For Dolores High School senior Hannah Truelson, victory at an Arizona horse show last month could not have been sweeter.
As a senior, Truelsen who has been riding her whole life, knew that this just might be her last horse show.
And she walked away with a grand champion ribbon.
"I was so excited," she said, recalling how she felt when the grand champion ribbon was pinned to her horse's bridle at the Carousel Charity Horse Show in Scottsdale, Ariz. March 14 to 17.
"I've worked so hard."
Truelsen, 17, was riding a horse named Flame, a Tennessee Walking horse owned by Dolores trainer Bucky Sparks.
"We did real well," Sparks said.
In addition to Truelsen taking home a regional grand championship, Dolores resident Jasper Breitenbach took home a reserve grand championship and Sparks took home a grand championship.
Truelsen said she enjoys working the Tennessee Walking horses, which were bred in the south for their smooth gaits.
"The don't move like regular horses," Truelsen said.
They are know for their high-stepping, but smooth walks.
Truelsen credits a good ride for her showing.
"You just have to be consistent," she said.
She added that she has been working on consistency with her trainer.
"You never know when the judge is going to look at you, so you have to be consistent," she said.
