Mill Creek Student Takes Ninth in National Equestrian Competition

While most kids her age spend their free time playing videogames or attending sleepovers, sixth grade student Dana Wille spends her time on the course training with her pony, Max.

Dana, 12, a student at in Dexter is turning heads in the equestrian world. Dana finished in ninth place at the USEF's Pennsylvania Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. Oct. 16 and is one of Michigan's youngest equestrians to place in the top 10 nationally in the 14 and under pony class.

Dana, who has been riding since the age of 5 and competing for the past several years, said attending the competition was "a dream come true."

"It was an amazing experience to make it to nationals," she said. "This was my first year, but I hope to make it back next year."

In order to qualify, riders must compete in as many shows as possible throughout the year and submit their 15 best scores to the USEF.

"Everything is based on points, so the more championships you win, the better your chances are of making it to the finals," she said.

Dana competed in 26 shows this year, with 11 championships and five reserve championship titles. She was named Champion Pony Hunter for the Ohio Professional Horseman's Association (OPHA), received the OPHA Pony Medal and United States Equestrian Federation's Medium Pony Hunter Champion for Zone 5 (Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio) and is 10th in the country for the Medium Pony Hunter division, with more than 420 competitors.

Investing in a dream

When it comes to her success both on the course and in the classroom, Dana credits her parents, Robert and Rhonda Wille, a long with her personal trainers, Scott Alder and Heidi DeAngelo.

"They are very supportive and they want to see me succeed," she said.

Rhonda Wille admits that her daughter's championships are a point of pride for the family — none of which are horse riders themselves.

"It takes a great deal of dedication to achieve what she did this year and we're thrilled to be a part of it," Wille said."When I see her out there smiling and hugging her horse, it just makes me cry."

The family owns a small farm between Chelsea and Dexter equiped with a training area for Dana and her pony.

For her part, Dana said she trains five to six days out of the week for two hours a day, which can be tough when it comes to balancing school work and a social life.

"It's a big investment of time and money for the whole family," Rhonda said. "When she's not practicing, we're traveling around the country competing, so she misses a lot of opportunities other kids have."

However, that doesn't bother Dana.

"I have my school friends and my equestrian friends," she said. "Equestrian kids are a different breed, and I only get to see them when I'm competing."

Her biggest friend and fan, is her pony, though, she said.

"I love the feeling I get when I'm with my pony," Dana said. "It's hard to explain, but horses are amazing animals and they are just like a part of the family. We have a partnership and connect on a different level."

Alder, a second generation horseman who trains youth across the country, said he is especially pleased with Dana's dedication to the sport.

"She's very dedicated and you can see that with the way the pony interacts with her," Alder said. "Alot of kids don't understand that a lot of dedication goes into caring for the animal. The ones who get bored with it, don't do well in competition. But the ones who have a spirit to succeed, the horse senses that and really tries for them."

In the future, Dana said she would like to tryout for the Dexter High School equestrian team and one day compete in the FEI World Equestrian Games. But for now, she's content with her pony, setting her sites to next year's season.

"Riding is my entire life," she said. "I don't care how old I am. I'll ride until I can't anymore."