Gina Georgeson

S h o w i n g O U T S I D E t h e b o x

Featured Amateur RiderEnglish

Region 17March 2010

“It was 1994 (I was 5) and we were at FairmontHot Springs in the Canadian Rockies. We stoppedat a dude ranch on the way home to Edmonton.They had a pinto pony named Squirt. I got to ridehim and thus began my love affair with horses”

It was spring of 1994 (I was 5). We we were at

Fairmont Hot Springs in the Canadian Rockies.

On the way home to Edmonton we stopped at a

dude ranch. They had a pinto pony named

Squirt. I got to ride him and thus began my love affair

with horses. Squirt was very patient and kind to me.

I have to admit I was slightly scared to be upon his

back. However, from that moment on I knew my

calling and true passion in life would be horses.

When we got back to Edmonton I endlessly begged my

dad to enroll me in riding lessons. He found a stable

called Keno Hills that would accept a young beginner

like me.

I took lessons at Keno for quite some time where I

learned all about taking care of horses and how to

stay in the saddle.

On my sixth birthday my dad gave me the best sur-

prise present ever. He had bought me a purebred bay

Arabian horse named Nebaskette. She was a

hunter/jumper and helped me improve my riding

skills by teaching me these two disciplines.

When I was eight years old we bought another Arabian

mare by the name of Karazella. I thought she was an

English horse because she came from Mike Whelihan’s

barn. However, she was hunter and very tempered.

She taught me balance and determination.

When I was ten I took saddle seat lessons from Archie

Hurst on one of his Saddlebreds. This was real fun.

Much better than just riding around a ring.

Gina Georgeson

“It was 1994 (I was 5) and we were at FairmontHot Springs in the Canadian Rockies. We stoppedat a dude ranch on the way home to Edmonton.They had a pinto pony named Squirt. I got to ridehim and thus began my love affair with horses”

When I was ten we purchased a five

year old bay gelding named Legend

MTA. He was born at Bob Battaglias’

barn in Texas and was imported and

owned by our neighbour Carol Dorin.

Legend had been stabled at several

different barns with only sixty days of

training. He was also declared danger-

ous and untrainable, certainly not a

kids horse. You could say it was love at

first sight. We moved him to at Rock-

ing Bar Ranch with Kim Seward and I

proceeded to become his friend.

Kim and I spent endless hours training

him and remarkably we went to region-

als that year and won my first champi-

onship. Since then Legend and I have

obtained almost fifty championships in

Country English Pleasure, Native Cos-

tume, Side Saddle, and Show Hack

(new in 2009).

Showing Arabian horses has been the fun part of my life. It has given me focus, not only in showing but

in the rest of my life. And I have met so many nice people that have become friends.

My dad, Legend and I and my friends dad Emeric.

“I enjoy showing and competition, but most of allI love spending time with my horses. I love themvery much and I know they love me in return onaccount of their kindness and willingness to dotheir best for me.”

I have had many highlights in the show ring. When I

was eleven, my first Arabian AOTR Native Costume

class at Region 17 where there were six riders and

Legend and I won.

Each year has been memorable, with Legend and I

earning almost 50 championships at Region 5 and 17,

and 4 Top Tens at Canadian Nationals.

I also won the Austin Whelihan high point Junior

English rider award seven years in a row, from ten to

seventeen..

Aspen Park and Wanda Leubner

Since 2005 I have been at Aspen Park with Wanda

Leubner and love it. In 2006 we bought a Half-

Arabian English horse named Fancy Nancy SPF. She

came from Arizona. She was a three gaited

National Show Horse and Park Horse so her walking

skills were not the best. We have spent many hours

teaching her and she is now a fun horse to ride. In

2009 I rode and drove her to Champion Open English

Pleasure, Park and Pleasure Driving at Region 17. In

2009 Nancy obtained her Legion of Honor and Legion

of Supreme Honor.

In 2009 we bought a six year old Half-Arab gelding

named Springfield. He was only started under

saddle so this was a training year. We will be

showing him in 2010. He will be my Country English

horse in coming years. He came from Florida but

has accepted the cold weather of Alberta rather

well.

Trucking along in Open English Pleasure at 2009 Region 17 champion-ships. We won the class of four.

My dad was supposed to show Nancy Pleasure Driving, but he bailed onme. But it is fun driving her.

Biography

I was born in Edmonton on Friday,

September 13, 1989.

For fun I attend Karate (Black Stripe belt),

play piano and spend time with my family

and friends.

I attended French Immersion schools since

play school. I am currently (2010) in third

year per-med at Faculte St. Jean, the

French faculty of the University of Alberta.

I am studying hard to obtain grades

necessary to get into the Faculty of

Dentistry at UBC (5 seats), Uof A (27 seats)

or University of Saskatchewan (5 seats). I

applied and am on the waiting list at UBC,

but was not offered a seat this year, unless

there are dropouts before September. With

the limited number of dentistry seats

competition is fierce.

I owe many thanks to people who have helped and supported me in

my horse riding years:

1. First, my parents for being so supportive of my expensive

habit.

2. My first instructors at Keno Hills; Ashley, Jackie, Jenny and

Gary Millar.

3. Janice Tyndall helped me with my equitation and allowed me

to work as a volunteer assistant trainer at her stable during the

summer. My horse Nebaskette was leased to her as a beginner's

horse.

4. Archie Hurst gave me my first lessons in Saddle Seat and

introduced me to Saddlebreds.

5. Kim Seward helped me in the formative years working with

Legend. She was patient and Legend and I both learned a lot.

6. My current coach, Wanda Leubner has been the best. She

helps me get the most out of my horses without having to be hard

on them. I enjoy the help I get from all of Wanda's Saddle Seat

clients.

7. To all show officials, judges, volunteers and other

competitors for the kind atmosphere at shows.

8. And the many more too numerous to mention.

Thank you everyone.

Published ByMyArabianHorse.com