Wilhelmina and Mary Elizabeth Horzepa of Millstone continue to add to honors.
By: Ken Weingartner
When it comes to competing, the Horzepa sisters of Millstone Township are making names for themselves.
But sometimes that doesn’t seem to be much motivation.
"I like riding at home," said Mary Elizabeth, 8. "You don’t have to wait all day to go to a class. You don’t get to ride as much at a show. At home, you can just ride them. And they’re fun."
Mary Elizabeth and her sister, 10-year-old Wilhelmina, have been turning heads at equine events across the state.
Last month, Wilhelmina won the state 4-H horse show championship. "Willie" won five divisions and was second in four others. She picked up 17 ribbons overall. In many cases, she was competing against riders up to age 18.
"I think this show was the best," Willie said. "I just didn’t like getting up early at the state show. We had to be up at 5:30. That was three days in a row. But when I got there, it was fun. And the ponies were good."
Mary Elizabeth, who was too young to compete, had a different view.
"I didn’t think it was fun," she said. "I had to help all day."
Willie and Mary Elizabeth take care of their own ponies, and do the majority of the training of the horses. The family has an ever-growing equine facility, which includes a stable and show ring, on its 32-acre farm in Perrineville. In the tack room is a small showcase for trophies and ribbons, constructed several years ago "just in case."
The trophy display area was designed by the girls’ mother, Mary Lou, who also creates the youngsters’ riding outfits.
Of course, the trophies and ribbons accumulated by the girls over the years could almost literally fill up a house full of showcases. In addition to the state 4-H show, Willie and Mary Elizabeth recently earned honors at the Monmouth and Ocean county fairs.
The girls also were part of a team that won the United States Pony Club New Jersey Region Know-Down Championship, attended by approximately 200 competitors. Know-Down is an academic competition testing all aspects of a participant’s equine knowledge.
In addition, the girls who are home-schooled volunteer one day a week with the Handicapped High Riders program in Upper Freehold.
Willie, who started by taking lessons with Jane Iremonger, and Mary Elizabeth both started riding at 3.
"It’s cool," Mary Elizabeth said. "It’s not like riding a bike. You have to steer it; if you want it to jump, you have to ask it. And it’s a living thing, not like a bike."
Willie wants to be a trainer when she gets older. Many of her ponies were not wanted by other riders because of perceived attitude problems, but Willie has a strong rapport with each one.
"She gets these ponies for next to nothing, trains them, and goes out and beats those other ponies," Mr. Horzepa said with a laugh. "It freaks people out. Not only are they good riders, they know their stuff. We like for them to do their own training and care. It gives them a sense of independence and self-esteem."
In addition to training, Willie would like to compete at the Grand Prix level in the future.
"I need a horse, but that’s what I want to do," she said.
At the state championship show, Willie won on three different ponies. She won the English Division, Hunter Hack Pony, with Bundle of Hope; the Games Division, Barrel Race-Pony, with Sweet Curiosity; the Games Division, Pole Bending-Pony, with Blackie; Games Division, Bow Tie Race-Pony, with Blackie and Games Division, Keyhole-Pony, with Sweet Curiosity.
She placed second in English Division, Handy Working Hunter Pony; plus barrel racing, pole bending and bow tie racing.
"They can go as far as they want to go," Mr. Horzepa said. "It’s like a gift when you know at age 6 or 7 what you want to do with the rest of your life. That may change, but if we have the resources and they have the God-given talent, why not develop it?"

