CAPE TEEN TO COMPETE FOR NATIONAL HONORS

In an effort to be the best, a 14-year-old champion rider from Cape Girardeau spends hours every week training with her three-gaited equitation horse for shows.

Amber Pool's hard work paid off several weeks ago when she brought home an award for being the Junior Challenge Cup Champion at a Lexington, Ky. horse show.

She had purchased Sultan's Spring Dance, an American Saddlebred, only three days before the show.

This latest victory is exceptionally noteworthy because Pool won the same title with a different horse in Lexington last year.

Pool, daughter of Terry and Sally Pool, is now qualified to compete for a national title at the American Royal in Kansas City in November.

"Amber is considered to be one of the top contenders," said her mother. "She is extremely dedicated and gives up much of her social activities. Competing in these horse shows requires a huge commitment."

In equitation competitions, the rider is judged, rather than the horse. But the horse must be very well-trained.

"Amber's outfits are custom-made, and she must sit elegantly and hold her hands very still," said her mother.

Earlier in the year, Pool competed at the Pro-Am Show in Atlanta, Ga., and was the equitation champion in the 11 to 13-year-old age bracket.

She was also the Reserve Champion in the same age category at an Ashville, N.C. equitation show.

On Aug. 23, Pool plans to compete in the World Championship in Louisville, Ky. to vie for the world title in equitation.

Pool is a dedicated competitor. She began training two years ago at DeLovely Farm in Rockport, Ind. During the school year, she spends every weekend at the farm and can be found there most of the summer.

"The entire training experience has been very positive for Amber," said her mother. "She is very responsible and has been able to stay on the A honor roll in school."

Her mother said about 15 young people from all over the country spend time at DeLovely Farm with trainer Lillian Shively, who the kids think of as "a second mother."

Even though Pool didn't start competing until last year, she was given her first horse, Sugar, at the age of 10.

"The better she got, the more she wanted to ride," said her mother. "We bought her an equitation horse last year when a friend commented on her talent."

The Pool family, which includes Brad, 22, and Lisa, 19, owns several other horses that they board at a barn near their home and ride "just for fun."

Even though Pool is very busy, she and her mother recently completed a four-day trail ride in Eminence. They took "Rosie the mule" and an Arab mare through woods, rivers and bluffs.

"We had so much fun we would like to go back next year," said her mother. "It was a much-needed break for Amber."

Pool will be a freshman at Central Junior High School in the fall.

Even though her days are generally filled with horse-related activities, she manages to find time to belong to the cheerleading squad, Pep Club and Beta Club.