While other youth spent their weekends playing games and watching television, the Culwell brothers, Julius and Robert, dedicated their weekends last year traveling on the road with their solid pinto horses competing at Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA) recognized horse shows.
All of their hard work in the show arena paid off as both brothers were recognized by PtHA as 2019 high point youth riders for Zone 6.
Younger brother Robert won high point youth exhibitor for the junior division and older brother Julius won high point in the senior division. Zone 6 includes the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
Julius also was recognized as reserve high point youth in the solid pinto gymkhana division riding his 23 year old mare named How D My Valentine and placed third overall in the same division riding his other mare named Hollywood NV ME. In the open division for yearend awards, Julius placed 5th in solid pinto flag races and 7th in solid pinto barrel races riding How D My Valentine and 5th in pole bending riding Hollywood NV ME. Both brothers have been invited to the PtHA Awards Banquet at the PtHA Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 14th where they will be awarded for their achievements winning trophy belt buckles.
The two will be representing the state at the convention as youth officers for the Mississippi Pinto Horse Association (MPHA) with Julius as the President and Robert as the Vice President and Youth National Director for Zone 6. For youth interested in participating in MPHA, they can contact the MPHA Youth Advisor Dr. Molly Nicodemus at mnicodemus@ads.msstate.edu.
The next MPHA show will be held on April 18th-19th in Meridian, Mississippi at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
