Sandy, UT (August 18, 2011) – With a combination of a warm smile, encouraging comments, a humble attitude, and a striking amount of horsemanship, eighteen-year-old Kara Wintersteen won over the judges and earned herself the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the Estes Park Arabian Horse Show. She and BB Princess Liyah, a nine-year-old Arabian mare, competed in a variety of classes and whether she missed a class or missed a lead, Wintersteen was never heard to complain, and always gave her horse credit for her winnings. After having to scratch her morning dressage test due to a delay on the trail course, Wintersteen was given the chance to ride the test at the end of the schedule, just before the halter class was scheduled to begin. She rode a beautiful dressage test before high tailing it out of the gate to strip off her tack for just in time for the halter class.
Premier Equestrian, one of the largest suppliers of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, was pleased to name Wintersteen the first Sportsmanship Award recipient as she obviously embodies the key attributes of a good sport. Heidi Zorn, president of Premier Equestrian, congratulated Wintersteen on her wins and on her lovely attitude. “Kara is a fantastic competitor and truly puts her horse and her fellow competitors before herself,” said Zorn. “The show staff here noted how she rode in the Arabian Mounted Native Costume class and then came out and helped one of the other competitors get ready so they could compete. This is the sort of deed we are looking to recognize with the Sportsmanship Award.”
Wintersteen has owned the purebred Arabian mare BB Princess Liyah, also known as Angel, since 2005, and the duo competed in fifteen classes at Estes Park, winning a third of them. But placements aren’t Wintersteen’s first priority. “All I really care about is the ride,” she stated. “If I can come out of a class knowing we did our best, then that’s fine with me. Angel was given to me as a hot, unbroken three-year-old when I was only thirteen. Everything I have done with her has been without the help of a trainer. We do get beaten, but it’s a learning process. A good ride is a good ride, but especially so if it’s an improvement on previous rides.”