BY ABIGAIL WILDER AND CHRISTINE HAMILTON.
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| Sarai Hashash wins Team Israel's first gold medal in hunter under saddle on Saturday, July 1. |
When Sarai Hashash, 18, riding Sneakn Past the Mark was announced as the gold medal winner for the Youth World Cup hunter under saddle on Saturday, the Team Israel cheering section went crazy. As “HaTikvah,” the Israeli national anthem played, the team’s supporters held hands and sang along.
Betty Saroussi, Team Israel member Dan’s mom, was ecstatic.
“To hear the HaTikvah, in this place, it’s wonderful,” Betty said. “We never thought we would hear it.”
With hugs and tears shared all around, Team Israel was proud to take home their first gold medal at the Youth World Cup.
Coach Andy Moorman was moved as well.
“I can’t even talk about it,” Andy said. “They are very much a team, and anything that they get, they try harder, and it gives them confidence that they’ve got a chance.”
Andy said she is glad the team has had the chance to get more show experience through the Youth World Cup.
“I’m really pleased they’re doing as well as they are doing,” Andy said. “They are good riders, but they have to learn how to do it in the pen.”
Andy has been helping Sarai since 2002 when the AQHA Professional Horseman taught a horsemanship clinic in Israel.
Sarai also trains with Ruti and Gili Shadmot in Israel.
Sarai said she didn’t know she was going to win with the 6-year-old bay gelding owned by Leann Smith, but she had a feeling in the lineup.
“She was so excited, but she was afraid that I would jump over the fence at her,” Gili translated for Sarai. “She was very excited to hear the national anthem.”
UNITED KINGDOM TAKES A SILVER
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| Tammy Greaves wins silver for Team United Kindom in Saturday's hunter under saddle. |
Tammy Greaves won the first Youth World Cup medal for Team United Kingdom, taking the silver in hunter under saddle on Saturday, July 1.
“Amazing!” 17-year-old Tammy said afterward. “Wow! I don’t really know what to say. It’s good. Really good!”
Tammy rode Luke Wise, owned by Todd and Marilyn Swick of Houston, Texas. The 2001 brown gelding by Luke At Me and out of Wise Maiden (TB) by Mari’s Book is a AQHA World Championship Show qualifier; he was bred by AQHA Pro Horseman Nancy Sue Ryan.
“He’s a really nice horse,” Tammy said. “He’s got a really nice trot on him. It’s the only class we’re showing him in. [We decided to] show him in the hunter and keep him set on what he knows to do.”
It’s Tammy’s third Youth World Cup to show in: she came to Amarillo in 2002 and was in Australia in 2004. Thus far, her 2006 accomplishments for the team include ninth and fourth placings in reining, a 10th in horsemanship and a sixth in western pleasure.
Tammy’s parents, John and Trisha Greaves, are here to cheer the team on.
An accomplished rider, Tammy has eight horses at home, including two reining horses and a mare in foal. Some are old show horses in retirement, and she “won’t let her mum sell them.” Her favorite classes are reining, showmanship and horsemanship.
We asked what’s the oddest turn of phrase she’s heard while in the States to ride.
“I think I like it when they say to ‘smooch’ to [the horse],” she said. “We just say ‘kiss’ to them.”
