USDF/ABIC Region 3 Championships

Don't Forget Alabama

Judy Pirtle of Tuskegee, Al. didn't even plan to come to the ABICs this year. She showed her self-trained Gabilan at I-1 and I-2 late in the fall, thinking she was earning qualifying scores for 2003. Not.

Pirtle has notched some good wins in just a few shows, including a competitive 12- horse FEI test of choice warm-up class here (63.7%).

Pirtle has been partnered with Gabilan, now 12, since he was 3. "The minute someone would say they wanted to buy him, he would buck them off," Pirtle recalled. The horse even bucked off clinician Hans Von Blixen. He was destined to belong to Pirtle. She has only showed him seven times: once at fourth level, twice at PSG, and the rest this year. Look for this pair at I-2 and Grand Prix, and look for them to notch more good scores and wins.