Natalie Alves
Natalie joined Region 5 several months ago and is a member of the Daffodil Club. Her profile covers her experiences at Youth Nationals as well as Canadian Nationals.
Natalie shows Shake It Up Baby+// (A.K.A. Stella). At Youth Nationals she showed in Half Arabian Show Hack and Side Saddle JTR and JOTR. Then at Canadian Nationals she showed in Half Arabian English Show hack JTR, Half Arabian English Sidesaddle ATR/Open and Half Arabian Country Pleasure JOTR/JTR.
When asked to describe her horse she said; Stella is a very charismatic and sensitive mare. Her personality outshines her talent and athleticism, which are also incredible qualities that she possesses. I fell in love with Stella the moment I saw her in her stall when she looked at me with her huge eyes! We have been on this journey together for, what will be, 6 years. She has overcome seemingly impossible challenges and has the biggest heart and “most try” I have ever seen in a horse.
Natalie has competed in 8 National competitions. When asked about Youth Nationals Nathalie said “This will be my 7th National show, but my 2nd time at Youth Nationals. Now that I know what the Youth National experience is like, I want to make the most of my last year as a junior competitor both in and out of the show ring. I look forward to getting back in the National arena with my partner Stella, but especially this year since the show has been moved to Oklahoma City. Being able to experience the new location before my Youth years are over is very exciting! Regarding Canadian Nationals she looks forward to it because it is one of my favorite shows every year and also because it will be my last show as a youth competitor. I have competed at Canadian Nationals many times but this year will be special, especially after just finishing such a successful Youth Nationals.
According to Nathalie…. the 2016 Youth National Championships was an incredibly exciting experience with some of the best horses in the Arabian circuit in attendance. The highlights of my show were making all of my eliminations and Top Ten in the 4 classes that I entered. I had amazing rides for all of my classes and Stella really stepped up to the challenge! I am so proud of my horse and our accomplishments at the show.
Then for Canadian Nationals she said “Stella and I had an incredible show at the 2016 Canadian National Championships. We won the JTR Show hack for the second year in a row and made Top Ten in our 4 other classes placing 3rd in 2 of them! One of my highlights was competing in the high-powered Country English Pleasure classes especially since I haven't competed in Country for a year.”
When we asked Natalie what she does outside of the horses she said “I have completed my first year of Graphic and Digital Design at the University of the Fraser Valley and have begun working professionally in the design world both in and out of the equestrian community. Combining my passions of design, photography, art and the Arabian horse is an exciting new journey that I have begun. As for the future with my horses, I look forward to a new chapter with my family’s 3 year old Black Daniels mare, AFA Bailey Daniels, as well as the possibility of breeding Stella.
I would like to thank my parents for their endless support, Brenda Driediger, my trainer, for her guidance and wisdom and Jonathan Ramsay and Stachowski Farms, Inc. for the opportunity to stable with and learn from them at Youth Nationals.
Weston Sage
Weston shows a chestnut gelding by the name of Wiley Quixote PGA /. He describes Wiley as a sweet little pocket pony. He competed with Wiley in Horsemanship, Showmanship and Reining.
This year’s Canadian Nationals was Weston’s first Nationals Show. When asked what he was looking forward to he said Competing and hanging out with my friends. Looking forward to swimming in the hotel pool. I also want to ride my horse around the showgrounds bareback. Weston and Wiley had a good show taking home Top Ten in Reining and Horsemanship.
Outside of horses, Weston likes to play video games and help around our mini farm, where they also have cows and pigs.
Marin McKee
Marin showed Jessee James +/ at this years Canadian Nationals in Walk/Jog Western Pleasure and Equitation 10 and under. This was her very first Nationals. When we asked Marin about her experience this is what she had to say “I had an amazing experience at Canadian Nationals. I was given the opportunity to come ride for my last year in 10 & under. Unfortunately when we arrived the horse I was supposed to ride became unavailable. Lisa Garrison (owner of Jessee James) kindly volunteered him for me to show in my classes. I rode him one time prior to the class and not only went National Champion in the Pleasure but also the Equitation. I couldn't believe it!
A huge thank you to all who worked together to make my dream come true.”
About Region 5
The Arabian Horse Association's Region 5 encompasses Alaska, Washington, Northern Idaho, and Western Montana. Region 5 has earned the respect of Arabian horse competitors across the country. Whether for show, endurance or dressage, horses from the Pacific Northwest are among the best in the nation. The quality and caliber of our Region 5 horses are evident by the results of highly competitive shows such as the U.S. Nationals, Canadian Nationals, and Scottsdale.
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