What an incredible year for USAWE! Major milestones have been reached, and we are all grateful for the people and the horses who have been a part of that growth.

 

I have been recovering from back surgery, and my return to riding has not been without bumps. I still do not know for certain when I will be able to ride at my best, so it was important for me to participate in this amazing discipline any way I could. What manifested was two-fold.

First, I asked some highly qualified riders to take the reins of my prized Kiger Zapata KCA. Mary Young took over for me this spring, and when she told me she was moving to Oregon, it was clear to me that he should go with her, and they should show at the Western Zone Championship. Kimberlee Barker rode Zapata at the Train to Win Clinic at El Campion Farms as Mary was in the middle of her move. When the announcement came out that there would be a WAWE class at the Western Zone Show, Mary, Kimberlee and I discussed whether or not Zapata could perform for both of them. Mary rode him to win the L5 Championship, and Kimberlee won the WAWE L7 class! I am so grateful to this amazing stallion, and to Mary, who took amazing care of Z, keeping his training up and improving, and to Kimberlee, who showed us all that it is possible for a rider to win at L7 on a horse she had ridden only a few times.

 

 

 

Second, I made a personal leap in running for President Elect. This decision was cemented by the support of many of my fellow board members. They encouraged me to take on this position, and have committed to assist in the continued development of Working Equitation in the United States. With the election results out, I am pleased and humbled to be you next President Elect. Thank you to all of the board members I have worked with over the past few years. Each one of you has taught me something about how to participate in this group. Each one has shown their passion and determination for the success of USAWE. To the incoming board, thank you as well! WE look forward to the opportunities to come.

 

 

Here’s to the future of USAWE!