Mountain Grove trail rider wins US championship at US Nationals

Oct 11, 2012

Photo: US National Champion Elaine Steele of Mountain Grove and her winning horse Zena The Warrior Princess

“It definitely took a while to sink in,” said Elaine Steele of Mountain Grove, who took first place in the 70-mile National Championship Competitive Trail Ride that took place in Ashville, North Carolina on September 23 and 24 at the Biltmore Estate. Steele was the sole Canadian competitor. She beat out 20 other riders from the US in the two-day ride and was one of just 12 who completed the 70-mile course. Steele, who has been around horses since she was a youngster and has been trail riding competitively for 17 years, said the win took her by surprise for a number of reasons. “Not only was I the sole Canadian competitor but I rode a horse that I thought was not my 'good' horse,” Elaine said.

Elaine rode Zena, The Warrior Princess, whom she describes as a laid back, adaptable horse that aims to please. Elaine and her husband Rick bred and raised the 14-year-old half pinto/half Arabian themselves and she proved her worth at the competition. Zena competed in the event after Elaine's preferred horse, Chanticleer Shadow, came up lame in an accident a week before the competition. Zena was thought to be the underdog in the competition. “Zena hasn't done a lot of rides, a few here and there and I've only competed on her a couple of times before this,” Elaine said. “She was the only pinto down there, and was smaller than all of the other horses. I suppose that for those reasons everyone just kind of dismissed her. They called her “my little pony”. The little pony not only shocked her competitors but her owner as well. “I really didn't think she could do it and I definitely did not expect it from her. But she is a little horse that has surprised me many times before.”

In trail riding, speed, though important, is not the ultimate goal. Riders need to complete the 70 km ride in a prescribed time and they face elimination if they run either over or under that set time. The judges look for fit horses that have been properly trained and guided by the rider on the trail. The horses are examined by veterinarians every 8-10 miles. The judges assess the horse's gait, pulse rate, eating habits, attitude, and overall health, and points are deducted from riders whose horses are not up to the 70-mile challenge. Elaine, who is still amazed at her win, said that she did not have any expectations going into the ride. “My goal in going down there was just to complete the event so that I could get my belt buckle - but that was all I was hoping for."

She said that at the awards ceremony she was certain that the judges had made a mistake. “It took a while even after the announcement for it to sink in that I won.“

What does it take to be a good trail rider? “You really have to know your horse, and know what speed you are traveling at.”

Elaine mentioned that many of the riders use GPS devices and other specialty gadgets to measure their speed but she uses a wrist watch to keep track of how she is doing. “If you depend on fancy gadgets, which can sometimes not function properly on the trail, you can find yourself in a bit of trouble. Personally I like to rely on my own judgment. That's what works best for me.”

With over 5500 kilometers under her belt, Elaine is well known in the area as a trail rider, and she and her husband Rick organize the Seoul's Corners Competitive Trail and Endurance Ride every year. What's next for Elaine and Zena? “I'm not sure at this point what I will do for next season. Chanticleer has done a lot of hard miles and competitions. And I think that my kids will likely ride Zena more than I will. I have another horse that I am excited about, a horse I named Marlborough Man, a six-year-old mustang that I just started training this year and I am looking forward to seeing how he will do on the trail.” Elaine's next competitive ride will be in April.

As for her most recent success, her husband Rick said it best. “Elaine not only has the ability to talk to her horses, but they seem to understand her.”