MEET THE JUNIOR Samantha Will

My name is Samantha Will and I'm 13 years old. I have been riding since I was 4 years old. I started out in and still do dressage. I was reading about horse sports when endurance came up; it sounded really fun.

It just so happened that our farrier's wife, Kristi Kesick, did endurance. He talked to his wife and she said that I could ride their 18 year-old Arabian, J.D. Brannigan (Branny for short.) I couldn't wait to get started on my conditioning ride. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole ride.

Eventually, after many conditioning rides, I went to my first AERC ride, the Colorama 25, on September 17. It was an amazing experience (although I could do without the waking up at 4:30 am.)

I was going to ride with Kristi, but she had just ridden a 50-mile ride the day before, so I rode with her husband Keith instead. He was riding their other horse, Bobby. Before we went on the ride we had to warm the horses up around the loop. I could feel Branny starting to go faster and faster. The best part was the feeling of flying along the trail. I loved the wind whipping at my face.

The most intense part of the ride was the halfway vet check because my competition was only three minutes behind me. It wasn't just intense, but it was also exciting. By the last vet check my heart was pounding. I had nothing to worry about, though, as Brannigan came through with flying colors.

I was so happy at the awards ceremony when they said I got first place. It was a terrific feeling knowing that not only did I finish, but got first place as well. When I got home I couldn't wait to hang it on my shelf. The next day I didn't want to get out of bed I was so sore, but it was totally worth it to complete such an amazing accomplishment.

My next ride was the DRAW IV in October, a 30-mile LD which was a lot like the 25-miler, except this time I got second instead of first, but I completed it and that was a great feeling. Another difference was the weather -- it was so cold! -- but by the first five miles I was sweating like crazy. I put my second place red ribbon right next to my first place blue ribbon.

I'm planning on doing a 50-mile ride this year sometime. Also my mom is thinking about competing in 2007 on her horse, Buckshot.

I think endurance will be a sport I continue to do for the rest of my life and endurance is a sport that I'll teach my kids and grandchildren. I know now that endurance is a sport that requires a lot of time and plenty of dedication, but it's all worth it in the end, because there's no better feeling than when you complete that ride with your horse beside you.

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