Steele_elaine

Jeff Green | Oct 18, 2007

Off to the Nationalsby Mark Ford

Lead rider, Elaine Steele on Chanticleer Shadow followed by Paul Mann, Dagmar Downes, and Pat St.Jean.

In November 2007 Elaine Steele, a resident of Mountain Grove, will be traveling to North Carolina to compete in the Arabian Horse Association’s National Championship Competitive Trail Ride which is held on the 3rd & 4th. This is a two-day ride covering a total of 65 miles (104 kms) in the Adirondack Mountains. Her horse, Chanticleer Shadow, is an 11-year-old Purebred Arabian Gelding. In order to compete in this ride, they had to meet certain qualifying criteria, which both Chanticleer and Elaine have accomplished.

Elaine has been competing in Competitive Trail Rides since 1997. Since that time, she has ridden in three Canadian Championship rides. The Canadian Championship is a bi-annual event, which consists of 80 miles (128 km) ridden over two days. In all three Championship Rides, her team placed first in the team division. In 2004, she rode the two day 80 mile (128 km) ride with a perfect score earning the title of Individual Canadian Champion. At the first annual Provincial Championship, held this year, Elaine placed first in her division, riding over a rigorous 50 mile (80 km) trail. She has been ranked one of the Top Ten Competitive Trail riders in Ontario for 6 years, receiving the honour of Champion one of those years. Other long distance accomplishments include two years ranked as one of the Top Ten Endurance riders in Ontario and four years ranked as one of the Top Ten Overall long distance riders in Ontario, with one of those years receiving Reserve Champion. Elaine has accumulated at total of about 3400 miles (5440 kms) in competition.

Chanticleer started his open Competitive Trail riding career in 2005 where he was ridden in a total of five events, and was ranked the 12th best Competitive Trail horse in Ontario. 2006 was Chanticleer’s first full year of competition. During that year, he competed in the Canadian Competitive Trail Ride Championship where he placed first in his division and helped the team to earn the Gold Metal. He competed in the Region 18 Arabian Horse Championship and placed in the Top Five, and in the Region 16 Arabian Horse Championship took Reserve Champion. For 2006, Chanticleer was ranked as one of the Top Ten Competitive Trail Horses in Ontario and one of the Top Ten Overall long distance horses in Ontario. This year, along with regular competitions, Chanticleer competed in the first annual Provincial Championship and placed first in his division. To date, he has accumulated almost 1000 miles (1600kms) in long distance competitions.