and working with her gives me joy,” she says. “My experience at
the State Horse Show has helped me to understand that although
I spend a lot of time training with my horse, it doesn’t mean I will
be rewarded with a ribbon—and that’s OK because I’m proud of
my dedication and hard work.”
Sarah Mee, 15, is homeschooled and a first-year student at A.
W. Beattie Career Center in the veterinary science program. “I’ve
always loved horses,” says Sarah, daughter of Tracy and Amy Mee.
“I started working with horses when I was 8 years old, and have
been taking lessons at Parkview Riding Academy since 2014,” she
says. She currently leases a miniature horse named Magic and
rides a Belgian/Paint/Quarter Horse cross, Rosie.
Sarah is the secretary for the
North Ridge Riders 4H Club,
and was on a PA 4-H Science of
Agriculture team with Emilie and
three other club members. “We
did a lot of research and made
a horse feeding tracking phone
app,” she notes. “We won the
Agriculture and Technology Pillar
of the Science of Agriculture
Challenge competition held
at Penn State in June. Emilie,
Elizabeth, and I went to the
National 4-H Agri-Science
Youth Summit in Chevy Chase,
Maryland, last January.”
To prepare for the state
show, Sarah worked with
the horses almost every day.
Her State Championship in
Elizabeth Herald
Miniature Horse Driving (14-
18) this year marks her third
consecutive State Champion title. In 2016, she won Miniature
Horse Driving (8‑13), and in 2017 she won Miniature Horse
In‑Hand Trail (8‑13). She missed winning this year’s Miniature
Horse Jumping class by .5 seconds. Sarah was one of two
Allegheny County riders to qualify for the state show with
both a miniature horse and a regular horse. She also placed
seventh in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat (12-14) with Rosie.
In addition, she competed at the All American Youth Horse
Show in Columbus and won Miniature Horse Grand Champion
with Magic.
“Showing horses is important to me because I feel I gain a
greater connection with the horses and I get to see a whole other
side of them,” says Sarah. “It’s an amazing feeling when I go into
the arena and it’s just me and the horse and I don’t have to worry
about anything else. Working with my horses has made me so
happy. I’ve met some amazing people—everyone is so nice and
supportive.”
Annie Messer, 17, is the daughter of Stephanie and George
Messer and a junior at North Allegheny Senior High School,
where she’s involved with Best Buddies and works in the
Tiger Den Shop.
“I started Therapeutic Horseback Riding at Riding for the
Handicapped of Western PA when I was 4 years old,” says
Annie. “I started taking riding lessons in 2013 at Parkview
Annie Messer
Riding Academy. Then I started working with miniature horses,
too, in 2015.”
When Annie started taking lessons, she rode a horse named
Shamrock—one of the stable’s therapy horses. “I’ve ridden
different horses at the barn over the years as I’ve learned to ride
independently,” she says. “I’ve been working this year with a
horse named Princess Penelope. She’s very pretty and sweet.
She is a Palomino Paint horse and a rescue horse that Wanda got
this year.”
Annie is in the Therapeutic Riding Division of 4-H.
She competes in Equitation and Obstacle Trail classes, Grooming
and Showmanship, and Miniature Horse In-Hand Trail and
Miniature Horse Jumping. “I made it to States this year in the
Therapeutic Equitation Class and practiced every week with
Wanda to get there,” she says. “I won fourth place in a class of 18
riders who were both English and Western. I won a ribbon and a
cool horseshoe trophy with my name on it.
“Being at the barn and working with horses is my favorite thing
to do,” continues Annie. “I love horses and have fun in 4-H—I’ve
made so many new friends and enjoy our fun field trips, learning
new things about horses, going to Horse Camp every summer,
and helping people with their projects and goals.” ■
4-H SUCCESS
• Elizabeth Herald competed in Miniature Horse In-
Hand Trail (14-18) and Miniature Horse Jumping
with the horse Sweet Dreams.
• Emilie Hoover placed 8th out of 25 competitors
in Miniature Horse In-Hand Trail (14-18) and
also competed in Miniature Horse Driving (14‑18)
with the horse Magic’s Mischief Managed.
• Sarah Mee was State Champion out of
24 competitors in Miniature Horse Driving (14-18)
with the horse Believe in Magic. She also placed 2nd
out of 31 in Miniature Horse Jumping with Believe
in Magic, and 7th out of 28 in Hunt Seat Equitation
on the Flat (12-14) with horse Nessa Rose. She
also competed in Classic Hunter Under Saddle
Horses (14-18) with Nessa Rose.
• Annie Messer placed 4th out of 18 competitors in
Walk-Trot Equitation, Minimum Assistance with
Princess Penelope.
» For more information about 4-H in Allegheny County, contact Matthew Crutchman at [email protected].
NORTH ALLEGHENY
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WINTER 2018
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