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Congratulations to the
2010 Breed Association Scholarship winners:
Click here to view the
2010 Youth Team Tournament Scholarship winners.
Mckenzie Gee
Reichert Equine
Foundation $500.00 Scholarship winner
My passion for horses was evident at a young age. At age
four, I dreamed of owning a pony. My supportive parents
nurtured my dream and I received a Welsh cob for my fifth
birthday. I remember many family trail rides during my early
childhood. I was introduced to horse showing through the
local saddle club by our trail-riding friends. Seeds of
ambition were sown upon earning my first ribbon! Just as I
was dreaming of becoming a champion in the show pen, my
father passed away unexpectedly. Only months later, my
beloved pony escaped from her pen and was killed in a tragic
accident. My whole world was shatters, and Mom and I were
left to pick up the pieces.
It was natural to feel betrayed by life's events. Mom and I
refrained from many activities for years, including those
that were equine related. However, a deep-rooted passion can
only hibernate for so long. When I asked for a show pony, we
purchased an older, experienced POA gelding. I knew nothing
about showing but dedicated myself to learning. I began
working with a trainer and hit the show circuit. When I
turned fourteen, we purchased a more modern show pony. We
became a great team, earning five International
Championships and four reserves as well as countless
Regional and Classic championships. When desiring new
challenges, I purchased a two-year-old and began training. I
have recently won my first International Futurity
Championship with a junior pony.
Although these gratifying wins demonstrate consistency with
skill attainment, I have learned it's not all about the win.
I developed personal attributed by being involved with
horses, which benefit me both inside and outside the show
industry. First and foremost, I am a confident person.
Second, I have been instilled with a burning passion that I
now exhibit in other facets of my life. Third, an
unparalleled ambition has arisen in me from setting goals
and achieving success. I believe these attributes are
shaping and molding my future.
Being involved with horses increased my level of confidence.
During the lapse from equine activity, I became very unsure
of myself, but I overcame the great obstacle of parental
death when I became involved with horses.
The passion I felt for horses as young child expanded into a
passion for everything in life. Whether it is something as
minor as a homework assignment or something as important as
competing in a class at an International horse show, I put
full effort into everything that I do. I believe that life
should be lived with an "all or nothing" attitude.
Through showing, I developed the ambition to reach my goals.
It is now easier for me to set goals. I have mapped out a
path to follow through college, veterinary school, and my
aspired life as a professional equine veterinarian. The
ambition that is defining me has risen from my time spent
working with horses as a youth.
Lauren Rufo
Reichert Equine Foundation $500.00 Scholarship winner
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work,
the more I seem to have of it!” ~ Thomas Jefferson
My name is Lauren Rufo; I’m 16 and an
incredibly headstrong and dedicated individual. I’ve been
involved with horses my entire life; but, if it wasn’t for
my brother, my interests couldn’t have grown into the
consuming passion I possess today. About four years ago my
family purchased our first horse: a little mare, who loving
taught us an important rule- like pistachios, you can’t have
one horse-she was unknowingly bread. Acquiring much from
this experience, I instantly became absorbed by the horse
world. Suddenly, I found myself on my own mare, in 4-H, and
learning to show. 4-H lead me to horse judging, which
initiated realizations of an aspiring competitor; moreover,
finding an amazing trainer and the gelding of my dreams has
greatly contributed to my development as a horseman.
Considering my experience, judging and showing for two
years, I have been incredibly successful winning multiple
local, state, and world titles. Although success insinuates
competence, I realize my accomplishments originate from many
significant experiences, because horses have truly
influenced my development as an individual: supplementing my
confidence, discipline, and overall life skills.
As an individual, I’ve always struggled with myself, lacking
the pose and experience to realize I was a leader and could
do anything. Of course this awareness came about me after a
gradual build up and combination of horse proficiency, and
the great need of more challenged peers in 4-H. After the
new uncomfortable experience I realized that appearing
confident and comfortable in a group is much more effective
and enjoyable for everyone, while you setting yourself up
for more opportunities to achieve success. It was probably
because of this new individual accomplishment that I formed
the opinion of when you are involved in showing horses,
there is a sort of understanding everything is a game;
trying yet tactful competition, strictly based on one’s
opinions and capabilities. Of course when dealing with the
principles of opinions, there is always a certain degree of
luck required by each participant; and if an opinion is
corrupt, you lose the game and understandings begin to alter
themselves as you work and grow towards success. And as you
continue to grow as a person, and a showman, you suddenly
become aware that what you have learned from the overall
experience and atmosphere of being involved in horses is not
only to achieve success but to develop grounded, useful life
skills that will make you stand out to the rest of the world
as success formed by the nature of a horse.
