The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) has announced that McMinnville High School’s Elyse Brill has been awarded with the AMHA Western Seat Silver Medal Award for her outstanding performance at the Far West Regional Morgan Horse Show, held June 17-21 in Redmond. Her performance qualified her for a chance to compete for the gold medal at the 2009 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show, scheduled for Oct. 10-17 in Oklahoma City.

Excellence in equitation is valued by AMHA and is recognized through its AMHA medal classes, held at local and regional Morgan and all-breed shows. All junior riders who are AMHA members are invited to compete on a Morgan. AMHA silver medals are awarded in each of the six seats: saddle, western, hunter on the flat, hunter over fences, reining, and dressage. Those who place first or second in an AMHA Silver Medal class are qualified to participate in the 2009 Gold Medal Finals at the Grand National. The highest AMHA equitation honor, the gold medal is awarded in each of the six seats.

Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations.

For more information on America’s original horse breed, see www.morganhorse.com.