Chandler High School freshman Elijah McKinzie won a national championship and reserve national championship at the Arabian Horse Association Youth National Championship held in Oklahoma City on July 17-27.
McKinzie competed with two horses - a Half Arabian mare named Ramblin Miss Hickory+, or “Fish” and a Half Arabian gelding named Keeping the Faith, or “BJ.” He completed in ranch classes and cow work with Ramblin Miss Hickory+ and won the National Championship in Herd Work for the second year in a row and Reserve National Championship in HA Limited Ranch Cow Work. In the ranch classes, the two had National Top 10 finishes in HA Ranch Rail Pleasure 14U and HA Ranch Riding 14U.
With Keeping the Faith, McKinzie had a National Top 10 finish in HA Western Pleasure Choice.
This was his third year competing in the competition.
There were 915 horses and 3,829 entries from 41 states, three Canadian provinces and three additional countries at the Arabian Horse association Youth and Midsummer National Championship.
McKinzie intends to continue his riding career with Fish to defend his repeat National Championship in Herd Work and advance his skills in Western Pleasure. He lives on a ranch in Tryon with his parents and brother, where they raise Arabian horses and Angus cattle.
He’s active in school sports and FFA and rides competitively with Ralston Training Center in Depew with trainers Cody and Eddie Ralston.