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Monday, June 20 2016 / Published in Weekly Feature

Alicia & Addison Sama: Mother-Daughter Duo of River Valley Pony Club

 

The River Valley Pony Club at Bright’s Creek Equestrian Center

The River Valley Pony Club at Bright’s Creek Equestrian Center

By Britney Anderson

Alicia Sama didn’t grow up riding; she didn’t even know what Pony Club was. Her passion drove her to make her own opportunities, learning anything anyone would teach her about horses as soon as she was able to drive herself to a barn. Now, not only is her daughter growing up with the experiences Alicia wished she could have, but her love of horses and lifelong learning is being spread through Bright’s Creek Equestrian Center and the River Valley Pony Club.

Getting Involved
“I’ve loved horses ever since I was little,” Alicia said, “but I grew up dancing, because that’s what my parents put me in when I was 3. My parents told me that horses were a phase, and that I’d grow out of it.” But as many equestrians know, the horse bug is impossible to shake. “As soon as I graduated from high school and could drive on my own, I started working with horses and have worked with them every day since then. So it’s not really a phase.” Her hard work and dedication propelled her to her current position as equestrian director at Bright’s Creek Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

Alicia’s daughter, Addison, was born with her mother’s passion for horses. “Where I grew up, they didn’t have Pony Club,” said Alicia, “so I didn’t know anything about it. When I heard about it, I researched it and I was like, ‘I wish I could’ve had this growing up!’ So I contacted a club, went out and visited one of the meetings and signed Addison up.” Addison was 6 years old when she first became a Pony Club member.

When the former District Commissioner for the River Valley Pony Club was getting ready to move, Alicia and fellow Pony Club parent Ivette Drumgool stepped up. “It was a team effort,” she said of the decision to become co-commissioners with Ivette. “We’re really good friends and we just promised each other we’d do it for our kids.”

In Her Mother’s Footsteps

Addison Sama and Sugar

Addison Sama and Sugar

Alicia’s passion for learning is reflected in her club members, including 9-year-old Addison. “That’s hard,” she replied when asked what her favorite thing was that she’s learned in Pony Club. “I like learning horsemanship with our horses, I really like riding together and getting to meet and ride with different trainers.”

Addison also cheerfully explained a few of the things that she and her teammates have to learn for Pony Club rallies, from setting up a tack stall and feed to first aid — all on their own. “It was pretty hard the first time, because you’re like, ‘Well, what do I do? I have no parents to help me!’ But then you get used to having a stable manager to help you, and having teammates to help you.”

Addison does eventing with Sugar, her Pony of the Americas she’s had since she was 5. “I love to do the eventing,” Addison said. “It can be scary, but it’s also a lot of fun once you start.” She shows the true eventer’s spirit, as well. After being bucked off a lease pony several times on cross-country courses and being kicked in the face, which broke her jaw, Addison is still as passionate about riding as ever.

Pony Club Ambassadors
With her Pony Club friends at her side, Addison is well on her way to equestrian success. The United States Pony Club 2016 East Championships will be held July 27–31 at the nearby Tryon International Equestrian Center, and though qualifiers must be at least 12 years old to compete, Addison and the other young club members will not miss out: Tryon International has designated River Valley Pony Club as the official Pony Club ambassadors. “I really am excited,” said Addison. “We’re going to be the ambassadors the whole week of Championships — answering questions, showing people around and telling them about Pony Club.”

Alicia and the other Pony Club leaders are thrilled for the opportunity that having the Championships so close to home. “Most of the time they wouldn’t be able to see a championship; either they haven’t qualified or the travel distance is too great. But to have everybody come here, and to such a high-end facility and show, it’ll be great for the kids to see. Whether our kids are competing or not, all of our club will take part, whether we’re filling the role as ambassadors or supporting our team and cheering them on.”

Ivette Drumgool (left) and Alicia Sama, co-commissioners of the River Valley Pony Club

Ivette Drumgool (left) and Alicia Sama, co-commissioners of the River Valley Pony Club

Though hundreds of competitors flock to the Championships, the Pony Club values remain the same. “Some clubs are bigger than us, some clubs may be smaller,” Alicia said. “Some clubs may have more money than we have, but each club is held accountable for the same knowledge and the same expectations. It doesn’t matter if you have a horse or if you’re borrowing a horse, or if you’re borrowing clothes or have top-of-the-line — none of that matters.”

And Addison is just one of the many stars that make the Pony Club from Bright’s Creek Equestrian Center shine. “There’s a wide spectrum of kids in Pony Club, and I think that’s why it’s so cool,” Alicia explained. “Just like the United States is such a melting pot, Pony Club gets all of these people and then you all become one. It’s just amazing to see all these kids come together. It doesn’t matter what you have or what you don’t have. You’re all there for the horses. It really is pretty cool.”

Photos courtesy of Bright’s Creek Equestrian Center and River Valley Pony Club

 

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Tagged under: britney anderson, pony club, river valley pony club

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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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