Island teen and horse jump to victory at America’s Fair

by Alice E. Gerard
Grand Island Dispatch, September 29, 2006

Victoria Schaber and her horse, Totally in Charge, won two division championships at
America’s Fair in Hamburg this summer. (bottom photo by Ron Schwane Photography)

A Grand Island High School student has overcome obstacles – literally – to win two division championships in horseback riding. In fact, Victoria Schaber and her horse jumped all kinds of hurdles – walls, gates, water jumps and triple-bar fences – to achieve victory at America’s Fair, held last August in Hamburg. “Very exciting,” is how this 10th-grader describes her win.

Schaber had won four of five classes in two categories: the hunter division and the novice children’s hunter division. “We just had really good rounds, and then they placed me first,” she said. In addition to her two championships, Schaber was placed fourth overall in both the children’s and adults’ hunter classic. This is the fourth year in a row that Schaber has won either champion or reserve status at the fair. “Champion” is a first-place finish, and “reserve” is a second-place finish.

English Riding

The hunter category is a type of English riding that was originally based on the style of riding done in the English foxhunt. In the horse show, riders and horses must follow a pre-set course that includes a variety of obstacles that the horses jump. All obstacles contain at least one element that can be knocked over if the horse and rider miscalculate the jump. The goal of the horse and rider is to complete this course in a specified time limit without making any faults. Faults would include such errors as knocking over parts of the obstacles while jumping over it, failing to jump over an obstacle, or exceeding the time limit. Making faults results in a horse and rider team losing points. The team with the best time and the fewest errors wins the class.

Following in Mom’s footsteps

In addition to competing at America’s Fair, Schaber also competed in horse shows in Syracuse and Elmira this summer. She said that she and her horse, Totally In Charge, did well in the shows. “There were a lot of people in our class. It was hard, but we still did well,” she said.

Schaber has been riding since she was 11 years old. She said that horseback riding was something that she has “always wanted to do.”

“My mother (Jayne Schaber) used to ride. I always wanted to follow my mom’s footsteps. She was a really good rider. I wanted to show and she wanted me to show,” the young woman said.

Schaber has been the owner of Totally In Charge for two years. She said that she has a good relationship with her horse, who is 12 years old. She described Totally In Charge as “very willing to do whatever you ask. She is a very easy horse and is loveable and a good guy.” When Schaber is on Totally In Charge, she said that she feels totally in charge.

And when she is not practicing in Ransomville or entering horse shows, she enjoys “hanging out with friends.” She said that she likes school and that she enjoys all of her classes.

Schaber trains with Lindsay Cornell at Hunter Ridge Stable in Ransomville. She said that activity “kind of slows down during the winter, but there are some shows in the winter. It’s usually big in the summer.”

And what’s ahead for this championship duo? Schaber said she intends to continue to enter horse shows with her good friend, Totally In Charge. Riding her horse “feels relaxing,” she said. “I just feel joy. When I jump, it’s fun.”