Francesca Antico, a sophomore at Madison High School, is a dedicated horseback rider who placed first in the state for her division last year. I recently got a chance to pull her away from her busy horseback riding schedule to ask her some questions.
MDO: What competitions have you done and what are your most successful competitions?
FA: My favorite competition is Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. It is an international show where people from all over the world come to compete. In one of the organizations, NJPHA (New Jersey Professional Horseman’s Association), I placed 1st in the state for my division this past year (2013). I got it in Pre Children’s Hunters on a horse that hadn’t been professionally worked in a while and who was mainly used for beginners. I decided to start riding him and nobody thought that we could do it. He was narcoleptic and had a very very bad temper but he’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden. His name is Day Dreamer because he falls asleep a lot.
MDO: What is the farthest you’ve traveled for a competition?
FA: The farthest I have been for competitions is Florida.
MDO: What is the breed of your horse? Have you had more then one? How long have you had your current horse?
FA: I have more than one horse. I have a horse named Cariño for jumpers and a horse, Nardo, for equitation who is currently hurt for 6 months, so I lease another horse for equitation named Eurostar. Cariño and Nardo are Argentinian Warmbloods and I’ve had them since August
MDO: How many times have you fallen off your horse? Have you been injured?
FA: I have fallen off more times than I can count. I’ve been injured many times too. Two years ago I fell of a horse that I used to own named Rye and I twisted the ligaments in my back. One time a nail went into my elbow. Also, a few times I’ve fallen onto the jump and knocked down the poles and pulled muscles and possibly had a few minor concussions.
Many times when I fall its minor injuries.
MDO: What is your best event? What is your favorite event? How would you describe these events?
FA: My best event was when I got 12th in Florida at the Winter Equestrian Festival during my first month of low childrens (3’3”) out of 50 some people.
My favorite event is either the event in Florida or the event I go to in Saugerties, NY called HITS (Horses In the Sun) on the Hudson. They are both amazing, nationally and internationally known shows. They are run amazingly well and have a lot of competition.