Ariat International, Inc., the leading manufacturer of performance equestrian footwear and apparel, is proud to announce the following winners of its recent “Why I Ride Promotion” contest:

* GRAND PRIZE: Alison Bailey for “Celebrating Life”

* SECOND PRIZE: Terri Brown for “Bobbie 10”

* THIRD PRIZE: Jennifer Bigger for “Touching the Moon”

The grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to this fall’s 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. This includes airfare for the winner and a guest, three days and two nights hotel stay, event tickets of their choice, $500 cash and $1,000 in Ariat product. Second prize gets $1,000 in Ariat product, and third prize will receive $500 in Ariat product.

Ariat ran the contest April 15 through May 16, encouraging riders of all levels and disciplines to submit a story about their passion for riding, horses and the great outdoors. From there, a panel of judges, plus the popular vote, determined the winning entries, which can be read at www.ariat.com/WhyIRide.

"Not only do we want to congratulate the winners of Ariat’s “Why I Ride” WEG contest, but we also want to thank everyone for their participation," said Susan Alcala, Ariat’s vice president of marketing. "After carefully reviewing submissions and tallying Web votes, we were impressed to see such passion for the equestrian way of life. This commitment motivates and inspires us to continue to develop the world’s best products for riders around the world!”

Ariat is the Official Apparel and Footwear Sponsor of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years. This year’s Games mark the first time the event has been held in the United States, and it will be broadcast to more than 500 million worldwide television viewers. More than 60 countries will be represented in events throughout the Games.



Entries:

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Celebrating Life

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Celebrating Life

Why do I ride? I ride to prove the power of love over loss and triumph over tragedy. My husband, Mike, bought his 1st horse when he was 46 years old. I was competing in endurance riding and he wanted to join me in the sport that I had grown to love. He had never ridden before but he took it on with enthusiasm and a strong drive to succeed. And his new horse was only green broke. 4 1/2 years later they won the American Endurance Ride Conference National 50-mile Heavyweight Championship and earned the prestigious Best Condition Award!

Tragically, 11 days later Mike died in his sleep. What followed for our 6-year-old son and I was complete despair. The horse also fell into an obvious depression. Somehow this horse knew that his partner was gone. After some soul-searching, I thought that riding him might provide healing for both of us and for my son too. I decided to compete with Mike’s horse. 3 weeks after Mike passed away, I won the final race of the season riding the horse that he loved so much.

Unintentionally, I had started a bucket list for Mike. In 2007, I set out to accomplish his goal of competing in a 100 mile ride with his horse. That year, I finished 3- 100-mile races, with 2 top-ten finishes. In 2008, I returned to the National Championship to ride the 100-mile distance. We finished in 4th place out of 45 starts. There was only 1 big item left on the list—the Tevis Cup.

The Tevis is the oldest endurance race in the U.S. and considered to be the toughest course in the country. This ride runs over the Sierras from Nevada to California. I had to ask a friend to ride for me due to my fear of heights. I knew that she and our horse were capable of a lot in this infamous ride, but the outcome was better than expected. On August 1, 2009, this team earned the first win ever by a Southeastern horse in the 54-year history of the ride. We were sure that Mike was there with us that day. And so I ride. I ride to celebrate life.

SECOND PRIZE WINNER: Bobbie 10

SECOND PRIZE WINNER: Bobbie 10

Hi my name is Bobbie, I am 10. I love riding my POA. She is my best friend. We run at a lot of barrel races and junior rodeos. She runs in the 2d all the time and 21 in poles. I love pole bending it makes me feel like I am dancing with her.

Classie tied up in January and spent 9 days in the vet. She has PSSM. She can’t have sugars and starches. When she came home from the vet, it was sad because she looked like we had starved her. All her muscle tone was gone. The vet checked her kidneys the other day and said I still can’t ride her that they are damaged. This is so hard for me to watch my best friend go through this I love her so much. She is on a special diet I have to feed her every day. I tell her all the time she is great and she will get better. I am trying to get with two other horses to compete on. It’s not easy. I keep my head up though and keep doing my best. I get good grades in school. When I grow up I will be a vet. All I want to do is help horses like Classie get better. I help my little sister Jeslyn learn to ride—she is six. When I see her smile when she does a good job, I know that horses were put here as a gift to us.

Classie has taught me so much. She has made me a better person. I've learned to be humble. She makes me work for what I get. She is not a push button horse but she loves her job. I know she and I will be a good team again one day she is very strong. She loves me as much as I love her. Sometimes I think she gets mad when I load up the other horses and head out. She runs the fence line to let me know she is mad she can’t go. I think the bond you have with your horses is a life-long bond. If you take care of them they will take good care of you.

THIRD PRIZE WINNER: Touching the Moon

THIRD PRIZE WINNER: Touching the Moon

I watch my daughter trudge through the mud to the pasture below. She places her feet carefully, halter slung over her shoulder, mind focused on today. Mist rises, obscuring my view as the gate creaks slowly open. The anticipatory nicker is met with a treat from a bulging pocket, the standard hello to her very best friend. The thought of the soft, warm muzzle on her hand takes me back to my childhood - to days spent lounging in the sun, the scent of grass in the air, my cheek resting softly against a warm, furry shoulder. For a moment- she is me.

The gate closes with a bang, and I am back in the present. The chill air reminds me that it is early. It is too early even for the birds, but my daughter is awake. She greeted the morning with a smile, ready to go. Today is show day. Groomed and sparkling, she enters the ring. She looks back to her trainer for a show of support. Her hero - her mentor - smiles, with a thumbs-up. She is ready to go. Eyes focused, she moves as a team with her treasured ally, the hours of work culminating in this precious moment. Gathering herself, she releases, and they soar—love, hope and grace in a blazer and boots. I hold my breath, perching on the precipice between pride and terror. Hoofs pound back to the gate. She is smiling.

Later, we watch the elite riders compete. No more ponies - these horses were born to the ring. Eyes wide, she watches as hoofs pound past - riders focused, with serious intent. Muscles flexing, they spring toward the sky. I see the look in my daughter’s eyes. This is her destiny. She is the rider, defying gravity, touching the moon. There is no limit to how far she can go. She thinks to herself, someday.

The rider finishes her circuit, turns and looks back, eyes resting for a moment on this slight, 10 year old girl with dirt on her face. Her eyes soften in recognition. At that moment, she is back in the pasture, a carrot in her pocket, and a pony at the gate. She thinks to herself—she is me.

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