Page 32 - Sarita Maybin

Incredible Kids of San Diego

HE MAY BE TINY, it with exceptionally to her at the Morgan horse youth club now In her spare
Sbut she has the high academics. Horse convention in for 3 years and helps time she loves to help
spirit and determi- Her dedication Riverside California. In direct the creative the homeless in her
nation of a giant. At becomes evident when Febuary 2017 Assem- aspect of the club. Her community by pass-
just 11 years of age her mom, Pam Hodge, blyman Brian Maien- trainer Ann Miller of ing out blankets and
Natalia (Nini) Hodge, shares her schedule, schein awarded Nini Miller Equestrian has hygiene kits as well as
an avid equestrian, “Nini is up every with 2 State of Califor- been training her for visiting with them and
has won more hon- morning at 430 am. nia Certificates for all almost 4 years now helping to feed them.
ors than many win in We live in Poway so it her accomplishments. and has also produced Nini’s parents are not
lifelong careers. Nini takes time to drive to Nini has been an multiple world cham- wealthy people in fact
competes at all levels Escondido so she can officer in her Morgan pions from her barn. her Dad Bill works 14
of horse shows local train from 6 am to 7
and out of state. She am. Once there she
has made quite a name gets her horse ready,
for herself over the they take their ride
last 4 years appearing and then she cleans
in various magazines her tack and horse,
and news articles and puts him away and we
even on television. She head back to Poway
has won awards and by 8 am so she can be
ribbons as well as the at school where she
prestigious High Point attends class until 230
award for Reserve every day. Nini is in
Rider of the year. the GATE program
Her wins in- and has tested in the
clude first place in the top 4% academically in
regionals in Santa Bar- the nation.”
bara, she won Grand On March 1st
Champion and English 2016 the county of San
pleasure and received Diego California took
an award from Bri- formal notice of this
an Maienschein for amazing young wom-
being an outstanding an and proclomated
youth in the commu- that day as Nini Hodge
nity. One of her most day in assemblywoman
memorable wins was at Dianne Jacobs office,
the Oklahoma Morgan more recently Nini was
World Championship awarded the American
horse show where she Morgan Horse Youth
took reserve World Achievement award
champion for the 2nd that was presented
year in a row she was
voted 2nd best in the
world, the Morgan
Grand National and
World Championship
is the biggest show
of the year bringing
Morgan owners and
competitors from all
over. On the local
level she has won over
20 grand champion-
ships as well as over
50 championship
titles. She loves what
she does and balances

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