Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990 TAG: 9007010220
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DEBORAH SENSABAUGH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Sweating through 95-degree temperatures Saturday, the Dominion Valley and Difficult Run "B" teams trotted off with the first gold medals awarded in the State Games.
Seventeen Pony Club teams at the "C" level and up gathered at the Virginia Horse Center for the day of combined training. The competition began with dressage tests, progressed through cross country jumping and finished with stadium jumping. In addition to the equine action were written tests, formal inspections and stable management exams for the young riders.
Kay Hales, Pony Club regional supervisor, called the day "super, absolutely super."
State Games official Bob Hartman said the object of the Games was to inspire "this type of competition" among the young equestrians. The team event, Hartman said, was selected for the State Games because of its similarity to Olympic combined-training contests.
The riders, who were from 12 to 18 years of age, contended with weather that caused concern, especially in the cross country phase.
"We've had at least two out of every three horses with some problems," veterinarian Scott Slabaugh said, referring to the animals' pulse and respiration rates, which were monitored carefully. Riders were urged to drink plenty of water, and hot horses were sponged with water hauled to the top of the hill in an old fire truck.
To win in their division, the Difficult Run "B" team from Fairfax took an early lead with strong dressage scores. In addition, all four team members had clear cross country rounds, and only one, Emilie Sheels, on Oedipus Rex, chalked up any faults in stadium. She had 30 penalty points with rails down.
Other team members were Leigh Ann Johnson on Icy Edge, Stefanie Johnson on Liberty Boy and Emma Jones on Snort.
Silver and bronze winners at training level were the Great Falls Pony Club team and Difficult Run "A" team.
In the novice division, the gold medals were up for grabs with Dominion Valley "B," from the Clifton-Fairfax area, in second place after dressage and pulling up to first with good cross country and stadium rounds.
Dominion Valley members were LeAnn McQuade on Chelsea, Joanne Stemetzki on My Pal Dusty, Stephanie McCarty on Bint Farmistanny, and Amanda Clairmont on Tusen Tak. A scramble team of Loudoun Hunt/Rapidan River took second, and another scramble team of Foxtails Pony Clubbers from Blacksburg and Rapidan River members took third. That team had been in second place after dressage but dropped to third after Foxtails rider Margaret Snoke experienced two refusals and a runout in cross country.
"We're pleased with the competition. Next year, we're looking at bigger and better," Hales said.
by CNB