BY KATIE MORROW, JUNIOR JOURNALIST
Not only does Danielle Long of Anchorage, Alaska, spend her time showing her 10-year-old gelding Impulsive Who Says, aka “Charlie,” but she also enjoys competitive skiing.
“My dad got me into skiing when I was really young,” Danielle said.
She competes in three different events: slalom, super G and GS. The 14-year-old competes in races throughout the winter skiing season across the United States in the J4 age group for 13- and 14-year-olds and practices during the summer at skiing camps on mountains that have snow year-round. She also competed in the Junior Olympics in 2006 and 2007 after she qualified at the Qualifying Junior Olympics.
The competition at the Junior Olympics is, “really tough,” Danielle said. “I began skiing competitively because I really enjoyed skiing for fun. Sometimes we would even go out and ski in our yard."
“Balancing school and skiing is really hard,” Danielle added, “I am gone a lot and am always having to get caught up.”
Danielle will be showing "Charlie" at the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show in showmanship, western pleasure and horsemanship.
