Arielle and Horses

Arielle, who is only 15, has been involved with horses since she was 10 years old. For the last two years she has been handling and showing the weanlings and yearlings for her parents at Mare Haven Farm. Arielle has also broken and is currently training her 4 year old Hanoverian mare, Reba’s Song by Rotspon out of Windsong. She culminated her short but successful show career this fall at the prestigious Dressage at Devon horse show where she scored a perfect 100% in the Amateur Handler Junior/Young Rider class where she showed Reba’s Song. According to the members of the Dressage at Devon committee, it was the first time anyone had accomplished that feat. Even a high ranking USDF member could not recall anyone ever getting a perfect score in any breed show. The class was judged by Olympic medalist Hilda Gurney. Details can be found on the Dressage Daily website.

A week earlier Arielle and Reba's Song made the trip down to Conyers, Georgia to attend both GDCTA Southern Hospitality Dressage Breeders Classic shows. During Saturday's show Reba's Song finished the day as the Reserve Champion Mare and also the Reserve Champion Mature Horse. On Sunday, Reba was on her game, winning her Maiden/Yeld Mare class with a staggering 86.00%. She then went on to win the Champion Mare, Champion Mature Horse and then to make it a perfect day Reba was named Grand Champion of the show and also the Highest Placing Hanoverian.

Arielle and Photography

Arielle started taking pictures when she was 12 years old. She started just taking pictures of the horses on her farm but one day her mom and her went to a dressage show to watch Jim Koford riding Donatelli. She took her camera along and took pictures of Jim and Donatelli doing their program. Even though the camera she was using was a primitive one and the show was held indoors, it was apparent that she had the talent and timing to take great pictures. The next year she got a new Nikon D-70 digital camera and the quality of her pictures improved. Soon all of Jim’s clients were asking Arielle to take pictures of their horses. It is Arielle's knowledge of horses and their movements coupled with her great timing that allows Arielle to capture images the "regular" photographers do not. Arielle is using the money she makes from her photographs to pay for her mare.

This year Arielle competed in the USDF photography contest and won first place Posed 15 & Under Division. The winning photo is shown here. She also placed second in the Candid 15 and Under Division.