No horsing around

STANWOOD - Horse riding is a competition sport many people don't think about, but one that can take more time and money than many other sports.

North Cedar High School has three senior girls who ride horses for competition locally and nationally.

Shae Saldivar started showing horses five years ago when her mom and grandma decided she could get a horse. She has four quarter horses - Champ, Saxy, Dancer and Stevie. Champ is her main show horse, although Stevie is used for Western Pleasure and English competitions.

She works hard and dedicates all of her time, which had paid off. Saldivar placed sixth out of 36 participants at Kirkwood Equine Center in the English Walk Trot class. Saldivar also has earned 'Year End High Point” at the Center Point Saddle Club in the Novice Western Pleasure with Champ, getting money and scholarships.

'The only advice I can give to a new rider is always have good sportsmanship,” Saldivar said. 'Walk out of the ring with a smile win or lose and always remember you should only try to be better than the rider you were yesterday.”

Showing horses is Caroline Kramer's sport. Kramer has been showing horses for 11 years. Her parents always have been involved in horses, but her mom encouraged her to participate on a more competitive level when she was younger. She shows two horses - Smoke, a quarter horse, and Spanky, a paint. Kramer shows both horses in Gaming classes where she does barrel racing at the high school rodeo and at a local level through her saddle club.

Spanky is used in the Pleasure Division for hunt seat, Western Pleasure, showmanship and horsemanship. She has won three scholarships, Cedar Rapid Horsemen's Club (CRHC) junior queen, Iowa State Saddle Club Association queen, ISSCA senior queen and high point at the CRHC, American Paint Horse Association (APHA), Center Point Saddle Club and American Paint Horse Youth Association show.

This fall Kramer was chosen queen at the CRHC show.

Kramer will continue to show because with her fan club - her mom, grandma and her sister - pushing her to do well.

Kelsey King, another senior, has been showing for 12 years.

'I just wanted to be like my mom: A show girl,” King said.

King has two show horses - Impulse Is In Town AKA 'FRITZ” and Suncrest Cinco De Mayo AKA 'CINCO.” She shows a variety of horses and loves showing at the horse congress. From her parent's motivation and her hard work, she has won multiple congress and regional championships, national top five, high point and state high point. In order to achieve these honors, King spends most of her summer away from her friends, yet the shows allow her to make new friends who share her love for the sport.