October 2021 Issue

Page 26 October 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN PA Student Wins IEA Sportsmanship Award for the Feather Fund and Chin- coteague Ponies at Horse World Expo, with Bandit at his side. Currently a senior at Dan- ville High School, John said he hopes to take Bandit to college with him next year where he will major in equine business. He has narrowed his choices to Penn State University and the Univer- sity of Findlay. “My plans are to keep work- ing on Bandit’s lounging with the saddle on and groundwork. I’ll start to break him soon. If he goes to Findlay with me, I will use him as my project horse and will train him there every day as a sopho- more college class.” Smith-Wells is proud of John and the recognition he’s brought their team. “John has such a bright future,” she said. “He is a won- derful young man and I know he will be successful in whatever he does. The horse business is tough. I tell all my students you need a primary source of income to get you started. I encourage them to think ahead and have a plan B with that primary source of income. John is starting to think about that realistically.” According to his mom, John learned he had won the national award the day after he and his twin brother Carl celebrated their birthday in July. “He has come so far,” she said. “He was a shy guy who seldom said anything. The first summer of Boy Scout camp he took the horsemanship merit badge before crossing over from Cub Scouts. Someone came and taught them about saddles and equipment and then they went on a trail ride. On the last day before school started that year, I asked them what they wanted to do – one more fun activity before school started. John wanted to go horseback riding, so we found a local farm. After that John went back every weekend to help her out and then he took lessons.” After he decided he wanted to take lessons twice a week the farm owner suggested John buy his own horse. She said board would be less expensive than two lessons a week, so six years ago, John bought Sam. Since then, the family has pur- chased their own farm. John will receive a $500 scholarship, a lifetime member- ship to the IEA and a nomination by the IEA to affiliates’ sports- manship award programs. Roxane Durant, IEA Ex- ecutive Director said, “Good sportsmanship is a tenant in the IEA and this award is held in high regard. Choosing the National Sportsman from the pool of amazing candidates is always a difficult decision. John is clearly dedicated to making a difference in his community and in the equine industry and we are thrilled to present him with this recognition.” Learn more about IEA online at: www.rideiea.org Writer Lois Szymanski knows John Price, as she is a co-found- er of the Feather Fund and a current board member. (Continued from page 23) Real Estate