This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Maggie Herzog 2011 Jonathan Kiser Memorial Scholar


Elkridge-Harford and placed second at Green Spring.


by Regina Welsh with photos by Zane Gorove


Selecting the recipient of the Jonathan Kiser Memorial Scholarship from the pool of active riders in the Maryland junior racing circuit was not a diffi cult task for the Maryland Governor’s Cup Board in the spring of 2011. T e award is given in recognition of a junior’s race participa- tion, horsemanship, sportsmanship, talent, and dedication to the sport of steeplechase racing. It was a young lady by the name of Maggie Herzog whose face lit up with surprise when she heard her name called at the 2011 Mary- land Governor’s Cup Awards Dinner to accept the Jonathan Kiser Memorial Scholarship. An excited Maggie explained, “I was shocked! I honestly race because I love having that trust- ing relationship with my horse and being able to show it out on the racecourse. I’ve never let anyone else train my horses because I like hav- ing that feeling that my horse is my best friend. Getting an award as big as [the Kiser Scholar- ship] for doing what I love is just amazing!”


Horse-Loving Start


Being from a horse-loving family, riding is in her blood. “I was riding before I could even walk and I started racing when I was about sev- en or eight on Sweet Adeline. She is the best pony anyone could ever have. She taught me everything I know and is still teaching kids! I remember my fi rst win on her. I just wrapped my arms around her neck. I was so proud of her, and myself,” Maggie said. With Sweet Adeline, Maggie won the Ju-


nior Field Masters Chase–Ponies at the 2005 North American Point-to-Point Association championships. In 2006, the pair won at Green Spring and Howard County. T at year, Maggie also raced a medium pony named Annabelle. T e pair was unstoppable, winning three times in 2006 and six times in 2007. In 2008, Maggie moved up to riding a large pony named Sally and then graduated to the horse divisions in 2009 with Amazing Daisy. Together, they won at Howard County and


18 | THE EQUIERY | MARCH 2012 Jonathan Kiser


Awarded to a young rider in the Maryland Governor’s Cup series in recognition of his or her race record, horsemanship, sportsmanship, talent and dedication to the sport of steeplechasing


presented by


the Maryland Steeplechase Association and the Jonathan Kiser Memorial Endowment Fund™


to support the development of the sport of steeplechase racing by granting scholarships and funding other activities to help ensure education and racing opportunities for young riders in Maryland.


T e 2012 Kiser scholar will receive one week of training under the tutelage of a National Steeplechase Association-licensed trainer and tuition to attend the 2012 NAPPA Young Rider Steeplechase Camp.


If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to this fund, please mail your check to:


Maryland Steeplechase Association • P.O. Box 651 • Lisbon, MD 21765 800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


Maggie particularly enjoys the Field Master’s Chase series of races developed by NAPPA and adopted by the Maryland Steeplechase Asso- ciation in 2001. In a fi eld master’s chase, riders rate their horses behind a “fi eld master,” who travels around a small timber course at a good hunting pace. After the last fence, riders are re- leased to race to the fi nish on their own. T is type of race gives amateur riders the taste of race riding, while in a controlled setting. It also gives them a sense of pace and what it’s like to run and jump in a group.


Scholar Rewards


T e recipient of the scholarship receives ac- ceptance and admission to the summer steeple- chase camp off ered by NAPPA. T e camp is a week-long experience beginning in Virginia and traveling north to Saratoga Springs, New York. Stops are made in such major steeplechas- ing hotspots as T e Plains (VA), Butler (MD)


and Unionville (PA). Students work with top steeplechase trainers Jack Fisher, Richard Val- entine, Janet Elliot, and Neil Morris, just to name a few.


As the scholarship winner, Maggie thought


the NAPPA steeplechase camp was a great re- ward. She explained, “T e camp was so help- ful and a lot of fun! Talking to the jockeys and trainers all over really helped me gain a lot of knowledge about riding and racing. Rid- ing with some of the top trainers helped me get their thoughts on racing and what they thought was important. I learned that keeping your hands still works a lot better than waving them up and down the neck! I enjoyed it and would recommend it to any young rider who is serious about racing.” T e camp came after an up-and-down season


riding a horse named Sweet Buns. At Green Spring, the pair fi nished third. T ey then raced to fourth at the Grand National among a tough group of young riders. T at race was followed


continued... The Jonathan Kiser Memorial Scholarship


PAST KISER SCHOLARS 2001 – Jessica Pearce 2002 – Chelsea Secor 2003 – Remy Winants 2004 – Ned Horneff er 2005 – Emily Melton 2006 – Gina Perri 2007 – McLane Hendricks 2008 – Sarah Green 2009 – Brooke Nemec 2010 – Emma Warden


846588-120312


Sarah L. Greenhalgh


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96