Fall Horse Shows

This horse show season was definitely a success. I had a great time, I learned a lot, and I grew as a person and as a rider. Horse shows are amazing like that. You learn far more than you ever expect to learn and you create memories you wouldn't trade for anything.

This season I rode with a very talented group of riders from Santa Barbara, CA under the instruction of Leslie Nelson.

Welcome made his debut in the United States in the Baby Green Division and the Low Adult Amateur Division. He was a STAR and was Champion in both divisions all three weeks he showed. A judge approached me one evening after the show was over for the day and told me he thought Welcome was FABULOUS. It was flattering.

An old student of mine, Tarra, made her debut in the Cross Rail Division on my horse Hunter and together they were Circuit Champion in the division. It was so good to see Hunter back in the show ring where be belongs.

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world this year because I not only had my trusty dad to help me groom the horses, I had Josh and the best groom in all the land, Fransisco. Fransisco always makes us look good and teaches me all about the proper care and management of horses.

I was also fortunate enough to be able to lease Leslie's horse Celebrate. "Ella Bella" as I like to call her, is a very experienced Hanoverian Mare that would jump the moon if you asked her to. She is the smoothest horse I have ever ridden , I swear it was like riding on marshmallow clouds.

Ella Bella helped me win my very first cooler in The Bruno Delgrase Equitation Derby. I was so nervous the first day of competition in this class so we were a little bumpy and came out in 10th place. I was pretty happy with that because I was competing against 30 other horses, many of them ridden by professionals. The second day Ella and I came out determined to win and had a pretty flawless round. We ended up with a 1st the second day and 2nd place over all. I was pretty excited.

However, the most exciting part of the season was my win in the AHJA Adult Medal Finals. After being 2nd the past few years I was was excited to finally move into first place. We had the second highest score in all the finals divisions that night and I was mighty proud.