A great day of riding for Christine (Updated with video)

Christine had a very successful day at the Watchung Stable Spring Troop Horse Show, winning blue and red ribbons and taking part in a Drill Team performance.

The three-day horse show features dozens of judged events in which troop members exhibit their skills riding and controlling horses, which they draw at random from more than 50 school horses at the stable. On Saturday (May 29) Christine was entered in two events for A-level troopers 16 years old and up.

In the first event, riding a horse named Chowder, she won the blue ribbon, which automatically promoted her to AA level. In the second event she won the red ribbon for second place. Those ribbons made her eligible for a "ride-off" Sunday against about ten other 1st and 2nd place A and AA winners; she did not win that trophy but was happy to have made it that far.

Christine has been taking riding lessons at Watchung Stables since she was nine. This spring she was invited to join the troop's Drill Team, which meant a second lesson each week to prepare for the show. The team performed a 15-minute routine of precision riding - quite impressive. Here's a look at the highlights (about 3 1/2 minutes worth):