 |
| Jessie Dowe and her mare, Living Proof, are getting some much-deserved national and international exposure. During the 2007/08 season, Dowe was ranked in the Top 10 of the Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada for her results of a number of different equestrian circuits, and had qualified for the World Appaloosa Show held in Fort Worth, Texas last fall. Raissa Tetanish - Amherst Daily News |
WARREN - It was a year full of national and international exposure for one local 19-year-old equestrian competitor.
Jessie Dowe, with her mare Living Proof, finished the 2007/08 season in the Top 10 of the Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada.
"The Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada is also part of a main registry based out of the U.S. that has an international list, which includes Canada, Europe, and other places. I placed in the Top 10 internationally for Youth Halter Mares and Youth Western Pleasure," Dowe said from her kitchen.
At the age of 19, Dowe says she's always enjoyed showing horses and has been following the Greater Moncton Equestrian Club, as well as three other Maritime appaloosa circuits for the past few years.
"I've always enjoyed riding. My mom had me in a saddle pretty much even before I could walk and I enjoy taking things on in the competition light. It gives you a chance to see how you compare to others in the same class, and encourages you to up your game, which I really like."
Dowe isn't the only equestrian lover in the household to accomplish such high stakes over the past season.
Her mother and stepfather, Susan and Ron Groundwater, both did well showing Tulip's Tia Maria and Living in Colour, respectively.
Susan placed in the Top 10 internationally for Non-Pro Western Pleasure, and all three qualified for the World Appaloosa Show, which was held in Fort Worth, Texas this past fall.
Dowe qualified for the worlds in the Senior Western Pleasure class, while Susan qualified for the Non-Pro Trail, Non-Pro Western Pleasure and Novice Non-Pro Trail classes, and Ron qualified for the Junior Western Pleasure class.
Because of the cost to travel to the world competition, Dowe says the trio wasn't able to make it. It is, however, her ultimate goal in life.
In her second year of a four-year animal science program at Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Dowe is hoping to continue with veterinary school to work with large animals.
"If not horses then beef cattle," she said. "I show beef cattle as well."
Irregardless, Dowe plans on owning at least one Appaloosa so she can continue to show and compete.
"I'd like to win a championship at the worlds some day. That's my goal."
During the year-end awards for the Greater Moncton Equestrian Club, Dowe was named both the High Point Senior English and Western Grand Champion.
She also won the High Point Youth award for the Appaloosa Club of both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which gave her the high point award for Atlantic Canada, while Susan won awards in individual amateur classes and Ron won the high point for junior horse.
rtetanish@amherstdaily.com
