Madie's ride with Team USA, South Africa

Hi, my name is Madison Hoffmeyer and I am an equestrian in the discipline of Saddle Seat Equitation. I am a Senior this year at Linden High School, Linden, MI. I have been involved in Cross Country in previous years but shifted my focus solely to academics, onon-competitive dance and English Saddle Seat riding. Upon completion of High School, my dream is to continue my education at the University of Kentucky in, the fall of 24' with a focus on Occupational Therapy, working with both humans and equines.

I have been riding Morgan Horses for 8 years. I started in a different discipline but quickly moved to Saddle Seat within months of starting lessons. The beauty, elegance and focus drew my attention quickly toward the Saddle Seat Discipline. I train weekly, traveling 4 hours, each way, to & from Ohio where my trainer/instructor/horse all reside. I have anywhere from 4-6, lessons during the 1.5 days we are there. Each lesson takes 30-45 minutes. I also ride at another barn in Davison, riding SaddleBreds, mid-week when I am unable to travel to OH during any given week; or when I feel additional lessons/training are needed to give me a boost. It is incredibly important to continually train & receive new advice at each lesson. My most recent success in riding was winning the 17 & under Saddle Seat Equitation Championship class while competing at the New England Regional Morgan Horse Show in North Hampton, MA in July. For two consecutive years, I was chosen as the Grand Champion by a 3-judge panel, as well as the recipient of the Neil F. Woodworth Memorial Challenge Trophy. It is such an honor to carry this title and receive such a special trophy. Over the last few years, I have held multiple Regional Championship titles (Southern States, Morgan Gold Cup & NEMHS), champion of the AMHA Silver Medal (Indiana Spring Classic), voted for People's Choice awards 3 years running; as well as Reserve Grand National titles and a World Championship title at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse show held in Oklahoma.

A dream of mine, as a rider, has always been to apply for the United States Saddle Seat International team. I've dreamt of being on the team as soon as I found out about this amazing group of talented equitation riders. Riders are required to submit an application, which includes written responses as well as a riding video. All of the submitted requirements are reviewed and riders are then chosen by a multi-person panel. The video is comprised of several different pieces of competitions, which display my riding abilities and accomplishments. In January of 2023, I received notification that I was chosen to be a part of the 3-gaited Stripes Team. The U.S. Saddle Seat Association was responsible for the International Competition, held at the end of June 2023, in New Orleans LA @ Cascade Stables. Team Stripes worked together, each rider taking their turns competing for a compiled overall team score. During the Medal Ceremony, we learned that our team had won Gold!!! We were all so excited and proud of what we had accomplished as a team! Shortly after we returned from an incredibly exciting week of training, team building and competition with the U.S. and Canada, the United States Saddle Seat team was invited to compete at the international level again, with the competition being held in Parys, South Africa, this December. Multiple countries are expected to participate in the Invitational, making this an incredible opportunity for each rider chosen. It is an honor and privilege to compete internationally for Team U.S.A.

This is where I need your help in getting there. Approximately 18 riders, out of hundreds of applicants are chosen, so this is a rare lifetime opportunity to be chosen to compete at this level, internationally. We do not have high-level sponsorships to pay for each rider, or for the event. We rely on charitable contributions, fund-raising and personal finances. I am also doing personal fundraising as well as odd jobs I can pick up (dog walking, house sitting, and applying for a part-time job). My parents are also working extremely hard to help me attend this amazing competition.

I hope to make my family and community proud by attending this competition and competing but need your support to help make my dreams a reality. Any amount you can give will help me reach my goal so I am able to attend this incredible competition. Any funds that exceed my original amount will be donated to other riders hoping to someday do as I am with the United States Saddle Seat Association. This will apply to the costs associated with International Travel and competitions for this special team of current and future riders.

Thank you in advance for your consideration in helping me reach my financial goal so that I can travel to South Africa for this amazing competition. Thank you for considering donating and helping make my dreams, of competing at such a high level, a reality. Being a part of the team, the competition and the bonds we'll make as a team, I will cherish for a lifetime. It truly is a special, incredible and unique opportunity to experience.

The funds will be used for travel to and from my hometown to Johannesburg, SA; food while there; lodging and basic competition necessities of my participation in this event. I am so grateful, and appreciative, of your consideration of donating to this fund and I thank you in advance for any amount you can give. Being a part of this team, consisting of some of the best equitation riders in the industry means so much to me and I am honored to be a part of something so big!

**What is Saddle Seat Equitation?

Saddle seat is a style of English riding that differs considerably from other styles such as hunt seat and dressage. To the casual observer, the rider sits well back in the saddle, carrying his or her hands higher than in other disciplines. Riders in equitation classes are penalized for leaning forward to any significant degree. However, like any other riding discipline, the position of the rider reflects the desired position of the horse. The rider must make the riding look effortless, and stay still and well-formed on the horse, sitting upright, with shoulders back and posting that is graceful and quiet. In the saddle seat, high-stepping gaits are required of the horses shown, and the rider's position, behind the center of balance of the animal, allows the riding aids to be used to encourage front leg action in the horse.

SaddleSeat Equitation is a thing of beauty.