Congratulations to the World Champion and Teammates

10 horses, 11 days and a Grand Champion, that’s what Partner’s for Progress, NFP's national traveling horse show team did in the month of August at the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) Word Show. The NSBA World Show took place in Tulsa Oklahoma where it has held the World Show for the last 17 years. Over 2,700 horses and over 10,000 entries took part in this years’ World Show. It is one of the largest horse shows in America today.

Wauconda’s very own Partner’s for Progress, NFP (PFP) had 10 horses and 6 riders compete at this show. PFP is a therapeutic equestrian center providing alternative equine therapeutic programs to individuals with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. PFP helped establish the category of competition at the World Show known as EWD, Equestrians with Disabilities.

According to NSBA, competition is open to people with physical or cognitive disabilities that love competing. EWD classes may be held at NSBA approved shows. EWD classes were developed and incorporated into the World show 14 years ago and PFP has been competing in events since the beginning. This competition is just like any other show event, with exhibitors earning awards and recognition. Fourteen years ago, there were about 6 individuals competing in EWD classes. At this past World show there was a total of 55 EWD competitors.

PFP’s team from Wauconda brought home 1 @ 1st Place (World Champion), 3 @ 2nd Places (Reserve World Champion), 4 @ 3rd Place, 2 @ 4th Place, 4 @ 5th Place, 1 @ 6th Place, 3 @ 7th Place, 1 @ 8th Place, and 2 @ 10th Place awards for a total of 14 Top 5 Placings, and 21 Top 10 Placings.

Rhiannon H., from Antioch has been part of the PFP show team for 8 years. Rhiannon walked away from her 55 competitors as the World Champion in the EWD Walk/Trot Western Horsemanship Independent Class riding “Ima Willy Good One” aka Laverne, Reserve World Champion in the EWD Walk/Trot Hunt Seat Equitation Independent Class riding “Im Callin Dibs” aka Patty, and as the recipient of the All Around Equestrian With Disabilities High Point Award.

According to Rhiannon’s mom, “Being a part of the PFP National Traveling Show Team has given Rhiannon so much more than just awards. Her independence, confidence, team building, and social skills grow exponentially after every competition. It is so much more than we could have ever imagined or asked for her.” For Rhiannon, she remains humble and focused on her goals. She says, “Winning a class feels like I passed the test or got 100% on my worksheet. For now, I’ll keep on showing and riding horses and helping others with disabilities.”

PFP has 20 therapeutic horses and serves over 200 riders a week. Diane Helgeland is the Executive director at Partners for Progress, NFP. Diane was an early proponent of creating the EWD classes and was influential in helping them come to fruition. According to Diane "Each EWD rider goes out into the ring on a horse, competes, and does it all in front of hundreds of people. Not many individuals, much less those with different abilities are capable of that. These riders grow in self-esteem and taking direction, but more than that it makes them part of a community and brings them joy.