Riders vying for the 2004 Horse & Rider Rookie of the Year competition had to qualify in the local affiliate to compete at their North American Affiliate Regional Finals.  There were six North American Affiliate Regional Finals this year: Eastern U.S.A, Central U.S.A., Mountain U.S. A., Western U.S.A., Eastern Canada, and Western Canada.  The top three Rookies, plus ties, from each Regional Finals advanced to the Rookie competition in Oklahoma City.  A total of 19 riders arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed to compete in this entry level, yet demanding class.

 

Rae Ann Svedberg of Hardin, Montana, captured the first place position at the North American Affiliate Region Finals - Mountain U.S.A.  She continued her “winning ways” in OKC by scoring a 210 on Sergeants Enterprise, an eight-year-old stallion by NRHA Hall of Fame member Be Aech Enterprise and out of San Sugar Smoke to win the 2004 Horse & Rider Rookie of the Year title.

 

For Rae Ann, winning the Horse & Rider Rookie of the Year competition was a dream come true. Representing the Yellowstone Reining Horse Association, Rae Ann has wanted to compete at Reining’s biggest show since she was 12-years-old. She and her husband J D did the training on their talented horse, with an occasional assist from Jay Dee Anderson and Jerry Fowler.

 

First year reiner, Coral Maxwell and her six-year-old sorrel mare, Smart Misty Bar (Senors Lil Brudder x Peppermints Lil Bit) also qualified through the Mountain Affiliate Finals to compete in OKC and scored a 208 for second place.  Originally planning to “just get through the patterns” this year, Coral progressed to the point where she always seemed to end up in the money.  Coral and her husband Randy have always had horses, hauling their three kids to 4-H shows.  Now that the children are grown, Coral finally had the opportunity to show - and show she did in OKC!

 

NRHA congratulates all the Rookie riders who competed in OKC.  They were spectacular!  For complete results and more information on the Horse & Rider Rookie of the Year competition, log on to the NRHA Web site at www.nrha.com.