National News

My beautiful National champ ribbon
and here it is again
Warmup
Sterling Ali and I before my class
MHC Coach and me
Me and my trusty steed
the barns

Over the winter i competed in IEA shows to win the certain number of point (15 to be exact) to qualify for regionals. Riding for the Heritage Farm Hunt Seat Team we would go to shows and compete in one or two classes flat and over fences. I qualified for regionals in both my classes and went to Stoneleigh-Burnham for IEA Zone 1 region 3 finals. I went into both my classes high on nerves and excitement and came out with two blue ribbons. Success! I had qualified for Zone 1 finals at Mount Holyoke. I had my first class (flat) Saturday afternoon and was the only girl from my barn there. I took the whole thing a little toooo seriously and came out of it with a disappointing 6th place finish not qualifying me for Nationals. the next day i returned to Mount Holyoke for my over fences class excited but still not fully recovered from my disappointing ride on the flat. I drew my horse in an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party and was pretty content with my draw. Still high on nerves and excitement i went into my class ready to rock it and ten minutes later I was standing on the side of the ring on foot terrified that i wasnt going to hear my name in the top four that would go to nationals. They went backwards from eighth place and when they got to fourth i was completely terrified. When they announced second i was even more scared. I heard my name and number announced i had won my class!

A month or so later...

7.5 hour drive to Maryland for IEA National finals. Erin and I both qualified so I had a friend with me for the long journey up here. we got to Maryland for 4 o'clock the day before I was showing to look at the ring and the horses a little bit before heading up to the Hotel.

4:15 am Friday April 29, 2011

Up and getting dressed to show.

5:05ish am

At the show grounds

11:00ish

Horse draw

I drew a 14.1hh supppper cute dapple gray pony who Erin and I automatically knew would be good luck for me.

12:30ish

On and ready to ride my course

I was absolutely terrified the butterflies were building up in my stomach both excited and nervous to be showing in such a fancy arena in such a huge show.

My ride was awesome it felt suppper good and the pony was amazing! I went up to talk to my parents to learn that i had the highest score in my class so far and was in the lead. Not excpetcy too much i went back down the the side of the ring to watch the rest of my class.

1:00(maybe later)

They announced ribbons going back from seventh (i think) to champion and the butterflies in my stomach grew and grew and grew. they announced my name as champion and I could not believe it. I was a National Champion!

Erins story will be up later this week after she shows as well as how our Western Team does.