Austria Arnold, a junior at The Hockaday School in Dallas, was recently elected president of National Youth Cutting Horse Association during the group’s annual July convention in Fort Worth. The 850-plus youth membership organization elected Arnold over two other candidates.

The 16-year-old Terrell, Texas, native has been a member of the Fort Worth-based cutting horse organization since she was 9-years-old. Prior to being elected to the top Officer position, she served as the 1st vice president of the NYCHA for a year and has been an Area Director for Area 24 since 2011. In both 2012 and 2013 Arnold was honored to be named the NYCHA Outstanding Area Director for the organization.

Most recently as the NYCHA 1st Vice President Arnold served as the voice of the junior membership at the NCHA Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. “I am so proud to have spearheaded the National Junior Officer & Junior Area Director Program which will be instituted in the coming year,” says Arnold. “This is a major accomplishment for our organization and gives our juniors a voice while allowing them to prepare for future leadership roles.  The program is designed to strengthen tomorrow’s leadership for the NYCHA and allows youth members to develop into strong voices for the industry,” she adds.

Seventeen-year-old Kolby Moore of Williston, Florida, was elected 1st vice-president, and Marley Wood of Lingleville, Texas, was elected as 2nd vice-president of the equestrian organization.  Elbert, Colorado-native Nicole Pietrafeso was elected secretary, while Derek Waters of Macksville, Kansas, was elected Reporter for a second term.

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