Press Releases

For Immediate Release
August 16, 2007
Reining Horse Sports Foundation

Reining Horse Sports Foundation Awards $5,000 In Scholarships

Oklahoma City, OK – August 16, 2007 – The Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) honors leadership and achievement within the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA). The RHSF recently awarded five $1,000 scholarships to current NRHA and former NRHyA members based on financial need and academic achievement. RHSF President Bill Peel said, “Our youth are the future of Reining. The Foundation is pleased to invest in their education and to recognize the excellence they have demonstrated in all aspects of their lives from academics to the arena.”

The 2007 RHSF Scholarship winners are Ian Barnard, from Kendallville, OH. Barnard majors in Animal Science at Purdue University. The 18-year-old currently serves as the NRHyA Vice President. Barnard also won two NRHA Top Ten awards last year. He earned 6th place in the 2006 NRHA Top Ten Limited Non-Pro and 7th in the 2006 NRHA Top Ten Youth 14-18.

Jessica Rhoades attends Utah State University majoring in Sales and Marketing. The 19-year-old from Syracuse, UT, was honored with a 2004 Youth Incentive Award. She has also qualified to compete in the 2007 NRHA Mountain U.S. Regional Affiliate Finals in Denver, CO, this October.

Trevor Dare from Hilliard, OH, was also awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Dare majors in Equine Business Management at the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH. The 19-year-old recently won the 2007 Limited and Intermediate Champion Non Pro Derby in Jackson, OH. Dare was also named the High Point Western Rider at the 2007 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals in Springfield, MA.

18-year-old Stephanie Bowen from Newcastle, OK, also received one of the $1,000 RHSF scholarships. Bowen attends Oklahoma State University and majors in Ag Communications.

The fifth $1,000 Scholarship was awarded to 2006 NRHyA President Ashley Fuchs from Canfield, OH. Fuchs is a sophomore majoring in Biology/Pre-Med at the University of Akron in Akron, OH.

Fuchs and Dare were each awarded with a $1,000 RHSF Scholarship last year.

The RHSF is committed to helping Youth members reach their educational goals. One of its core programs is to help raise funds for youth programs. Determination for a $1,000 RHSF Scholarship is based on financial need, academic achievement, career plans, NRHA and NRHyA involvement, and references. Scholarship applicants are also required to meet several criteria before they’re considered for the award. As well as writing an essay, the applicants also provided copies of their high school transcripts along with three letters of recommendation.

For more information about the RHSF contact Heather Cline, RHSF Coordinator, at rhsf@nrha.com or (405) 946-7400 ext. 137 or you can visit www.reininghorsesportsfoundation.org.

The Reining Horse Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and enhancing the sport of Reining worldwide. The RHSF accomplishes that through their five core programs: Hall of Fame, Crisis Fund, Research, Development & Education, Youth and International Development.