Local horse enthusiast Paula Wilkerson was recently awarded Overall High Point Championship Reserve at an Alabama Open Horseman Association (AOHA) competition in Montgomery.

Wilkerson, of Demopolis, also won the Pole Championship in the 18 & over Division with her horse Red Doc’s Charisma.

Wilkinson won the Reserve Champion in timed events in the Adult Division with her mare BNE Pretty Kiowa.

In order to win this state title she had to compete in eight different timed event classes over the Labor Day Weekend. The horse with the most wins out of the eight classes places.

Wilkinson breaks and trains her own horses and has ridden since the age of two.

She is a member of Emerald Coast Association, which includes Thomasville Saddle Club, Butler Saddle Club and Millry Riding Club.

Exhibitors came from all over Alabama and portions of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi to enter into hot competition for championship, reserve and top ten titles in the 59 classes.

Entrants compete all year in local AOHA affiliated shows to earn the right to enter and compete at the AOHA State championship show.

Only the top 15 horses of each event from local associations may enter the AOHA State competition.

AOHA (Alabama Open Horseman Association) is comprised of 16 independent local horse show associations located throughout the state of Alabama and selected locations of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The goal of the AOHA is the promotion and sponsorship of the AOHA State Championship horse Show, held each labor Day weekend and development and support of the youth who show and compete with in the AOHA.

The State Championship Show celebrated its 22nd year of existence this past labor day weekend and continues to be the second largest and most successful horse show east of the Mississippi River. Contestants wishing to compete in the Show must qualify by successful participation throughout the year in the shows of the local associations and only the top horses from those associations may register to enter the state show.