By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

DAYTON, Ohio — I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!

While standing blocks away from the Montgomery Fairgrounds in Dayton many onlookers heard that cry from Christine Johnson, who was aboard her horse during the Dayton Horse Show.

Johnson, of Germantown, Ohio, was jubilant after the ringmaster announced her as the winner of the Western Country Pleasure class at last week’s show.

Tears flowed from Johnson’s eyes as she gave her mount, Romero Cassanova, some strong love pats to the neck while accepting her blue ribbon.

“For me it’s all about the bling,” Johnson said. “I call it crowing rights.

No one at my stable cares if my horse gets first or sixth at a show, but I still put my ribbons on my stall door. It’s a pride thing.”
Fourteen year-old Danielle Williams of Franklin, Ohio shocked many with her second place finish in the ring that night. At any time of the year you’re likely to catch Danielle on the soccer field or basketball court.

Like many freshmen in high school, Danielle makes sports part of her life.

While team sports are fine for Danielle, competing in horse shows just may be her true passion. Last week, Danielle and her mount, Chance to Dream, finished second in the Three-Gaited Junior class at the Dayton Horse Show.

“I ride three days a week and I’d like to have more horses,” Danielle said. “I’d like to be a horse trainer someday.”
Select soccer is Carrie Mathes’ passion, but on weekends you’ll likely catch this seventh-grader from Springboro, Ohio in the showring as well.

“I had a friend in Girl Scouts and we went riding often, that got me wanting to ride even more,” Carrie said. “After, I decided to take riding lessons.”

Last week this trio and 200 other horse enthusiasts from throughout the country converged in Dayton for an annual horse extravaganza. This show has its usual list of show veterans who put thousands of dollars into this business. But novices or newbies like this trio are leaving their marks in the ring.

“I’m a newbie and I still get nervous,” Johnson said. “You need that nervousness because it helps you focus and makes you take things seriously. I still have fun, though.”

Johnson attends eight horse shows across the Midwest annually, and competing in the prestigious Dayton Horse Show doesn’t frighten her one bit.

“I love the people I compete against, but I want to beat `em,” said Johnson, who has competed in the past five Dayton Horse Shows.

Danielle, who has been riding since she was eight, stables her gelding at Canterbury Farms in Franklin.

“When Danielle was little we went by Canterbury Farms to look at the horses.

That was about six years ago,” said her father, Dan.

The love for horses and the competition had captivated Danielle, who also competes in Columbus and Springfield in Ohio as well as Burlington, Alexandria and Georgetown in Kentucky. This past season she earned Reserve Grand Champion status in a Columbus and a Springfield show.

“She’d go every weekend if she could,” Dan said.

“Carrie is gone just about every night and she loves it,” Carrie’s mother said. “She never complains.”

She works with Topper three nights each week, maybe that’s why she doesn’t come unglued in the show arena when competing against some of the best in the  business.

“Camaraderie is part of it, too,” Johnson added.

“You need to leave horse shows and forget the bad things and remember all the good things.”

And they’re all likely to remember last week’s show in Dayton for a lifetime.