By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

It was an exciting run for the Lewellen family during this year’s horse show season, culminating with the Alabama Open Horse Association state competition.

Brooke Lewellen won her first grand champion award for walk trot for ages 13-17 category during the competition.

Brooke said she was “shocked” to win.

“I have been working for a state championship for six years now, so hearing it actually happen was pretty exciting,” Brooke said.

She said the walk trot category focuses on “good rhythm and cadence. You have to walk and trot, and not only be the slowest but have a level head set and, overall, stand out from the other horses.”

In addition to winning grand champion, Brooke placed fifth in young western pleasure and ninth in open walk trot.

In the pleasure category, competitors must walk, trot and lope around each side of the arena.

She said a highlight of the competition was making new friends while working the event and competing.

Anna has been showing ponies for three years. This was her first year showing a horse.

She said this year she enjoyed competing with friends she had made when she trained at a different location.

“Even though I didn’t place, I still had a great time,” Anna said.

Anna competed in walk trot.

“We didn’t place because we were a little fast,” Anna said.

She said the state competition is more challenging because there are more participants.

Youngest sister Kate placed third in the costume lead line competition. She dressed as Jessie and mom Kim dressed as Woody from the Toy Story movies.

“It is kind of like a parade of costumes for the audience,” Kim said. “The judges look not only atthem talking and interacting with the judge but the costume.”

Kim said it was Kate’s first year competing.

Anna said they spent a lot of time this summer preparing for state with coaching from Ronnie Drinkard. She said she had to start over learning to ride now that she was showing horses.

Brooke said they had ridden two to three times a week since January.

“It’s a lot of hard work. They put a lot into it, so anything we get we are excited for,” Kim said.

Brooke said she also “practiced showmanship, so off the horse I would have to memorize patterns and work … my horse to get him doing new things.”

Brooke said her mother Kim had ridden horses when she was younger and introduced her daughters to the sport.

The girls compete in the Mid State Division, which encompasses central Alabama during the competition season.

“We are members of the Central Alabama Horse Club here in Clanton,” Kim said. “They have to show in a minimum of eight shows and they have to be in the top 15, then they can proceed to the state competition.”

The competition is held annually on Labor Day weekend in Montgomery.

She explained that open simply meant any breed of horse could be shown.

The Lewellens show quarter horses.

The family is already planning for next year. Anna is considering adding another event to her competition repertoire.