Nineteen-year-old Samantha Richards of Laramie, Wyoming, recently was announced as the 2010 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA)/Team Morgan Win a Morgan Horse Contest winner. Samantha recently met her new filly, CBMF Stolen Kisses, a full sister to world champion, Continental Vision.

 Richards originally hails from Maryland, and attends the University of Wyoming, where she is studying English and creative writing. When she graduates from college, Richards would like to start her own training, lesson, and boarding program and would like to train and show her own string of Morgan horses. Latte is stabled at Mears Morgans in Laramie and Richards will train her under the guidance of trainer Mallory Mignot.

 “I am incredibly honored to win such an unbelievable filly,” Richards said. “‘Latte’ is such a sweetheart and I fell in love with her the moment I met her! We’ve been having so much fun together and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. But definitely expect to see us in the show ring soon!”

The AMHA/Team Morgan Win a Morgan Horse Contest raises funds for Team Morgan to travel to and host international and national equitation competitions. Last November, Team Morgan traveled to Missouri and competed at Stephens College. Team Morgan competitions also have taken place in South Africa and North Carolina.

For the third year in a row, Ann Hailey of Copper Beech LLC in New Albany, Ohio, generously donated a Morgan horse from her breeding program as the prize. In 2008, CBMF Walk The Line was won by Christie Little of Harrington, Delaware, and in 2009, Katerina Barrett of Middletown, Maryland, was the winner of CBMF Phoenix. AMHA would like to thank Hailey for her tremendous generosity and dedication to this program.

 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, contact the American Morgan Horse Association, Inc., 4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5, Shelburne, Vermont 05482; (802) 985-4944; www.morganhorse.com.