Harrisburg, PA -- 14 year-old Meg Mitchell got off a plane this morning from her hometown of Nashville, TN, and climbed onto the back of her mare Oksana for the start of the North American League Children's Hunter Final. A few hours later, she climbed off Oksana with a huge smile, the winning ribbon and prize money, and ran back to the airport to fly home.
"I love this horse so much", said a joyous Mitchell. "I only do a little bit of what this is, she is so awesome. She really does it all herself. I've been with her for four years and before I got her she was doing everything with a professional. She was doing the second year green division."
"When I got her I don't think that she was used to having a little kid on her, and I was really little back then. I have been riding my whole life, my parents rode and I have been showing my whole life, starting in leadline and ponies. She was so different then, but now we have spent so much time together, she just needs me to sit up there and, I don't know, just look pretty", laughed Mitchell.
"My horse lives in Ohio and I live really far away from her, so I don't get to ride other than to meet her at the horse shows. I flew up a few times before this to lesson, but I really don't ride much. I play volleyball and basketball and a bunch of sports and so I don't really practice as much. She is so sweet, I know she is a mare, and they call her Oksana Bin Laden, but she really is sweet. If I do my job, I know she will do the rest."
"I chose to do the NAL classes because there is no Children's Hunter Final and I really wanted to do this, so I did the NAL and the Washington classes all year. This is the first time I have qualified and it is really great. I love this show. I've been to Washington, but this is so different. It is interesting and I love it.
Mitchell went into the second round standing in fourth place with a score of 78. "For the second round I really didn't think about it. I just said to myself 'you're in the top 12 just don't worry'. I felt really confident. I know I can lay down eight jumps."
Mitchell and Oksana did lay down a wonderful trip over the second round course and left the arena with a score of 83, the highest score of the class, for a total two round score of 161 to take the top honors.
The NAL runs season-long series in seven hunter-jumper divisions - Adult Hunter, presented by Cavalor, Children's Hunter, Open Jumper Speed, Adult Jumper, Children's Jumper, Pony Jumper and the new Low Junior/ Amateur-Owner Jumper.
The NAL qualifying period started September 1, 2008 and ended August 31, 2009. While riders did not need to be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, only current members earned points toward year-end finals.
The 2009 Pennsylvania National Horse Show runs October 8-17, at the Pennsylvania Farm and Show Complex in Harrisburg, and features 10 full days of hunter and jumper competition with both amateurs and professionals vying for the coveted championships. The Pennsylvania National hosts 10 national championships. The competition highlight is the $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday evening, October 17.
Special event highlights include: Kinsley Construction Company Hunt Night Competition, Jack Russell Terrier Races, The North American Fox Hunting Horn Blowing Championship, Family Days with Free Pony Rides. There will be demonstrations, as well as special educational events and barrel and carriage racing.
The show is entertaining and educational. Approximately 70 vendors are accepted offering a wide variety of items: clothing, gifts and antiques, custom signs and furniture, fine and costume jewelry, toys, pet items, t-shirts and tack shops. All offer a unique variety of items sure to please horse lovers and non-horse people alike.
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is proud of its tradition of supporting both equine and youth programs. The show benefits the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
Further information is available at the horse show's website at www.panational.org or by calling the horse show office at 717-770-0222.
Live streaming webcast of the event is available at http://www.productionseast.com.
