Nienaber places in horse trials
LAKE SHORE -- Sarah Nienaber, Lake Shore, placed fifth at the Otter Creek Horse Trials in the Junior Pre-Novice Division aboard her mount, Blaze.
The 14-year-old competed at the Wheeler, Wis., event May 12-14. Her equine team member Blaze's age is unknown for certain, but he is believed to be 12 or 13. From more humble beginnings as a $900 pasture pony, Blaze was able to hold his own in competition with other horses.
The Otter Creek Horse Trials are a U.S. Combined Training Association sponsored event. About 97 horse/rider combinations competed in eight divisions during two days in dressage, cross country and stadium jumping. Riders were from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. There were eight horse and rider teams competing in Nienaber's division of Junior Beginning Novice Rider.
The USCTA, a non-profit educational organization, was founded in 1959 to promote and develop events throughout the country. Riders compete at all levels of competition from novice through the advanced and Olympic levels. Nienaber got her start in competitive riding at the 4-H level in Crow Wing County. Her coach is Shannon Loven.