Invitational never gets old for Engle
Written by admin on April 10, 2010 – 8:35 pm -Invitational never gets old for Engle
She used to clean stables and groom horses in exchange for a pass to the show. Sometimes she would catch a ride in the back of a crammed truck, and once she rode a train because there was no other way to get from Miami to Tampa.
That was almost 40 years ago, when the event she so loved – The American Invitational – was in its infancy and Engle was a teenager learning to ride.
Tonight, Engle will be riding a 10-year-old Swedish warmblood-mare named Hidden Creek Campella at Raymond James Stadium. She will be among about 30 competitors (the field is not completely set), and she will have one of the best shots to win.
Through the years, Engle has competed on every major stage (Olympics, Pan-Am Games, world championships) and has won many titles, including the 1998 American Invitational.
“I know that no fence is too big for (Hidden Creek Campella),” said Engle, 52. “It’s just a matter of how well she will handle jumping in the stadium. This will be a bit of a new experience for her.”
That’s part of the American Invitational’s appeal. Most horse-jumping competitions are not contested in front of such a big crowd, and most don’t have such a strong field or big purse ($200,000, with $60,000 going to the winner).
That’s why Engle clamored all those years ago to get a ticket. And that’s why she is trying to win it again.
Engle is coming off a big victory Sunday in the $50,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, one of the highlight events of the Tampa Equestrian Festival, which runs for almost two weeks at the Florida State Fairgrounds leading up to the Invitational.
Engle, however, did not ride Hidden Creek Campella in the Grand Prixfinale. She rode Indigo, a 10-year-old warmblood gelding who will rest after several weeks of tough competition.
“I did it this way because I wanted (Hidden Creek Campella) to be fresh for (the American Invitational),” Engle said. “I’m excited to get out there with her. I can’t wait.
Tags: Engle, gets, Invitational, never
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