Alice Draper on CCF Integriti+//. Photo by Elaine Ward.

Wendy Davis of Tucson, Ariz. and Anna Redmond of Santa Ynez, Calif. both showed their way into the history books, earning 560.5 and 579 points respectively, to be named the 2011 Achievement Award winners. Davis, an adult amateur and Redmond, a youth amateur earned the highest number of points in their age divisions between January 1 and December 31.

Davis was introduced to Arabians as a kid by a neighbor who bred for endurance, bought her first Anglo-Arabian during the late 80s, showing him in the hunter division along with her other hunter jumpers. "The hunter horse was a second class citizen back then and so I stopped showing Arabians and got busy with work," says Davis. "I happen to live close to Mrs. T [legendary breeder of Arabians, Bazy Tankersley] and a few years back she told me they were starting this new sport horse thing, where hunter judges would judge Arabians as hunters. So I got back into it!"

A staunch supporter of the sport horse division, Davis especially enjoys the camaraderie she feels with her fellow competitors. "We're all friends and so we walk out of the ring and all go to dinner together. That's what makes it so much fun." Davis earned all her points in the sport horse division at 10 shows, placing over 150 times. She earned five Reserve Championships and 11 Top Tens at last year's Sport Horse Nationals.

"I work full-time so I really have to pick and choose when I can be away from work. I used nearly all my vacation time last year," says Davis looking toward the future. "I had a bunch saved up." Davis will no doubt find at least a little time to get in the ring in 2012, joking, "I find myself thinking, if I could just beat that Desiderio kid..."

Nine shows and over 100 placings in several different divisions including reining, country English pleasure, and hunter will earn a lot of points-and earn a lot of points is exactly what Anna Redmond did in 2011. Redmond's versatility paid off with five Championships, three Reserve Championships and eight Top Tens at the 2011 Youth Nationals. At age 14, Redmond is sure to continue to break records throughout her youth show career.

Both Davis and Redmond received a Montana Silversmith belt buckle and a padfolio briefcase. Redmond received a $1,500 scholarship and Davis received a $1,500 gift certificate to Schneider Saddlery.

For a list of the final standings for the 2011 Amateur Achievement Awards, click here. For more information, visit www.ArabianHorses.org or email info@arabianhorses.org.

Bill and Alexis Doughty with Church Creek+++//. Photo by Suzanne.

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