The National Appaloosa Horse Club has announced that Sarah Gruntmeir has been awarded first in the nation in the Camas Prairie Stump Race (10-and-under age group); first in the nation in the Figure 8 Stake Race (10-and-under); first in the Nez Perce Stake Race (10-and-under); second in the Keyhole Race (10-and-under); and seventh in the nation in Heritage Category (18-and-under).
Sarah is an Okarche native and is a fourth-grader at Gilmour Elementary in Kingfisher. Her achievement is based on her cumulative rankings at shows in the 2008 calendar year. Four of the categories listed are games competitions. The Nez Perce Stake race is also called the Pole Race and the Camas Prairie Stump Race is a barrel competition. The Heritage class involves riding in period clothing. Sarah's game horse is named Mr. Machine and is a bay appaloosa with blanket markings. Sarah and her family traveled across Oklahoma and Texas to Appaloosa breed shows throughout the year.
The Appaloosa Horse Club is the international breed registry serving ApHC members and Appaloosa enthusiasts by recording and reserving the horses' heritage and history, and by providing services that promote, enhance and improve the Appaloosa, a breed defined by ApHC bloodline requirements and preferred characteristics, including coat pattern.
Sarah competes in all three types of events: halter, western and English events. She has recently started showing a new horse named Megan's Dream and loves to show him in trail classes where she recently achieved a perfect score. Sarah trains with John and Debbie Letham from the Yukon area.
Sarah also competes with the Freedom Riders drill team. The team is comprised of Canadian County 4-H members who ride their horses in maneuvers to choreographed music. The team recently placed first in the novice division at the Red Dirt Ride held in Duncan where Sarah served as co-lead rider.
Sarah will move into an older age category at Appaloosa shows in 2009. Her first show of the year will be held in March and she will compete throughout the state this year. Sarah's father, Don, is a farmer/rancher, and her mother, Laura, is a professor at Redlands Community College. Her brother, Robert, is a second-grader and is following in her footsteps by entering the games competitions this year.