Anello and her horses rack up the ribbons

Cortnee Anello of Columbia Falls had an impressive showing at the Northwest Montana Fair this year.

Over the course of two days, the 15-year-old walked away with Grand Champion showmanship, Reserve Champion showmanship, and 20 blue ribbons in 10 events: bareback, western equitation, western horsemanship, English equitation, English horsemanship, reining, hunter hack, trail, poles and barrels, and showmanship.

Anello has been riding horses for 10 years now. She first got into it because her family rode, she said. She joined 4-H to do more competitive riding.

“I like knowing how much I’ve improved, and I like the adrenaline,” she said. “It’s a chance to show off all of your hard work.” Anello’s favorite event is western equitation.

“That’s my best one, I have always done good in that,” she said.

The event is about the horse and rider and presentation.

“It’s basically about how pretty you and your horse look,” she added.

The rider’s posture is important in the event, but so is attitude.

“The horse has to look excited,” Anello said, “but they have to like to show.”

One of Anello’s horses loves it, while the other, not so much.

Truly is Anello’s show horse. Anello also rides Smoothie, who she’s had for six years, for jumping. She also rides her trainer’s horse, Gunner, for jumping. She’s been riding Gunner for three years. Anello has had Truly for two years.

Anello, a sophomore at Columbia Falls High School, spends an hour a day training with Truly, and spends another hour and 45 minutes with Gunner practicing.

When she’s not riding, Anello also runs with the high school cross country team.