WWU Saddle Seat Students Rake in the Ribbons at Discovery Horse Show

11/14/2011 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

Sarah Track, saddle seat instructor at William Woods University, took 17 students and horses to The Fall Discovery Horse Show at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, Mo., Oct. 29 and 30. The students all placed well and brought back 10 blue ribbons.

Angela Villavicencio of Camarillo, Calif., and Odese K earned Champion and Grand Champion ribbons in the Open English Pleasure class.
 
Melissa Chatto of Hickory, N.C., and MLF Glory Bound earned Champion and Reserve Grand Champions in the Morgan English Pleasure class.
 
Corie Allen of Kankakee, Ill., and Harlem’s Irish Dancer earned Champion and Grand Champion in the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class.
 
Allison Strash of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., and Charm’s Top Cat placed third in the Three- Gaited Show Pleasure class.
 
Julianne Rafferty of Pasadena, Calif., and King of the Blues placed fifth in the Three- Gaited Show Pleasure class.
 
Kristen Cuneo of  East Kingston, N. H., and Coronafire earned Champion and Grand Champion in the Arabian English pleasure classes.
 
Susan Rosse of Springfield, Ill., and KRA Afire Engine earned Reserve Champion and Reserve Grand Champion in the Arabian English Pleasure classes.
 
Liz Curtin of Stockton, N. J., and Apollo’s Spitfire placed third and sixth in the Arabian English Pleasure classes.
 
Emily Abbott of Zionsville, Ind., and Orr’s Fired Up placed third in the Open Park class.
 
Ashley Smith of Granger, Ind., and Speak of the Devil earned Reserve Champion and Reserve Grand Champion in the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure classes.
 
Ashton Street of Johnson City, Tenn., and Champagne for Two placed third in the Five- Gaited Show Pleasure class.
 
Lauren Greenwald of Houston, Texas, and The Straight Guy earned Champion in the Three-Gaited Country Pleasure class.
 
Shannon Garcia of Los Lunas, N. M., and Gypsies Tramps and Thieves earned Champion in the Five-Gaited Amateur class.
 
Claire Karst of Tampa, Fla., and Bring Out the Champagne placed third in the Amateur Five-Gaited class.
 
Murphy McSemek of Fulton, Mo., and Ro & Me’s Kiss and Tell earned Champion in the Park Pleasure class.
 
Liz Thomas of South Amherst, Ohio, and Enchanting Hour placed second in the Three- Gaited Amateur class.
 
Beth Oseroff of Dallas, Texas, and Design in Motion placed third in the Three-Gaited Amateur class.
 
“I am so proud of my students,” Track said. “They come out here and work so hard and the results certainly show when we went to the Discovery Show. All of the horses were immaculately turned out and all of my students acted like professionals both days of the show.”

For at least one student, this horse show was an opportunity to show in a seat she had never ridden until this past August. Villivicencio rode WWU’s only saddle seat Friesian, affectionately known as Desi. Normally a hunter jumper rider, Villivicencio decided to try saddle seat this semester.
 
“I was very lucky to get to ride such a wonderful horse. I was just so tuned in to just ride Desi and have fun that I was shocked when we got first place. I was really happy to be able to go to this show; it really gave me the chance to see what the saddle seat world is really like outside of lessons,” she said.
 
For many of these riders, though, this show was the perfect opportunity to practice showing their horses before they participate in the American Royal National Championship Horse Show Nov. 15–19.
 
Allen will be attending the American Royal for the second year in a row and couldn’t be more excited.
 
“My horse and I have been working very hard to get in tip top shape for the show, and the entire Royal crew has been looking great. I can’t wait to make memories with such a fantastic group of people and some very special horses!”