you might have.
Study Guide for the Oregon Morgan Classic Youth of the Year Contest
American Morgan Horse Association Youth of the Year Contest
Click on the AMHA Youth Logo to learn more about the AMHA Youth of the Year Contest
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