Former reining competitor Antonella Bath is fulfilling her childhood dreams.

The stormy weather during the Great American/USDF Region 2 Championships at Lamplight Equestrian Center didn’t help Antonella Bath’s nerves. But when the sun finally came out on Sunday morning, she was able to keep the butterflies at bay, winning the adult amateur third level championship on Pica with 71.39 percent.

“I had some concerns about how my horse would handle [the footing],” said Bath, New Albany, Ohio. “There were times in the ride where I felt her miss a step, but she recovered well and went on like nothing happened. It didn’t distract from the ride.”

Pica’s reliability in the ring, Oct. 1-4 in Wayne, Ill., gave Bath a healthy boost of confidence. She also benefited from her support crew, including Jennifer Goldberger, Silke Rembacz, Emilee Hall and Pica’s former owner, Gail Anderson.

“I had supportive and wonderful people around me all weekend,” said Bath. “It was one of the things that helped me get through it. Gail encouraged me to compete at regionals and has been a wonderful support.”

 Pica, a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, has been Bath’s partner for the past two years. They contested the Region 2 championships last year at second level and moved up to third after a successful first season together.

“She’s a great mare, and she’s good minded,” said Bath, 37. “She’s just turned out to be a fantastic partner. I’m having a blast with her. It’s a fulfillment of a childhood dream!”

Since Bath has only been riding dressage for a little more than three years, she’s appreciated having Pica (Picaro—MS Lost-A-Sock), who competed as high as fourth level with her previous owner, teach her the ropes.

“We all have our points we have to work on and improve,” said Bath. “We work to keep her fit and develop the right muscles on a daily basis. She’s a nice mover and has the ability to do the job, but the best part is that she puts up with me as I learn this stuff!”

Reining Patterns To Dressage Letters

While Bath has been passionate about dressage since the moment she saw it as a youth, she got her start riding saddle seat as well as competing in western games such as barrel racing. She eventually started reining and competed nationally for many years.

When she saw dressage for the first time while boarding at a dressage barn, she knew it was the discipline she wanted to pursue. After she earned a PhD in counseling psychology, she and her husband purchased a farm, allowing Bath the opportunity to follow her passion.

“At that point I decided to give it a try, and now I’m definitely hooked,” said Bath with a laugh. “Dressage is about the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on horseback.”

The transition to dressage went smoothly for Bath, who found many similarities between the sports. The daily bending and suppling exercises remained the same, and dressage quickly became natural to her.

“They both have their exhilarating moments, but what I really love about dressage is that on a daily basis there’s so much that keeps my mind occupied,” said Bath. “I love having those rides when everything clicks with the horse. It fulfills everything I want to get out of riding.”

Bath hopes to move up to fourth level with Pica this spring, and between her horses and her family she’s found herself happily busy.

“My husband, Chuck, doesn’t ride, but he’s always been 100 percent supportive of my horse dreams,” said Bath, who shares her passion for horses with her daughters, Anna, 8, and Lilly, 4.

“Anna has an Appaloosa that she rides. She jumps a little and loves to trail ride. That’s her all-time favorite thing,” said Bath with a smile. “Lilly has a little pinto pony. She loves to ride bareback with her arms out.”

Abend And McKinley Take Prix St. Georges Championship

Renee McKinley felt she was having a rather mediocre weekend until she stepped into the ring for the adult amateur Prix St. Georges championship aboard Abend.

“It was wet and cold, and the warm-up ring looked like a big chocolate milkshake,” McKinley, Barrington Hills, Ill., said with a laugh. “He didn’t do anything stellar until [the championship test], then he was a rock star!”

Abend (Alpenstern—Priyatna) and McKinley posted a score of 67.50 percent to win the regional championship and finished the weekend with a smile despite the rain and soupy footing. The pair also won the Lamplight Equestrian Center adult amateur Prix St. Georges championship with 61.97 percent and were second in the Lamplight Equestrian Center adult amateur Intermediaire I championship with 61.97 percent.

“He was rock solid during the test,” she said of her winning ride in the Prix St. Georges. “I finally had him in front of my leg. He kept his frame, and he was light in the bridle. He was also very consistent in his rhythm. It was a big thing to finally get a championship.”

McKinley, 47, has owned the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding since he was 3. She has to be careful about how she warms up the Wisconsin-bred because he’s a really fit horse, but she felt his strengths were highlighted in his test.

“He hates the mud, so that was hard,” she admitted. “He loves flying changes and can do them forever. He can do two tempis on a 20-meter circle like it’s nothing.”

McKinley and “Ben” made their debut together at training level and have progressed steadily with the help of Jessica Jo Tate, Charles de Kunffy and Amanda Johnson, with whom she’s been riding for the past year.

“He likes to take over, and I have to be sure that he knows that I get to decide what we’re doing,” said McKinley.

“He has a strong personality and can get bossy and put his foot down, but perseverance and patience get him to come around. I can’t push or force him into anything.”

McKinley has been a horse lover her entire life but didn’t start riding until she went to college. She took a few equine science classes before starting a career as a court reporter. Now retired and a mother of two, Austin, 17, and Devin, 14, she keeps herself busy with Ben and another young horse.

“We’ve got some piaffe, and we’re working on a little passage,” said McKinley, who hopes to eventually ride at Grand Prix with her long-time partner. “I have my silver and bronze USDF medals, and I would really like to get my gold with the same horse. He’s more of a regular guy, so it’s kind of neat to win against all the fancy ones!”