Equestrian Hannah Feldman won first place in her age competition at the Arabian Horse Youth Nationals in New Mexico

Feldman is following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Duane Scudder, who has been breeding Arabians for 40 years. By the time she was 6 years old, her grandfather had presented her with her first horse, an Arabian that was bred especially for her. It is not surprising that when Feldman began showing horses, she was riding an Arabian.

Earlier this year, she rode 13-year-old Malieka to a national championship. Feldman took a unanimous first place in her age competition at the Arabian Horse Youth Nationals in Albuquerque, N.M. She was the top choice by all judges in all three categories - pleasure, walk and trot - in the 11-and-under age group. She showed in three other classes and was a top 10 pick in all three.

The Liberty School sixth-grader quietly says there is no secret to her success. "I just practice a lot, three or more days a week," she says. Of course, for her, practice is not really work. "I just like being around horses," she explains.

Her mother, Julie Scudder Feldman, says her daughter does more than just ride. "She has never been afraid of putting in the work," she explains. "She sweeps the aisles and shovels out the manure. She just loves the social thing of being around the barn."

Feldman started her formal lessons at Apple Creek Stables in Sebastopol, and quickly showed natural ability at local play days and school shows.

"She had a good seat on a horse early on. She just seemed to have natural ability," her mother says.

As Feldman moved up to major shows, competition became a family affair with mother; father, Duane Feldman; grandfather and grandmother, Darlene Scudder all helping with encouragement from many aunts and friends.

"It is definitely a family affair," says her mother. "We all come together to support Hannah. It is a great way of bringing us all together. It gives us a chance to be together while Hannah is young.

"It was fun to see my husband, who was never around horses, turn into a great horse-show dad," she adds.

The show competition has allowed the family to make new friends as they travel around the country to various shows. "I've got a lot of friends that I e-mail and text to," the young rider says.

Feldman is being trained by Donna Waggoner, who helps prepare both the rider and horse for competition.

The rider says Malieka pretty much knows what to do. "But I have to tell her sometimes," she explains. "Sometimes she gets lazy and I use a crop or my spurs." The spurs are only there to deliver a subtle message, to let Malieka know what her rider wants.

Although she appears calm and collected to her mother, Feldman admits to being nervous sometimes during big competitions.

"When that happens, I just don't think about the show. I just think about other things," she explains.

Riding and showing her horse doesn't stop Feldman from pursuing other activities, mostly of the outdoor variety.

She loves soccer and playing for her Petaluma Youth Soccer League team, the Crazies.

She also skis, bikes and enjoys pretty much anything that is outdoors.

Her father is a mountain climber, and she recently hiked the difficult Yosemite Falls trail with him.

But, with Feldman, the conversation invariably circles back to horses and horse shows.

Next year she makes a difficult transition up to the 13 and under class where she will be at the bottom of the age group, and also add two other disciplines, cantor and hard gallop, to the three she excelled in this year.

(Contact John Jackson at acsports@arguscourier.com)

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