Region 5 Winner Alek Tomazin
Alek Tomazin of Hummelstown, Pa., is a 15-year-old sophomore at Lower Dauphin High School this year, and an accomplished hunt seat rider. She shows her Quarter Horse mare mainly in Pennsylvania, but has recently ventured to shows out of state, including the AQHA Regional Experience in Augusta, N.J.

Alek Tomazin Photo courtesy of AQHA

Tell us about your horse.
Mystical Influence is a 7-year-old bay mare. "Misty" stands 16 hands and is built like an English horse. She can be a little bit temperamental, but she's really in tune with me. She depends on me and mirrors my emotions, maybe because she was an orphan foal. I've had her about five years, but at first we just leased her. Then my family gave her to me as a surprise Christmas present. We show mostly in the English classes like hunter under saddle, hunter hack and hunt seat equitation, but we also compete in showmanship, and we're slowly working into trail and horsemanship.

What has been your most memorable moment in the saddle?
My first AQHA show, the Keystone Spring Classic in Pennsylvania. I was showing in the small fry division for kids age 12 and under and competed in showmanship, hunter under saddle, and hunt seat equitation. I ended up champion that weekend and won a big trophy and had a professional photo taken. It was my first championship experience and a big thrill.

Do you ride with a trainer?
I board Misty at Winsome Farm in Grantville, Pa., with Sue Yohn, who helps me on a voluntary basis. Sue's not a trainer, but has been very helpful. She helped me get started jumping, and though we don't have a full course of jumps at our barn, we make it work. Also, I took a few lessons with Jan Reimer at the Regional Experience.

Tell us about your Regional Experience win.
I was the Reserve Champion in the Novice Youth division. Misty and I showed in the working hunter and equitation over fences classes, both of which are full courses of jumps, as well as the hunter hack, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, and showmanship classes. It was my first time jumping full courses at an AQHA show, and I was a little nervous, but we placed fourth in working hunters and sixth in equitation over fences. One of our best results was earning sixth of 33 in showmanship.

Would you recommend the Regional Experience to other show riders? To newcomers? Will you be back next year?
Yes! The atmosphere was great, and staff members were friendly and always willing to help. They helped give me such a positive attitude going into the ring. The awards were wonderful, too, and real incentive to go in and do your best. I won five bags of Nutrena feed for my reserve championship. Activities like an ice cream social for kids, and wine and cheese for the adults, were a great chance to get to know other exhibitors. Newcomers will love it, too, and could learn a lot from the clinics available. It's a great chance to take pointers from professionals about what judges are looking for and improving your show performance.