Local High Desert Middle School students and sisters Ashton and Madison Leverance recently competed in the Southern Arizona Arabian Horse Association All Arabian Show in Tucson, then traveled up to Nampa, Idaho for the Sport Horse National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show.

On Saturday Sept. 12 Ashton, riding Fohcus in their first competition together, at the Southern Arizona Arabian Horse Association All Arabian Show, was awarded first place in the Sport Horse Junior to Ride qualifying class, second place in the Hunter Pleasure Junior Owner to Ride qualifying class and fourth place in the Sport Horse Open qualifying class. The following day Ashton rode her way into third place in the Championship Class Sport Horse Junior to Ride, fourth in the Hunter Pleasure Junior Owner to Ride Championship class and seventh in the Sport Horse Open Championship class.

On Sunday Madison presented Fohcus to judges in both Dressage type and Hunter type classes, while Ashton switched horses and presented Action Figure. Against a field of competitors including trainers and seasoned exhibitors, Madison and Fohcus walked away with both Champion Dressage type as well as Champion Hunter type, beating Reserve Champions Ashton and Action Figure by .2 judges’ points.

At their National Championship debut in Nampa a week later, competing against over 500 horses, Madison presented Fohcus in hand throughout the week, falling short .6 points for a National Top Ten Award, placing 11th consistently and receiving high marks from the judges in each of her classes. Ashton presented Action Figure and was awarded a National Top Ten, sixth place overall for Sport Horse Geldings in Hand Dressage Type. Ashton saddled up Fohcus to compete in several Under Saddle Classes. The pair made the top eight in the semifinals, Sport Horse Under Saddle Amateur Owner to Ride, and placed fourth overall in her Championship class, earning her another National Top Ten Award.

Both Ashton and Madison are looking forward to the new season, preparing to compete in the Desert Classic Horse Show in December, the 66th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, then the Region 7 Championships Show in April in hopes to qualify for the National Championships in 2021. The girls would like to thank all those who helped with their fundraising, their trainer/step mother Carli Leverance, Kelli the Barn mom and their family for their support. For more information about the competitions or breed please go to https://www.arabianhorses.org/discover/