By Paula Scott
Bluffton High School freshman Maddie Seeling has had a very successful summer in equestrian competitions. She went to the Ohio State fair with her horse PJ and came home the 13-15 year-old Ohio State Barrel Champion, as well as finishing 3rd in Keyhole, 8th in Stakes and 8th in Ground Roping.
Seeling also competed at the Allen County Fair where she won all six of the divisions that she entered: age 11-14 barrels, poles, stakes, keyhole, kegs and ground roping. She is possibly the only rider to make this sweep. Winning barrels and poles in her age division qualified her to run the Champion of Champions in these events, where she earned two championships and two belt buckles. Again, never done before.
Other prizes won at the fair? She twice won $100 riding the mechanical bull at the festival.
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This is Seeling’s first year competing with PJ, having participated in 4-H six years. She rides five or six days of the week at A.C.E. Performance Horses.
Saying that she is “Very proud of myself, it took a lot of hard work,” Seeling thanked A.C.E and her parents for their support. Maddie’s older sister started riding first and then she was on a horse as soon as she could sit on one.
The end of the summer and the fair doesn’t mean it’s time for Seeling to slow down. She shows horses a couple of times a month, including a weekly show in Tiffin. She and PJ will be attending the upcoming Quarter Horse Congress.
