Sundre, AB – The Rocky Mountain Challenge 2008 Canadian Nationals saw over 170 entries from the United States and Canada compete over five days at Red Deer River Ranches west of Sundre, AB in the sports of endurance, competitive trail and ride n’ tie.

Sunny and partly cloudy skies accompanied the Open competitive trail riders over their two-day, 80-mile bid to become Canadian Champions. The terrain offered a challenging test including hard climbs, long flats, lots of technical riding, plenty of water, and some bog.

Many seasoned competitors found the terrain and the time frame challenging and had to push their limits to achieve finishing times.

Both Gold and Silver medals were scooped up by the two Alberta team entries which included three first-time Nationals contenders (Holly Tibble, Kandace Krause and Christine Smith) and some talented veterans.

Gold Medal – Natasha French of Millarville, AB on Savannah, Cathy Kolesar of Coutts, AB aboard Classical Dancer and Holly Tibble of St. Albert, AB riding King Sera.

Silver Medal – Linda Riley of Leslieville, AB riding Kittasha, Kandace Krause of Canmore, AB riding Jasmine and Christine Smith of Calgary, AB riding JV Prism.

Cathy Kolesar also earned the Individual bronze medal.

Natasha French of Millarville, AB aside from capturing the gold medal for Alberta, was also named the Canadian silver individual medallist. French was caught up in emotion during the presentations earning her first team medal at her second Nationals appearance. Riding a 14.2 hh Arabian mare named Savannah, French was happy with the results. “She did great! She’s just so consistent. She definitely was fresh when we started. She was definitely peaking for this ride. She’s just my little energizer bunny.”

This was French’s second time to a National competition representing Alberta. Her last appearance was in 2000 in Saskatchewan where she was a team alternate riding an Arabian mare named Rosie.

French and Savannah have had a short but successful career together. In 2007, they won Provincial Grand Champion in their first open season together and were pursuing a successful ride season leading up to Nationals.

“It was unbelievable. It didn’t even seem real. I’ve had such a great season and it was such a great event. I’m just in awe and amazed at the horse. It was certainly a proud moment.”

Christine Smith of Calgary, AB nominated her horse JV Prism, an eleven year-old Arabian gelding and was selected to represent Alberta in her first season of Open competition and only her second season in the sport of competitive trail riding. A bit of a hard-luck horse, she bought Prism three years ago from JV Ranch in Coutts, AB after the ranch recovered the horse from an abusive owner and rehabilitated him. Smith spent three years just gaining some trust and control over her nervous mount and also nursed him back from a ripped heel bulb, an injury that had Smith considering euthanasia.

After overcoming so many obstacles, yet one more would be thrown in the path of this pair. “He had a bad fall fifteen miles in on day two.” Attests. “He lost 13 points from it. He skinned all his knees and his nose. I wanted to quit and he wanted to keep going.”

And so they did and despite the unfortunate circumstance, Smith’s results assisted the Alberta team in winning the silver. “It was the best competition we’ve had, it was just phenomenal. I’m so proud of him.”

“I was quite honored to be on the team.”

Smith was introduced to the sport of competitive trail riding through Clay Gerow, the owner of the facility where she boards her horse near Millarville, AB and a local competitive trail rider, Leanna Marchant who she credits a great deal to.

“I’m happy for Christine. She had done well this year.” Attests Marchant who trains with Smith. “She always rides that horse and looks after him like gold – if she hadn’t fallen, she would have been in third overall. She did a wesome. She placed like I did two years ago.” Says Marchant who offers perhaps a glimpse into Smith’s future.

Marchant was on the 2006 silver medal Alberta team placing fifth individually on her horse Samson’s Fire. Now, at age nine, her horse has produced credible and consistent results including Provincial Grand and Reserve Champion titles. Overcoming some saddle fit issues this year may have influenced her horse being passed over by the team vet and chef d’ equipe for Alberta in the final team selections. “I was disappointed, but I said I would win.” And she did.

Marchant rode as an individual and captured the individual gold medal.

“I had only lost four points. Four points in two days… That’s huge.” Says Marchant, beaming. Marchant was equally as thrilled with Alberta’s gold and silver medals even though she was not on the team. “Other people got selected and we got gold and silver and that’s huge. This way, others got acknowledged and I still got acknowledged with Sam.”

“That was the hardest ride I’ve done since the Alberta Equestrian Games in 2005.” Says Marchant who has also competed in BC and Montana as well as her homeland of Australia. Marchant’s lofty future goals include planning to qualify in the 100-mile endurance to represent Canada at the World Equestrian games Kentucky two years from now. “He’s in his prime. We’ll see if he can do it and if I can do it.” She says with a laugh. “He’s not fast but he’s consistent.”

The Canadian Nationals are hosted every two years, alternating between eastern and western Canada. The Nationals also declared champions in endurance and ride n’ tie with a total of eight events being hosted in the five days of competition.

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