I was introduced to the horse world in January 2013, right before I turned 6 years old. I immediately fell in love with horseback riding not for the riding aspect of it but for the connection I was able to build with the horse. I took lessons twice a week until 2017 when I realized this is the sport I want to focus on. It was only a few years later that I really started to compete consistently and since then I have not stopped. I get the wonderful opportunity to show all year around as I decided to switch to online school and dedicate all my time to horseback riding.
I compete in USEF “A” rated shows all year around at World Equestrian Center, Fieldstone Show Park, Vermont Summer Festival, Fairfield County Hunt Club, etc. These horse shows have given me so much experience by having a diversity of classes, steep competition, and a constant change of scenery. I train with Kristen Chance and compete in the junior hunters and 3’3” equitation medals. Some of my recent achievements include:
• Zone 1 Champion in the Junior Hunter 3’3”-Large 15 & Under
• Reserve Champion at the MHC Finals (MHC Horsemens Council)
• Zone 1 Horse of the Year in the Junior Hunter 3’3” (Eastern States Exposition Heritage Show)
• 5th in Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Area Championship (Fieldstone Northeast Classic)
• Champion in the Junior Hunter All Ages 3’3” (Fieldstone Northeast Classic)
• 1st in the $750 2’9” Open Hunter Derby (Fieldstone Northeast Classic)
• 7th in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby (VSF Week 5)
• Champion and Reserve Champion in the Large Junior Hunter 3’3” (VSF Week 5)
• 1st in the USHJA Hunt Seat Medal and 2nd in the NHS (VSF Week 4)
• Reserve Champion the Junior Hunter 3’3” Combined (VSF Week 4)
• Champion in the 3’3” Junior Hunter 15 & U and Grand Champion in the Junior Hunters awarded with Robyn Pavone Grand Jr Championship Trophy and Lydia Theurkauf Perp Memorial Trophy-
Grand JR/AO (WCHR week at Fairfield County Hunt Club)
• 1st in the $5,000 Hunter Challenge (FSP June Week 1)
• 1st in the NHS Medal and 2nd in the USHJA Jumper Seat Medal 3’3” (WEC Ocala Winter Spectacular Xll)
• 1st Junior 3’3” 15 & Under Handy (WEC Ocala Winter Spectacular Xll)
• 1st in the USHJA Hunter Seat Medal 3’3” (WEC Ocala Winter Spectacular X)
• 1st in the 15-17 3’3” Flat (WEC Ocala Winter Spectacular IV)
I currently compete with my two horses Elmo and Luuk. Elmo has taken me from the 3’ to 3’3’’ in less than a year and I have owned him for two years now. We go in all three rings together but compete mainly in the equitation. I bought Luuk as a six-year-old and took him less than a year ago in the children’s hunters, and now he has ended the year being Zone 1 champion in the large 3’3” junior hunters. I go to the barn about 5-6 times for a total of 20 hours a week. I work hard when I’m at the barn and strongly care about my flat work, horsemanship, and clean tack.
When thinking about college my mind went right to a riding team. Horses have always been a big part of my life and I want to continue it through college. Being on a riding team in college would be an incredible experience for me as I would enjoy working with a new horse and continuing to build my knowledge of the sport. I’m a junior at Fusion Global Academy and taking honor level classes with grades no lower than an A. Horseback riding has been my passion since I was little as I love building trust with the horses whether it is over fences or brushing them. I want to pursue horses in college and as a career. I cannot wait to see what the future holds at college!
~ Anna Klee