03/02/2026
If you are reading this post and youāve never ridden a horse or youāve ridden a horse one or two times a long time ago, let me tell you it isnāt easy. This team of young horsewomen ride horses theyāve never ridden before under the pressure of competition. At Zone 2 Region 3 Finals this past Saturday they literally picked a horse at random out of my hand and competed on that horse.
Now letās make sure you understand, horses have their own personalities, their own ways of going and in all my years, Iāve never met two horses that are the same. Throughout the show season our Team riders work on riding different horses within our barn to learn different ātoolsā as I like to call them to use at IEA Shows when they draw a horse at random and show on that horse. This is a skill itself. Itās nerve-wracking and a true test of a riderās abilities to not only ride, but to ride well and figure a new horse out and to look good doing it.
Iām not sure I can express in words how much work and how much talent goes into the successes of our IEA Teamās riders. Thirteen out of a total of eighteen riders on our Unity Stables IEA Team qualified individually for Region Finals, and the five remaining were EXTREMELY close. These riders show all season to accumulate eighteen points (or more) to qualify to ride at Region Finals. BOTH our Middle School and High School Teams qualified with more than twenty points for the season.
This past Saturday our riders had some of their best rides ever. Some of them had moments they will remember for their entire lives, like losing a tooth on course, and others learned invaluable lessons that they will take to the next show and grow on. These riders even got to see the ātestingā I keep rambling about year after year. As their coach, for me that is what this āgameā is about, creating riders who want to learn more, who want to ride the best they absolutely can.
Our middle school team had the ultimate tie breaker. They tied for first place to move onto Zones. According to the rulebook ties are broken based off the most first place finishes, then if thereās still a tie, the most second place finishes, and so on to sixth place. We were STILL tied with another team after reviewing the ribbons. The rulebook then states that the tie is broken with the most combined points in over fences classesā¦ Guess what, still a tie. So, our middle school team was challenged against the other team with questions from the Judge for each level rider to break the tie. Our Middle School Team finished the day as Reserve Champions in the āultimate tie breakerā Iāve never seen before (and hope doesnāt happen again anytime soon). Ask them about the questions they were asked, I know they learned new things!
We have three individual riders heading to compete at Zone Finals, Ama, Leann and Ilani. These riders finished FIRST in their individual classes. Please join me in wishing these riders luck at Zone Finals and luck with all the crazy things I dream up to prep for this next step.
I could go on and on, I really could, but what I really want to say, what I want these riders to know, is that I am SO proud to be their coach. I am SO proud to stand ringside and watch them figure out new horses, take on their nerves and ultimately grow as young horse people. I am extremely thankful for these riders who make up our Unity Stables IEA Team and our Unity Stables family. It is an honor and a privilege for me to be a part of these young riders riding ācareersā and their lives.
Now onto Zones!
