April 11, 2008
Texas A&M freshmen riders Tara Christiansen (Snohomish, Wash.) and Haley Cooper (Southlake) are reaping the benefits of showing horses outside of the collegiate arena.
Tara Christiansen earned the 2007 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) High Point Award in Working Cow Horse on her horse TC Lena, a 1999 brown gelding. Last year, she ranked among the top 10 at the Ford Youth World show in both reining and working cow horse as well.
Haley Cooper earned high point honors in the Reining Junior Exhibitor category after scoring a national-best 14 points combined in two competitions held in Illinois (Gordyville) and Florida. She did so on Chics Little Jewel, also known as Cooper, who is now a member of the A&M equestrian team?â„¢s herd. By finishing first in the division, Haley Cooper qualified for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Reining National Championship in Lexington, Ky., as well as its?â„¢ affiliate finals.
?We are very excited for both Tara and Haley,? A&M head coach Tana Rawson said. ?They both worked hard showing their horses and it paid off. These are big accomplishments and we are very proud of them!?