Best of the best 4-H equestrians compete
Horse Park hosts 284 young riders from around state
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer
Only the cream of the crop of 4-H equestrians rises to the club's annual state championship show.

Judges Coeli Netsky (l) and Marsha Montgomery make their way out of the ring as Lamont gaits by during the N.J. State 4-H Championship Horse Show at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold on Aug. 21.

This year, 284 young riders made the cut to compete Aug. 21-23 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold.

Carol Ward, the 4-H agent for Somerset County who helped run the show, explained that the riders first contend in various classes at the county level, where judges rate them as excellent, very good, fair, etc. Only those who achieve excellent or very good ratings are eligible for the state championship show.

"It's the best of the best," Ward said. Competitors at the state level compete in the same classes offered at the county level competitions. They were English and western equitation, dressage, barrel racing, pole bending, driving, showmanship and grooming, pleasure, and hunter. There were also classes for challenged riders.

Rachel Hess riding Herculean Conquest receives instruction from trainer Lynn Stokking during dressage at the N.J. State 4-H Championship Horse Show.

The number of entrants in each class at the state championship varied, but many had more than 20 entries, making them quite competitive. Most of the young riders interviewed said they were focused on having fun and making friends at the show, not just winning.

Caitlin Anderson, a 17-year-old senior at Jackson Memorial High School, who qualified for the show for the first time, rode her 3-year-old appaloosa mare Little Raya Sunshine in the western events.

"It's really cool," she said of the show. "I like the people in 4-H and especially the show of support we get."

Kacie Moran, 14, and her sister Kellie, 12, of Middletown, are second generation equestrian 4-H members that belong to the Curry Combs. Their mom, Denise, was a member of the now-defunct Chapel Hill Trailblazers 4-H club in Middletown years ago. When asked how her 4-H experiences differed from her daughters', she said her children have more opportunities than she had.

Kacie and her thoroughbredcross mare "Special Performance" came in sixth in the training level one dressage class, then switched saddles and outfits and got ribbons in barrel racing, pole bending, keyhold and bowtie western events.

Kellie, who rode her chestnut quarterhorse mare "Shezalilcowtwister," said she is learning a lot in 4-H. The pair won the blue ribbon in the catalog race, which was part of the show that was held to benefit the Rutgers Equine Science Center. During the race, each contestant had to ride to an assigned catalog, rip out a particular page, and then race back. The duo also came in third in the crossrail class.

The Horse Tales and Stablemates 4-H clubs held at Dunn Wright Farm in Jackson also had representatives at the show — Karla Mertens, of Howell, and Matina Aliseo of Toms River.

This was the second time Mertens qualified for the show. This year, she rode "Boomer," a thoroughbred/ quarterhorse gelding that she leases. She said she likes 4-H and the show because the people involved are friendly and easygoing. 4- H has taught her how to be horseperson, she said, and she plans to start foxhunting and eventing.

Matina, who rode her grey quarterhorse mare Fusion's Sonny Bliss, said her goal is to join the Cream Ridge Pony Club.

Nicole Chranowsk, of the Golden Spurs 4-H Club in Middlesex County, was competing at the show for the first time. The East Brunswick eighth-grader rode the 4- year old quarter horse gelding Something Flashy that she boards at Voight Farms in South Brunswick.

A second-generation 4-Her (her mother Bonnie had horses and was 4-H member), Nicole practically lives at the barn and would stay there all day if permitted, according to her mother. Nicole would eventually like to show her horse on the state quarter horse circuit.

Golden Spurs member Jacqueline Galita, of Piscataway, qualified for the state show on her quarterhorse Chipsa Fancy Zip.

While Golden Spurs member Colleen Soulias, of Milltown, didn't show at the championships, she attended to support her friends, she said. In the first year of showing her 4-year-old American Warmblood gelding "That's What the Girls Like," she had a good time riding him with the 4-H at the Middlesex County Fair, she said. The Freehold-based Curry Combs 4-H Club was also well represented at championships. Oakhurst's Christin Sagui said she has qualified for the show the past four years, and this would be her last year for eligibility. The 17- year-old started her freshman year at Villanova University in Pennsylvania last week, but came home for the championship show. With a major in biochemisty, she does not have time to ride with the Villanova equestrian team, she said.

Abbey Lanza, a junior at Howell High School who lives in Farmingdale, is another state show veteran, having competed four times. This year, she rode her palomino pony mare "Midsummer Night's Dream" that she is training as a pony jumper. She said she enjoys the event because "you can see everyone you've met along the way."