Equestrian Professor Ellen Beard and a whole group of our amazing Equestrian students (nice picture of them, eh?) spent much of the week in Kansas City, competing against (and networking with) the professionals who gather once a year for the American Royal equestrian competition.
Every one of our Stephens women did us proud, but one -- Samantha Potter -- took top honors in her class. Here's what the Trib had to say about her achievement:
A Stephens College equestrian snagged a royal award in Kansas City last week.
Samantha Potter, a senior, won the United Professional Horsemen’s Association’s Exceptional Challenge Cup Championship at the American Royal on Thursday. The walk and trot riding competition is open to those with mental or physical handicaps.
Potter, who is from Connecticut, is legally blind. She was born with retinopathy of prematurity that caused blindness in her left eye. Then, in the second grade, she developed a cataract that limited vision in her right eye.
That hasn’t kept her out of the stables, though. Potter took her first trail ride at age 6 and has been hooked since. She began riding lessons in her early teens.
Although horses are known for working well with disabled riders, being visually impaired isn’t without its challenges.
“The biggest challenge is when a lot of people are in the ring, just trying to safely move around when it’s hard to see,” Potter said. “Sometimes you just have to try your best to trust the horse.”
Congratulations, Sam, and Ellen, and everybody else who contributed to what was -- as always -- a splendid Stephens accomplishment!
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