Monroe teen rider saddling up for her future

Ever since Elsie Naruszewicz first climbed onto the back of a horse, she's had a knack for riding. She tackled the world of competitive horse shows with passion, skill and perseverance, and has a string of championship wins to show for her efforts.

While all her wins are special to her, one of them shines just a little bit brighter than the rest. Last October, the 14-year-old Monroe resident achieved one of the equestrian world's highest honors by earning the prestigious title of Congress Champion. The All American Quarter Horse Congress horse show, held every October in Columbus, Ohio, is the largest single-breed show in the world. Last year's Congress featured competition in 25 different divisions, including Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle and Trail.

Elsie and her horse, Benny, took the championship in the Youth Trail division, a challenging competition in which horse and rider must be perfectly in synch as they navigate an intricate obstacle course. Benny, whose registered name is Made Me Intangible, is a 24-year-old bay gelding given to her by her trainer, Paige Stroud. Elsie has had to work hard to pay her own way, Stroud said.

And she has had to build her skills from the ground up.-á -á

"It's kind of an expensive sport, so it's pretty special because she'd done it on such a limited budget,GÇ¥ Stroud said. "She works really hard and helps out at the barn in trade for some expenses.GÇ¥

And Elsie isn't the only one who has worked hard for the chance to participate in horse shows; her mother, Lara, has supported her every step of the way.

Lara admitted she was nervous when Elsie first expressed an interest in horses. She's a single parent, so the possibility that her daughter might fall in love with a notoriously expensive hobby scared her. But then, about seven years ago, they met Stroud at Cascade Meadows Equestrian Center, a boarding and training facility on Tualco Road.

Stroud helped them overcome financial obstacles by allowing Elsie to work at the barn to cover some of the expenses.

"We were so lucky to find Paige,GÇ¥ Lara said. "We wouldn't be where we are without Paige. I really, truly believe that.GÇ¥

As Elsie began taking riding lessons, the relationship between her and Stroud blossomed, Lara said. Stroud even let her borrow her daughter's riding clothes for her first American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) horse show, and has traveled with Elsie to numerous AQHA shows around the country. Stroud has been able to enhance Elsie's opportunities for competition in ways that Elsie and her mother may not have been able to on their own, Lara said.

"There's been so many ways that Paige has helped,GÇ¥ Lara said. "I don't go to a lot of shows because I have to work to pay for them, and so she'll go with Paige.GÇ¥

Elsie rode two different horses before she moved on to Benny, who was perhaps not the most likely choice for a champion. Benny is 24, which is quite old on the competition circuit, and he had a bit of a difficult reputation at the barn. But Elsie learned exactly how to communicate with Benny, Stroud said, and over the past three years the two have made a remarkable team.

"Benny has gained a lot of respect ' that he deserved ' that he just didn't have because he wasn't with the right kid,GÇ¥ Stroud said. "So now it's fun. Benny gets to go out there and be a little rock star because he has the kid that's communicating with him in a way that he understands.GÇ¥

Stroud has since moved on from Cascade Meadows, opening her own boarding and training facility, Paige Stroud Performance Horses, on Old Owen Road near Sultan. Open since August of 2014, Stroud's place is home to Benny, and has become a second home to Elsie, who earns Benny's room and board by working at the barn. Initially, Elsie was able to lease Benny, but eventually, Stroud signed Benny over to Elsie so that he would be hers.

Elsie has won several competitions in her career so far, but her Congress win was the most significant. Congress is a big deal, Stroud said.

"To us "horse people,' it's kind of like the Olympics, but it's every year,GÇ¥ Stroud said. "There's very few people in Washington that have Congress championships.GÇ¥

During competition, certain divisions are judged on the strength of the horse's performance, while others are judged based on the performance of the rider. The Trail division is a bit of both, because it's all about how horse and rider communicate while on the course, Stroud said. As they navigate the course, also called a "pattern,GÇ¥ horse and rider must seamlessly glide over obstacles and accomplish different tasks, such as walk, stop, trot and lope.

"There's a lot of intricacies, and a lot of timing and communication and finesse,GÇ¥ Stroud said. "It is an event that really kind of highlights the rider's skills, even though it's all judged on how beautiful the horse performs over the obstacles.GÇ¥

Elsie was struck by nerves after arriving at Congress, which can be an intimidating experience because the competition is so fierce. Last year's Congress boasted more than 21,000 horse show entries, including lifelong equestrians riding $100,000 horses.

But when it came time for her Trail performance, everything clicked into place. The ride took about three minutes and seemed flawless, Stroud and Lara said.

"I knew when I was watching that I was seeing something super cool,GÇ¥ Lara said. "I was crying because I just was so excited for her.GÇ¥

Elsie knew she had performed well, but didn't know how well.

"I didn't think it was that good. I was just happy that we got through a pattern,GÇ¥ Elsie said.

Elsie earned the top score, but had to sit through 13 other competitors after she completed the pattern to see if anybody outperformed her. When all was said and done, she was still in the top spot, earning her the coveted title of Congress Champion.

"We worked all year to get her to that show,GÇ¥ Lara said. "I think that makes it even more exciting when she does well, because she has worked hard for it all.GÇ¥

Elsie has a string of wins behind her in addition to Congress, including the 2015 SmartPak AQHA West Level 1 Championships in Las Vegas and the Oregon Summer Classic in Medford. In addition to Trail, Elsie competes in Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Showmanship and Horsemanship.

This year Elsie has her sights set on the August American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Show in Oklahoma City. Stroud said she would love to see Elsie secure a win in the Horsemanship division, which is something that has so far eluded her. And since colleges compete in Horsemanship, a win could help pave her way to college. -á -á

"We're hoping that it will lead to scholarship opportunities for Elsie,GÇ¥ Stroud said. "My daughter's at Georgia right now and it's paying for her education.GÇ¥

Elsie is currently a student at the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe, and hopes to eventually enter the medical field. According to Stroud, there are 22 colleges around the United States that offer both an equestrian program and pre-med. Elsie is leaning toward Baylor University in Texas. She's had the opportunity to visit Texas for the annual AQHA Youth Excellence Seminar, and said she enjoys the area.

"I've been there twice and I really like it,GÇ¥ Elsie said. "For being so flat, it's really green, and I think it's really pretty and I like their weather.GÇ¥

Lara couldn't be happier with her daughter's success, which she attributes to her skill as a rider, along with Stroud's guidance.

"It's like a whole second family for Elsie, which I think really has kept her on the straight and narrow. She gets really good grades, she knows how to work hard, and at the same time she knows her manners,GÇ¥ Lara said. "I attribute that to Paige and her group, because one parent can't do it on their own.GÇ¥