By Shannon K. Jones
Staff Reporter
Click photos for larger images & cutlines
 |
Tribal member Megan Parish was awarded for her equitation skills on Oct. 22 at the 19th annual Lake Effects Horse Show in Jackson, Mich., bringing home six awards for the 2005 show season.
"Megan really cleaned house," said Sheri Salo, owner and instructor of Westbrook Farms in Dafter where Parish rides. "She's pretty much a natural. Perfect equitation is something that some people are just born with, not that she doesn't work hard for it."
Parish not only won six awards, but also won the biggest award at the show - being honored for accumulating the most points of every rider in every equitation class in the circuit. Westbrook as a whole took home 14 awards.
"The fact that she won this is huge," said Salo.
A rider since the age of four, Parish commits most of her free time to horse riding and showing, spending hours at the horse barn under Salo's guidance. The young rider spent most of her weekends this summer traveling across the state from Battle Creek to Grand Rapids competing and will continue to train throughout the winter in preparation for the 2006 season.
Parish has much to look forward to in that season as she just recently acquired her own horse and is spending her time bonding and working with the animal.
"I love being around the horses and being with my friends," said Parish, who can't say enough about Westbrook Farms and Salo. "Sheri is awesome, she's a very good instructor."
According to her father, Skip Parish, Jr., horse riding not only provides his daughter with a sense of responsibility, but has created relationships she will carry with her for a long time.
"The girls at the barn are like a second family to each other," said Parish. "Sheri's efforts to work with the girls on a constant basis is amazing."
