Veronica Blattler of Bridge Lake is looking forward to one of the biggest rides of her life, as she gets ready to compete at the inaugural Canadian Equestrian Championships, Sept. 15-18 in Bromont, Quebec.
The 18-year-old was named to Team BC after winning the junior division championship in reining at the BC Heritage Finals, Aug. 13 in Barriere.
She and her 13-year-old quarter horse, Peppy, also won three equestrian gold medals at the 2010 BC Summer Games, but Peppy won't be accompanying her to Quebec. All of the championship competitors will be riding leased horses, to put them on a level playing field.
"I'm excited about using a different horse. It will be a great challenge," says Blattler, who has been riding for most of her life.
Participants will each have two days to get to know their horse before heading into three days of competition.
Blattler says she is also looking forward to riding against the new competition that comes with participating in a national event.
"Normally, I know everyone else. That will be a challenge, too."
Blattler will just manage to squeeze in the championships before starting a pharmacy technician program that begins in October.
The BC Equestrian Team was selected based on the results of the annual Selection Trial at the BC Heritage Circuit Finals for the disciplines of dressage, show jumping and reining. The highest ranked junior and senior rider in each event qualified for the team.