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Articles: Press Release
Abbie Ross and TNT Were Dynamite Winning The $5000 NAL Pony Jumper Final
Contact:
Classic Communications | 38 Mechanic Street | Suite 101 | Foxboro | MA |
02035
Harrisburg, PA - October 16, 2008 - Abbie Ross and her mount TNT exploded over the
fences to win the $5000 North American League Pony Jumper Final at the Pennsylvania
National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA.
Ross, 12, of Wheaton, Il, took over the ride on TNT, a 14 year old mare, from her
sister Lillie Ross, who had placed fourth on the mare in the 2007 Final. Lillie
had successfully shown the mare for many years and decided to move up and gave
her sister the ride. Abbie, who qualified for the NAL Final for the first time,
had a lot of pressure. "I was nervous", said Ross. "This was the biggest thing
that I have ever done."
Only three riders were clear over the first round course which was tough and technical,
to advance into the jump-off. Eight horse and rider combinations were eliminated
in the first round, either to spills or refusals, attesting to the challenging questions
the course asked of these young riders.
In keeping with her faultless first round, Ross and TNT were clear over the shortened
jump-off course and crossed through the timers in a very fast 31.998 seconds, more
than a full second faster than their nearest challenger.
Elizabeth Solomon and her mare Hip Hop also completed the second course fault free,
but in a time of 33.026 seconds and had to settle for second place. Gillian King
on Crum Creek could not manage leave the jumps up in the second round and with a
score of 12 faults, 3 rails down, in a time of 33.347, placed third.
The NAL runs season-long series in six hunter-jumper divisions - Adult Hunter, presented
by Practical Horseman, Children's Hunter, Open Jumper Speed, Adult Jumper, Children's
Jumper and Pony Jumper. All horses competing in the NAL finals earn U.S. Equestrian
Federation Horse-of-the-Year points. The NAL qualifying period started September
1, 2007 and ended August 31, 2008. While riders did not need to be members of
the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, only current members earned points
toward year-end finals.
The NAL series is sponsored by horsetrader.com. Horsetrader.com reaches horse people
coast to coast looking to find, buy, or sell that perfect mount, select the perfect
stallion, locate a dream ranch, find a great trainer, or load up with a trailer
for show season. Horsetrader.com works for more buyers and sellers, faster than
any other equine website, delivering both online and in print with horsetrader.com's
alliance publications. Find, buy, or sell anything from A to Z, apparel to zebras,
on horsetrader.com with 56 categories to search. Horsetrader.com's founder is the
publisher of California Horsetrader, the voice of the horse industry in the West
since 1979, a twice-monthly all-breed, all-discipline news and classified publication.
For more information on the North American League, please visit the Ryegate Show
Services website at www.Ryegate.com.
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