Ladner dressage rider Monica Houweling won a pair of siliver medals at the 2012 North American Junior & Young Rider Championships held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY.
Representing Canada at the Young Rider level for the very first time at this prestigous event, the 19-year-old was second in the Freestyle competition, aboard Rifradin, a 14-year old Dutch warmblood mare owned by her mother Linda Houweling. She scored 70.825 percent.
A day earlier, Houweling and Rifradin also earned silver in Young Rider individual test, scoring of 71.237 percent.
"She gave me everything," said Houweling of her horse, whom she has only been riding for six months. "I am beyond thrilled with how she performed.
"I came into this with the goal of top three. I knew we were capable of it and that everyone believed I could do it but I really didn't know we could pull it off so well! It still hasn't really sunk in. I'm just beyond thrilled and I feel so blessed to have been given this incredible opportunity!"
She also took the time to thank her chef d'équipe, Leslie Steele, and to her parents for their tremendous support."
Houweling's promising career as one of the country's up-andcoming dressage riders can be followed through her own blog - mhouweling.blogspot.ca
