Being selected as AERC's representative to the USEF Youth Council is so exciting! I'm Kirsten Kimbler, I live in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and I am a senior in high school -- the class of 2007 rocks! I am the oldest of four girls; all of us are crazy about horses. My family and I own seven horses, five of which we use for endurance riding.

I have been a member of USEF for six years. As a USEF Youth Council member I hope to increase equestrian awareness of the sport of endurance riding on the national level. I hope my past leadership experience in other equestrian associations will help AERC's effort to increase youth participation. I am currently vice president of the Arabian Horse Youth Association and also AHA Region 6 (ND, SD, MT, and WY) Youth Director. I hope to work with AERC's Junior Committee to increase youth participation in endurance and help to start an International Youth Endurance program. I will be attending the USEF Convention January 10-14 for the first-ever Youth Council meeting. I will report on the USEF Youth Council meeting at the AERC convention in February.

I have been a member of AERC for five years. I can still remember my first and very painful 50-mile endurance ride. Despite my soreness I kept riding. Most of my friends think I'm crazy but I love endurance! The best part of endurance riding is that I get to be with my family. Helping introduce my sisters to the sport has been a lot of fun.

This summer I attempted the Tevis. I don't think that I have ever seen so many rocks in my life. Unfortunately I was pulled at 85 miles. I was pretty bummed but my dad and sister completed, which was exciting. I rode at the AERC National Championship 50-mile ride at Fort Howes in 2005 and at the 50-mile AHA National Championship Endurance Ride in Manitoba in 2004.

In addition to endurance I show Arabians and I am very involved in the 4-H horse project. I am president of my 4-H club and I am going to Nationals as a member of the South Dakota horse judging team. Additionally, this summer I did a talk for 4-H called "Endurance: How to Get Started" which evoked much interest in the sport of endurance in my 4-H community.

This year at the AERC convention I am helping to plan youth activities. We hope to have several activities to bring the youth together. Some of the events we are hoping to have include: a scavenger hunt, a youth lounge with movies and games, and possibly even a pizza/pool party. I hope you are all planning on making the trip to Sparks -- it should be a lot of fun. I look forward to meeting you there or out on the trail. If you ever have any ideas you would like to share please let me know. I am so happy to be representing you and the sport to others in the equestrian world.