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Show r Van Smith, former Henrieville resident, now of Eagle Kiver, Alaska, rides Moen's Poakie Chief, National the American Horse Shows Association, Inc., Annual Convention. His horse, Moen's Poakie Chief won the National Gymkhana Horse of the Year for 1981. Chief is a,registered Appaloosa gelding-foaled 1 16 years ago ' April 13 in Genesee, Idaho. In 1975, Harvey Moore of Palmer, Alaska purchased Chief and brought him to this Flying M Ranch in Palmer where Smith purchased him in 1976. Well-reined and fast, Chief started competing in horse shows the same year when he also began a career in rodeos. In 1978, Cheif was declared gymkhana champion by the Alaska State Horsemen, Inc. and again in 1979, and was reserve champion in 1981. In 1979 Cheif was named National Gymkhanan Horse of the Year and has been Alaska Appaloosa Horse Club Gynkhana Horse of the Year for 1981. It is one of two in Alaska to w in national award twice. Former Henrieville Man Wins Top Award For Gym liana Horse HENRIEVILLE - Van Smith., former Henrieville resident, and now a resident of Eagle River, Alaska, traveled recently to Boston, Massachusetts to attend gymkmhana champion every year since it was established in 1976. Smith said that he feels it was an unusual coincidence that he should purchase this outstanding .animal from a man with the same name as his boyhood friend, Harvey Moore of Henrieville. He said it is even more coincidental that Alaska's Harvey Moore owned a Flying M Ranch whjle Henrieville's Harvey Moore's father, Dewey, once owned the Panguitch Flying M Cafe. Smith said his horse has achieved higher honors perhaps than any other horse in Alaskan history for competiton in horse shows sanctioned by the AHSA. His horses are stabled at the Elmendorf Air Force Base stables. In almost 19 years of horse show competition, Chief is the only horse of the 35 stables at Elmendorf to win a national award. Chief is one of two horses in the state of Alaska ever to win a national awards and to win it twice. Smith said that in the ever-growing equine world, with more and more competition in Alaska each year, it becomes increasingly difficult to win as age overtakes both him and his horse. |