Fleetwood_Shadow

Feature Article August 21

Feature Article August 21, 2002

LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home

Fleetwood Shadow places third at prestigious ride by David BrisonFleetwood Shadow, ridden and trained by Elaine Steele of Lost Creek Farms, finished third overall at a national competitive trail event on August 3 & 4 at Flesherton, Ontario.

Teams from throughout North America were represented at the 80-mile event on the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario. Ontario was represented by two teams of three horses each. Elaine and Fleetwood Shadow were named as an alternate on the Ontario teams -- that is, if one of the six Ontario riders could not compete, Elaine could have replaced them. No replacements were needed but Elaine and Fleetwood Shadow were able to enter on their own and as part of an open team with two other horses.

Denise Vick and Barb Foubert joined Elaine and this team placed first overall ahead of both of the selected Ontario teams. Elaine and Fleetwood Shadow were the third ranked individual entries in the prestigious event.

Christie Gangen of Alberta was the top individual winner, followed by Wendy MacCoubrey, representing Ontario, on Mariah. Wendy finished third overall at the Mountain Grove event hosted by Rick and Elaine Steele on Sunday July 21 (she won the event the year before). Wendy Benns on Flirt with Ecstasy won the Mountain Grove ride this year, but she finished back in the standings at Flesherton.

The Ontario teams took the gold and silver, and Alberta the bronze amongst the provincially-entered teams but Elaines open team beat them all.

It was a really tough course up and down hills. At one time we were on top of a ski hill. Fleetwood Shadow really impressed me, Elaine said.

In competitive trail riding, the entries are all given the same amount of time to complete the event. Scoring is based on the condition of the horses when they finish as rated by trained vets. Each horse earns points by finishing near the allotted time. Based on her performance this year at the national event, the Ontario judges will think twice before leaving Elaine and her horse off next years teams.