Mainstream media reports that the average child in the United States spends more than 25 hours per week watching TV. Marisa Messina isn’t one of them. Instead, she spent June 21-25 earning top honors at the Deep Run Horse Show in Manakin-Sabot, Va.

Aboard Langfield, she earned the medium pony hunter and grand pony hunter championships and took the small pony hunter reserve championship with Hob Goblin.

Messina, 12, McLean, Va., is a busy pony rider. In addition to her passion for equines, Messina is a serious student, an athlete (avid skier and tennis player) and a jewelry designer. “Yes, it all keeps me out of trouble, I suppose,” she said laughing.

Living an hour from the barn (without traffic) in Upperville, Va., however, she must carefully balance her time.

“My family has always made education a priority,” she said. “I’m often in the car on the way to or from the stable or a horse show doing my homework and school assignments. My Dad rigged flashlights in the back seat for those dark winter days; that way, I don’t miss a beat. Fortunately, I don’t get carsick reading or doing math problems!”

Messina’s favorite subject is language arts, and she had her poem “Partner Dance” published in this year’s Chronicle Junior & Pony issue (May 19).

“My riding has helped me learn to be a good time manager; most of the time, I get all of my schoolwork done before shows,” she said. “As a result, I do pretty well at school, earning top grades in all my classes.”

Messina began designing beaded jewelry last year and currently sells her pieces on consignment at The Artisans in McLean. “All of the proceeds from my jewelry I donate to the Equine Rescue League or other equine organizations,” she said. “It’s a really relaxing activity, and it’s fun. I love to exercise my creative side too.”

Messina’s serious side includes specific competitive goals, which she hopes to achieve this year. With nine championships aboard Langfield, 16, an English Riding Pony, and five with Hob Goblin, 10, a German-bred warmblood she leases from Britta Carlson, Messina’s well on the way to qualifying for the fall indoor shows for the first time.

But for Messina, there’s more to riding than collecting ribbons. She’s serious about her sport, works hard to improve her skills, does Pilates to retain muscle tone, studies sports psychology to keep her mental game at its peak and rides as often as she can.

“She’s been working her way up to the next level this year,” said Pam Freeley, Messina’s trainer of two years. “This is her last year aboard the small ponies, and she’s excited to take Goblin to indoors. Their relationship has really grown the past year. This is her first year in the mediums, as well. And after a very successful winter, Deep Run was the icing on the cake for this year’s progress.”

Freeley said she’s especially pleased with Messina’s growth as an independent and thinking rider. “She now walks in the ring with a plan,” said Freeley. “Marisa tells me the course and how she’s going to ride it. I listen, and we talk about it. She’s coming closer and closer to following that plan to the T.”

Messina also considered Deep Run memorable for her rides aboard Millpond Country Club Dues, a small pony she competed for trainer John West in the green and small pony divisions.

“It was a huge compliment. It’s not often I’m asked to catch-ride,” said Messina. “In the long term, I would like to ride other people’s ponies and horses. We did get ribbons in both divisions, but I was happiest with the progress the pony made.”

Messina and Freeley also praised the officials at Deep Run for the extra efforts they took to ensure that exhibitors enjoyed the show. With free water, carrots and apples at the in-gates, Messina said there was always a relaxed and friendly feeling around the show grounds.

By virtue of Messina’s grand pony championship, Freeley earned the pony trainer’s award and $500. “The professionals really appreciate things like this,” said Freeley, who immediately donated a portion of her award to trainer Danny Robertshaw for his efforts in placing stray dogs and cats left in the aftermath of last year’s hurricanes.

Trainer Jan Simpson had an eventful Thursday during the Deep Run Horse Show. After adopting a new puppy from Robertshaw, she had the misfortune to fall and break her leg. Fortunately for Simpson, Eric Dirks assumed her training duties at Hampden Row, and student Rebecca “Becky” Hall had a new canine friend for the remainder of the show.

“We all pitched in,” said Hall. “Eric took over, and I’m taking care of Jan’s new puppy. On Sunday, she came in her car to watch us and cheer us on.”

And Simpson did have lots to cheer about as Hampden Row’s contingent of horses and ponies collected numerous awards. Redfield Farm’s Napoleon, ridden by Jennifer Old Powell, earned the adult amateur, 18-35, championship and the grand adult amateur championship. Alexandra Shaffer’s Frontier earned the children’s, 14 and under, reserve championship, while Captain Epic and Isabella Pearsall earned the same tricolor in the medium ponies.

In between holding a leash, Hall took the reins of Private Topic and earned the adult amateur, 46 and over, division championship. She and Powell tied for the grand title, but Powell accrued more points over fences. Nevertheless, Hall was thrilled with Hampden Row’s victories and her own one-year anniversary with “Reggie.”

For Hall, it’s been a rewarding time. She searched for a new horse for more than a year but had some particularly frustrating moments. To ease her disappointment, Hall often turned to her friends for support. And some of her most trusted pals, it turned out, frequented the Chronicle’s online bulletin board.

“They really held my hand through horse shopping and other personal trials,” said Hall smiling.

So, after she discovered her perfect match, a flashy chestnut Hanoverian (Glorieux De–Deltara), she named him Private Topic, a spin-off group of her closest Chronicle friends. Hall, also known as her screen name Duffy, has been a frequent contributor on the bulletin board since February of 2000.

“He’s really the quintessential adult amateur horse,” said Hall. “He takes my goofs pretty well and just goes on.”

Hall, Glen Allen, Va., almost missed meeting the gelding because he initially arrived at her barn for another client to try. But when Reggie was deemed too big for the junior rider, Becky’s daughter, Victoria, convinced her mom to try him.

“I was on my way out of town, but I made the time to ride him for 15 to 20 minutes,” said Becky. “I loved him. So I said, ‘Go ahead and get him vetted.’ When I came back, I had a new horse.”

Becky, a financial consultant with Owen & Whitehurst, balances her career with showing twice a month and is a single mother to Scott, 17, and Victoria, 14. She has trained with Simpson for 24 years.

“This is the most I’ve ever shown,” said Becky. “And to be champion in my backyard meant a lot to me. I was also thrilled, at age 49, to place second in the [VHSA Adult] Medal against all of the ‘young-uns.’

Although Hall has owned and leased many wonderful horses, she’s found her true match in Reggie. “I’ve waited a lifetime for this horse. The riding is my sanity. Even if I couldn’t show horses, they would be in my life in some way, shape or fashion,” she said.