Equestrian Clinics

Victoria Birdsall could not be caught through the three rounds of competition.
The 17-year-old from Topsfield, MA, rode Liberty Farm LLC's Baheera
to scores of 96.33 in the first round and 93 in the second round for
a total of 189.33. In the final four round, she and Coronado had an
effortless round to give her the win.

Birdsall said that Coronado reminded her of her own horse at times.
"(Schaefer's) horse was really cute. He reminded me a little bit of
Baheera. When you went to lead him one way or another, he would jump
a little bit harder," she described. "You didn't want to
interfere with him too much. It was nice that I got to pick up on him
a little like my horse."

Victoria Birdsall and Coronado

In her third year riding in the George Morris Excellence in Equitation
Exhibition, Birdsall moved up from second place in last year's class
to the win this year. She trains with Frank Madden, and she felt like
tonight's class gave her a great boost in confidence with Baheera,
who is known as "Romeo" around the barn. Baheera won the Best
Turned Out Horse award, thanks to groom Waldo Domingas. Birdsall was
awarded the WEF Equitation Championship, her family won a Special
Family Award, and her trainer Frank Madden won the top Trainer Award.

Frank Madden and Victoria Birdsall

Birdsall and Baheera have been together for five years, but she has not shown
him at the major equitation finals. "I've had him since he was
eight years old. He was really green when we got him. I've been
training him, and as I was learning, he was learning," Birdsall
said. "It's really been such a partnership that we've had. We
haven't done a ton with him. This is his first big win. I'm so proud
of him; he stepped up to the game. We've never pushed him like this,
and he was awesome. It's a lot more confidence going into the
(equitation) finals with him too. "

Victoria Birdsall and Baheera

"It means a ton for me," Birdsall said of her victory. "I just
started training with Frank and it's been such a confidence builder
with me on Romeo. I've never really done that much with him. (Frank
has) believed in him and he's believed in me with him. It was the
icing on the cake for a great WEF."