Tessa Elizabeth Hall
Reichert Equine Foundation
$500.00 Scholarship winner
“Fifth place goes to entry 231!” the
announcer boomed. My pulse throbbed as the applause echoed
through the coliseum. After the weeks of preparation, riding
three times a day in addition to hours of showmanship
practice, cleaning stalls, scrubbing buckets, and myriad
other chores, I wanted to place more than ever. Aside from
an exhilarating fifth in Hunter in Hand mares, the week had
not gone well for my new horse and me. A bacterial infection
in Daphnee’s hind legs, the heat, and bad performances in
showmanship and hunter under saddle were excruciatingly
frustrating after the effort I put into our preparation for
Youth Worlds. But finally, Friday came around, and it was my
time to shine! Riding into the Fordice Center in all of my
Nez Perce finery, I was confident that Daphnee and I would
ride out with at least one World Championship. I thought I
had the best outfit by far, and in addition, I had two years
of experience presenting to the judges and a Youth World
Championship in Heritage from the year before. Relaxing and
smiling, I rode flawlessly and presented well during my
sixty seconds with the judges. Now, standing in the lineup,
I could already feel the weight of the trophy in my hands as
the announcer called the placings.
“Fourth place goes to…entry 773!” Taking a breath, I stared
off into space and smiled thinking that my hard work had
finally paid off in one class at least.
“Third place goes to…entry 585!” Instantly, the smile melted
off my face. That was my number being called. I rode forward
and claimed my yellow ribbon, whose lack of meaning felt
even heavier than the imaginary trophy I had carried all
throughout the class. I could feel the tears coming before I
even rode out of the arena. My trainer met me at the gate,
and together we trudged past the beaming winner, back to our
stall.
In the following days, I continued to cry over the lost
class. What if I had talked longer? Or talked about
different pieces? What if I had ridden better, or performed
the sign language last and not first? But as the days turned
to weeks, I realized something. I had done the best I could.
My green broke mare, new to showing, had performed
perfectly, trusting in me to guide her through the class.
And, I had given the best performance I was capable of. That
was enough to be happy with. I have used this lesson I
learned both in showing and out, and now I am glad I lost
that class. Life is better when you can be happy with your
personal best, rather than a blue ribbon.
*********
Tessa has been riding for 9 years. She
did not start showing until three years ago, when she leased
her first Appaloosa. In 2009, Tessa won her first World
Championship. Since then, she has purchased and begun
showing Glo Ette, under the guidance of her trainer Arleen
Hensley. Tessa would like to thank Marge Bibeau and Doug and
Arleen Hensley for their encouragement, understanding and
support, as well as Patti Bertram, “Daphnee’s” breeder, for
her interest in their show career. Tessa would also like to
thank her parents for putting everything they have into
making a success of her show career. Tessa extends her
gratitude to the Reichert Foundation for providing her and
other exhibitors of all ages and breed affiliations with the
opportunity to participate in the Reichert Celebration.
After graduating from Parkway South
High School in May 2011, Tessa plans on attending University
of Missouri, Columbia, as an Animal Sciences major, and
plans to attend UMC’s College of Veterinary Medicine, with a
special interest in equine medicine. During spring and
summer breaks, Tessa has participated in many international
mission trips through her church and Samaritan’s Purse
International Relief Organization. Currently, Tessa is an
officer of her school’s Spanish Club, tutors younger high
school students, is a member of the National Honor Society,
plays violin in an audition only youth symphonic orchestra,
and works in the lesson program of Kraus Farms Equestrian
Center, in addition to travelling to shows and to North
Carolina to train with Arleen and Daphnee.
REICHERT EQUINE FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 380
600 Court St. Suite 1
Williamsburg, IA 52361
PHONE: 319.668.2699
FAX: 319.668.2633
Terry@ReichertEquineFoundation.com
www.ReichertEquineFoundation.com
A 501 c 3 non profit Charity
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