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Lexington, KY – Sixteen-year-old Alexis Conover (New Port Richey, FL) volunteered more than 1,300 hours to accrue the most time of all participants in the new United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrians in Action volunteer recognition program.

USEF Equestrians in Action tracks youth volunteer hours that are aimed at improving the welfare of the horse or positively promoting equestrian sport. Sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation, the program encourages youth to give back to equestrian sport – at horse shows, equine promotional events, equine businesses or organizations, trade fairs, therapeutic riding clinics, horse rescue, and 4-H events.

As the participant with the most volunteer hours in 2011, Conover earned a $1,500 grant for her academic or equestrian educational pursuits. A Hunter exhibitor, Conover volunteered her time at Straight Forward Farm, helping care for and train the farm’s rescue horses.  With dual enrollment in River Ridge High School and Pasco-Hernando Community College, Conover balances her horse involvement with academics.  She has completed two stars of the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program and is a member of the National Honor and Merit Scholars Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Science Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America.

Participants of USEF Equestrians in Action must be 21 years of age or younger at the start of the award year, which began December 1, 2011, and need a current USEF membership. To ensure a level playing field, volunteer hours must be given freely, without remuneration.

For more information about the USEF Equestrians in Action program visit:  http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Youth/EquestriansInAction.aspx or contact Jennifer Mellenkamp at jmellenkamp@usef.org.

USEF Equestrians in Action is sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation. For volunteer opportunities and ideas, visit their website at www.equusfoundation.org and join the carrots4acause network.