Happy 50th Anniversary to the Palomino Horse Breeders of America Youth Association!
Wise leaders of PHBA in the early and mid- 1960’s, recognized that the youth of the association held the future of PHBA in their hands. In 1963, the New Mexico Palomino Exhibitors Association began holding youth activities that were horse show classes at the PHBA approved shows. Youth high point trophies were donated by Jack and Genelle Anderson, Bent Arrow Ranch, Broken Arrow, OK, starting in 1964 through 1967, to each approved PHBA horse show.
Mary Greinert Kosinski, Ballston Spa, NY, recommended the formation of Junior Palomino Clubs and along with Pauline Kaul Harms, Sandia Park, New Mexico, suggested that youth horse show classes be held under the guidelines with the open classes. Two age groups were recommended, thirteen and under and fourteen through eighteen. In 1966, youth charters were outlined, granted and issued to Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Louella Baker, Flower Mound, TX, planned and organized a national youth meeting to be hosted by the Texas Youth Association along with a Royalty Contest. The contest was to be held in conjunction with the annual PHBA meeting in June 1967. The first event drew twenty-five contestants from eight states to be judged on horsemanship, appearance, and personality. State Affiliates nominated the contestants to represent their states. In Indiana, at the 1968 PHBA Convention, thirty-six contestants vied for the royal titles. The first request for the implementation of the National Youth Association was presented to the PHBA membership and taken under advisement. It was to be presented again at the Fall PHBA Board Meeting. At this meeting, the PHBA-Y Association was given the blessing of the PHBA Executive Board. In June 1969, Louella Baker, Youth Chairman, helped to formally launch the National Youth Association known as the PHBA-Y.
But... Oops!
And just like that, PHBA-Y was born, right? Not quite. At the November Fall PHBA Board Meeting, in St. Louis, MO, the youth organization was declared illegal because of a constitutional technicality in the PHBA rules. In June of 1970, the youth group was again chartered with the unanimous sanction of the PHBA Board Directors.
Youth Leadership Push For Program Development
Louella Baker, PHBA-Y Chairman, along with Kirk Henckels leadership, plans were initiated for the first National Youth Congress Show, to be held in July 1971. Due to the VEE equine epidemic strike, caused the Youth Congress to be postponed until 1972, to be held in conjunction with the PHBA June Convention. For many years, the PHBA-Y Congress Shows traveled to various areas of the country by being, “bid for”, by PHBA State Affiliates.
The PHBA-Y Congress Shows have seen a number of changes since its inception in 1969, from; King and Queen contests and PHBA Mascots, along with a Junior Judge Program, to PHBA-Y Congress Shows being held in June, in different areas of the country, to being incorporated into the PHBA World Shows held in Tulsa, OK, for over thirty years, to Parade of States, Stall Decorating Contests and Team Tournaments, to now being held in July, in Tunica, MS, in conjunction with the PHBA World Shows.
The PHBA-Y Association, since its inception in the 1960s, still remains an excellent tool for today’s youth to learn leadership, discipline, sportsmanship, and responsibility while showing their beloved Palomino horses. PHBA remains one of the few equine breeds that do not require ownership of the PHBA youth’s horse.
The Palomino Horse Breeders Heritage Foundation (PHBHF) debuted the Palomino Horse Breeders Heritage Foundation Horse of the Year at the 2019 Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) Annual Convention on March 16 in Tulsa, OK.
