While many Lions spend their time on the court, field or track, a select few of our Lions spend their days in the barns, with their horse companions. There are different kinds of competing; dressage, show jumping, and cross country.

Senior Emily Betts has been riding for 12 years. She competes in show jumping events (where the horse goes through a course with obstacles, like jumps) all around the state. She rides at a number of barns in the area, all quite a commute. She also works with rescue horses and rehabilitates them. Betts hopes to pursue a career involving horses and when “wishes that Bellarmine had a program to ride.”

Senior Addie Duenholter has been riding for almost as long as she can remember. She rides for Area VII Eventing and at the barn at Grand Farms Team Chaos. She also competes at events all around, including at Rebecca Farms in Montana.

Junior Cameron Wyman has been riding for 7 years. She rides at Kellenbrook Farm in Gig Harbor and competes in dressage competitions, both locally and nationally. Over the summer she competed at a national champion show in Colorado. Wyman enjoys the friendships she has formed with her horse, and other girls at her barn that go to different schools.

Sophomore Kate Hansen has been riding for three years. As well as equestrian she also cheers and does track. She rides at a barn in Lakewood and competes at events all over, not only the state, but in Canada as well. She rides year round and mostly competes in the summer. Like Betts, Hansen does show jumping, but also some dressage which she refers to as “horse ballet” because it focuses on showing off a horses movements instead. Hansen likes “the relationship formed between the horse as her teammate” and enjoys the individuality of the sport.

Sophomore Stella Gross Shader has been riding for seven years. She lives on Vashon Island and rides at farms and barns there, but competes at Rebeca Farms in Montana. She does three day eventing competitions, which feature show jumping, dressage, and cross country (showing the speed, endurance and jumping ability of the horse). Gross Shader hopes to continue this in college, and also wishes she could compete for Bellarmine.

Sophomore Isabella Enfield has been riding for 6 years, and plays no other sports, as she is “completely committed and devoted to riding.” She competes in both show jumping and dressage events. She enjoys competing as an individual and rides at a barn in Port Orchard.

These girls dedicate so much time to a sport that they love, and deserve acknowledgement from the community.