Lakehill’s own Katie Rich ('23) has been awarded the 2020 National Horseman All-American Champion in Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Driving and the 2020 American Saddle Horse Association Saddleseat Equitation Reserve National Champion.
Katie Rich has been riding for almost ten years and recalls the first time she fell in love with being at the stables. One spring, Avery and Karen Owen mentioned a riding summer camp to Katie. She signed up and was hooked! With a big smile she expressed, “I just love it!”
Katie trains at Skyview Stables in Rockwall, Texas. “It is a huge time commitment. I practice four to five times a week and practice sessions are between three and four hours,” said Katie. She has seven horses at the stables and three of those are currently competitive. Training includes various workouts, lessons, and practice sessions with her trainer where Katie and the horses mimic a competition.
“Competitions are strenuous. I have never run track but I imagine it's the same type of stress. You hurry to warm up and then wait your turn.” Competitions are grouped by various divisions including age and horse qualifications. Horse qualifications include things like how well behaved the horse is and how beautiful the horse is. “You have a success rate at the end of the year. Success rate is determined by points gained through your placing in competitions that year.” Then a champion is crowned!
Katie described the Pleasure Driving competition where her horse, Cooper, is hooked up to a cart that Katie is riding in. For the Saddleseat Equitation, Katie rides her horse, Charlie.
Help us in congratulating Katie for her accomplishments in 2020 and wishing her luck as she moves into the new season.