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Team USA announces 2018 Youth World Games roster

Many accomplished and talented AjPHA members applied for the opportunity to represent the United States in the 2018 AjPHA Youth World Games, taking place during the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas. After a very thorough review process, five applicants rose to the top of a competitive pool of talent.

Pat Trebesch of Aubrey, Texas, will coach Team USA again this year. Pat has coached Team USA for several years, amassing three Youth World Games wins. Members of Team USA 2018 include:

Sabine Lazo – Trail

Sabine Lazo, a sophomore from Caldwell, Texas, will represent Team USA in trail. Sabine has held many leadership positions within AjPHA and her regional clubs, Texas Paint Horse Club and Gulf Coast Paint Horse Club; she is also the 2017–2018 AjPHA president-elect. She is very active in extra-curricular activities and student organizations, including FFA, 4-H, Student Council, Business Professionals of America and more. In the saddle, Sabine has shown with APHA since she was a walk-trotter, and she holds several world and reserve world champion titles.

Kellianne Lunny – Horsemanship

Kellianne Lunny, a freshman at Wingate University, will ride in horsemanship for Team USA. Kellianne hails from Franklinton, North Carolina, and has owned and shown her Paint Horses with APHA since 2011. She has ridden to multiple Top 10 finishes at the AjPHA Youth World Show. Active in leadership, Kellianne has held multiple officer positions on the Palmetto Paint Horse Youth Club, and she is also an AjPHA national director. She is also a member of National Honors Society, math club and 4-H. Kellianne is an accomplished horse judger and was a member of the High-Point Youth Judging Team at the All American Quarter Horse Congress as well as received a Top 10 finish in the Youth Individual High-Point standings.

Gianna Pozzi – Hunt-Seat Equitation

A freshman from Spring Valley, Illinois,  Gianna Pozzi will represent Team USA in hunt-seat equitation. She has an impressive riding resume including multiple APHA world and reserve world championships. She has held various leadership positions within Illinois Paint Horse Club and Wisconsin Paint Horse Club, and she is also an AjPHA national director. Gianna is very involved at school as a three-sport freshman athlete in volleyball, basketball and softball in addition to involvement in the Spanish club, pep club and volunteering at her local food pantry.

Sarah Beth Felker – Ranch Riding
A senior from Cross, South Carolina, Sarah Beth Felker will compete in ranch riding to represent Team USA. This talented 17-year-old has AjPHA world reserve world championship titles under her belt and rides on an Interscholastic Equestrian Team in addition to participating in beta club, key club, student government, 4-H and the National Honors Society. She is an dedicated student, and she is a member of the International Baccalaureate program and the Berkley High School Scholars Academy.

Livia Hillenburg – Showmanship at Halter
A freshman at Indiana University, Livia Hillenburg will represent Team USA in showmanship. She is an accomplished rider and showman whose resume boasts multiple notable riding achievements including an impressive 685 Paint Alternative Competition credits with her Paints, multiple year-end awards with PAC and APHA and more. She has been an active member of Indiana 4-H and now rides for the Indiana University Western Equestrian Team. Outside of horses, her activities include competitive cheerleading, yearbook club, church youth group and volunteering with local organizations.

 

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[Reprinting all of part of this story is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provide back to apha.com.]

About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.

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