Up, Up And Away

Jumping quarter horses over fences can be intimidating to some people, but not for Alana Nielander.

The 14-year-old Lake Placid resident, who's been jumping horses for just two years, competed in the Ford American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City late last month.

Nielander, a freshman at Lake Placid High School, competed in the Equitation over Fences, Working Hunter and Hunter Hack events at the World Championship Show, which attracted 2,748 boys and girls ages 18 and under from around the world.

"There were people from Germany and Canada and all over, and it was a lot of fun," said Nielander. "It was very competitive and we were probably one of the smallest horses in the competition, but we still competed really well."

In the Equitation over Fences event, which had 110 riders, including 18-year-olds, Nielander and her 10-year-old horse Romeo performed well, but didn't qualify for the finals.

"Equitation over Fences is my favorite event because it has a lot of turns and we had a good course," Nielander said. "We did well, but only the top 10 moves on, and we didn't get called back."

The Working Hunter competition, which is a memorized course, had 109 riders with only the top 10 advancing to the finals.

"We did pretty good in that, too," Nielander said. "But we didn't make it to the finals."

The final event was the Hunter Hack event, which had two fences and 96 competitors.

"I thought we did really well in the Hunter Hack, but didn't advance," Nielander said. "I'm pleased with our overall performance because my horse was hurt and we still managed to perform well.

"I'm proud of what we did, and competing in the World Championship taught me to just stay strong and do my best."

Nielander, who has been riding horses since she was seven, fell in love with horse jumping the first time she saw it.

"It looked like so much fun," she said. "I loved it the first time I tried it and I love it even more now."

Nielander would like to continue her jumping in college.

"I would like to be on the equestrian team of some university," she said. "A couple of coaches from some colleges congratulated me on my performance and wanted to know if I would be interested in coming to their school when I graduate.

"That's my goal because I would be able to get a college education and keep riding,"

Nielander, who competes in a show once or twice a month around the state, has a great support staff in her parents.

"Jumping is a year-round sport and without my parents, I wouldn't be able to travel and compete," the talented teenager said. "We go all over the state and my parents mean everything to me because they're my biggest supporters and my best fans.

"They're always cheering and encouraging me to do my best."

With a solid home base, a good work ethic and natural ability, Nielander shouldn't have any trouble clearing any hurdles in her path.