When Janique Perrin signed her daughter, Mia, up for riding lessons six years ago, she had no idea what she would be getting into.
Lessons turned into leasing agreements, which turned into local shows. Before the family knew it, it was time for Mia to have a horse of her own.
It’s only their second season competing together, but Mia and Lotta have been making their mark on dressage rings around the province.
The 13-year-old rider claimed top honours aboard her six-year old Hanoverian mare in the First Level division at the Canadian Eastern Regional Dressage Championships at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington, Ont. The duo competed against other horses and riders from around the country to claim the prize in “horse ballet.”
Prior to the national competition, Mia won all three of her qualifying shows, as well as the provincial championships.
Since pairing up a year-and-a-half ago, Mia said she has had to take some time to learn more about Lotta.
“Lotta has her tricks,” Mia said with a laugh. “We’ve just gotten to know each other really well.”
Despite being a tad “opinionated” at times, Mia has learned to put Lotta’s strong work ethic to good use.
“Once (Lotta) gets to the show grounds, she knows what she’s there to do,” Perrin said.
The two are best known for putting in “consistent” tests, earning similar scores throughout all moves on all their tests.
Perrin, who admitted to being a lifelong horse-nut, couldn’t be happier with the results she and Lotta earned this summer.
She attributed her success to the support she has received from her parents and the solid coaching given to her by Ashley Czerkas of Arabask Farms in Chelmsford.
Each show Perrin attended lasted at least four days — one day was used to settle in and let the horse become familiar with the show grounds, and the other three were dedicated to competing. Despite the long days, Janique and her husband, Marc, said they enjoyed watching their daughter and her horse perform.
“We are extremely proud of them,” Marc said.
Czerkas, who has been working with Mia and Lotta about five days a week, said there is no telling how far the pair can go at this point. “They are two peas in a pod,” Czerkas said.
“They’re a lovely pair because they’re so similar.”
Czerkas explained that “harmony” is the key component of dressage. It should look effortless — cues sent by the rider to the horse should be invisible.
By constantly making it look easy, Mia and Lotta register top scores.
“That’s really nice in the show ring,” the coach said.
With such a sparkling season behind them, Mia said she’s anxious to move up a level in time for next year.
International competition and the North America Young Riders Championships are both avenues she said she’d like to pursue.
Mia and Lotta aren’t the only pair catching the eyes of judges from Arabask Farm.
Sixteen-year-old Patrick Battison is riding AF Al-Sadi, known around the barn as Adi, to the National Arabian and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Championships is Lexington, KY., at the end of the month.
The team will compete in training and first level dressage, as well as sport horse classes, both under saddle and in hand.
Patrick’s dad John, who rode Adi’s grandfather years ago, said the team is “feeling pretty good” going into the competition.
For more information, visit www.arabaskfarms.com.
- Posted by Laurel Myers
