Winner Announced for 2015 Trainer of the Year
Vance Vahle rode Paula Deen to the 2015 Open Three Year Old Futurity Championship. Mr. Vahle was selected by the MFTHBA membership as the 2015 Trainer of the Year.
The Trainer of the Year award was designed to recognize the achievements of professional horsemen and women involved in the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse breed. The five nominees for the 2015 award represented the work ethic, dedication, and hard work needed to make a living in the equine world.
“We were very pleased with all of the nominations that we received this year. Once again, the voting was tight which shows the respect that the MFTHBA membership has for all of the nominees,” said Amy Stangl, MFTHBA Membership Committee Chairman. “Each nomination reflects the accomplishments of each of individual.”
Dr. Joyce Graening, MFTHBA President, added, “Bryan Biggs, Josh Dampier, Donnie Daugherty, David Ogle, and Vance Vahle have all made a positive impact on our breed and our Association.”
While it was clear that the MFTHBA membership admires all the nominated trainers, one stood out above the rest. The MFTHBA membership voted Vance Vahle as the 2015 Trainer of the Year.
In 2015, Mr. Vahle trained and rode Paula Deen to the Open Three Year Old Futurity Championship and the Open Three Year Old Reserve World Grand Championship for Jessica Revey and Barbara Palmer of Republic, Missouri. Mr. Vahle also trained California Nights for Craig and Michelle Dansie of Cody, Wyoming. California Nights won two World Grand Championships at the 2015 World Show and Celebration. Mr. Vahle trained several other horses who placed well at the World Show and Celebration this year, including Playboy Goes to Hollywood for Mike and Sandy Wood of Boliver, Missouri, and Shez Smokin Hot for Ronlin Farms, LLC, of Dadeville, Missouri.
In his nomination letter, Mr. Vahle was commended for his good equitation in the arena, along with the patience he shows working with his customers and his ability to communicate with his customers. The nomination letter pointed out the professional manner in which Mr. Vahle carries himself at shows.
The MFTHBA is grateful to all the equine professionals that dedicate their lives to the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse and congratulates Vance Vahle on being named the 2015 MFTHBA Trainer of the Year.
Mr. Vahle will be formally recognized at the 2016 Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity.