The Leelanau County 4-H Senior Horse Bowl team placed fourth among 25 teams competing in the 2007 All American Quarter Horse Congress Competition on Oct. 16 in Columbus, Ohio.

SENIOR 4-H Horse Bowl team members
(from left) include Kaitlin Houdek, Missy Frixen,
Eric Otto (past team member), coach Eleanor
Miller, Theresa Hubbell and Nicole Rubritis.

The team of girls withstood a tough challenge competing against the 2007 national champions in the second round, and were then victorious in the remaining five rounds, which earned them an overall finish of fourth place.

It was first time the team competed at the national level. Graduate team member Eric Otto traveled to Columbus from college in New York to join and cheer on his former teammates to victory.

“They did a superb job,” said team coach Eleanor Miller. “It was overwhelming and nerve-wracking, but they made it to the end and we’re proud of them.”

Miller, a Cedar-area resident, has been the 4-H horse club leader for 30 years and has coached 4-H Horse Bowl teams for more than 20 years. She has been credited with spending countless hours practicing with the Horse Bowl teams, providing riding lessons, traveling to clinics, and trailering horses to shows for her members.

“She gives so much of her time to her 4-H members, and she’s superb,” said 4-H mother Madeline Houdek, who along with Barbara Hubbell accompanied the team to the national competition.