MEET THE JUNIOR Caitlyn Miller

Hi, my name is Caitlyn Miller. I am 14 years old and live in Tehachapi, California. My horse's name is Roz, a purebred Egyptian Arabian mare, who is now 8. I have had Roz since she was 3, did most of the trail training with her, and we have just completed our first 500 miles together. We have learned a lot about each other during these miles and the training time that we spend together.

On our first 50 mile ride, which was the Descanso ride in the Pacific Southwest Region, a huge pine tree had fallen across the trail and we had to go around it. There was a tremendous amount of brush and, of course, no trail, so we followed my mom and her horse, Misty, down the side of the hill and around the tree. The ground was really soft and slippery. We had to go through a large amount of heavy brush, but Roz did her job and got us back on the trail safely. What a surprise when we ended up coming in as the first junior on that ride!

On our last ride of the 2004 season, the weather was very cold and rainy. Roz and I knew that we just had to keep going, even though it was raining hard, as we wanted to get our final 50 of the 500 miles. She trotted along really well, never pausing at the runoffs or the slippery trail. Even though the weather was so wet, she is very sure-footed, totally enjoys being out on the trail and we had a great time!

Roz is my best friend. We get along, work well together and have a real bond. At the Silver State Ride, which was my first attempt at a multiday ride, I rode two of the three days. On part of the ride, we ended up having to dismount and walk down a very narrow path alongside a very long, steep hill. Roz followed very quietly, never spooked or slipped. When we reached the bottom, she stood patiently while I remounted and off we went! I was so proud of her as it was a little scary walking down that trail, but Mom had told me to just "keep going" behind her, and everything would be fine.

Mom and Misty took first lightweight in the Pacific Southwest Region in 2003. She, of course, is my sponsor and Roz and I earned the top junior award for the Pacific Southwest Region in 2004. Along with endurance riding, Roz and I are the lead members of the Bear Valley 4-H Drill Team, and we also do cattle sorting, gymkhana and light dressage.

I have enjoyed competing in the junior division, along with Amy Schneider, who I admire as she has always done so well. Additionally, Amy and I participated in the Ventura County 4-H together several years ago, before my family and I moved to the Tehachapi area, and at the shows we were the only ones who were riding Arabians!

Roz and I look forward to the upcoming year and continuing to accumulate our miles.

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