When Sarah Kuzca looks at her horse, Phil, she doesn’t just see a pretty horse but a regional champion.

Kuzca, a junior, is one of the few students who participate in horseback riding. Her shows are in the summer, and she competes in the National Horse Show in October. For nine years now, she has strived to be the best.

Sarah and her show horse, Phil are both regional champions. They have a special bond noticeable to everyone.

“When I walk into the barn and if he hears my voice, he knows,” she said. “He acts differently around me, like if my mom is there she knows when I get there because of the way he perks up.”

Aside from Kuzca being a regional champion, she is also a reserve grand national champion, and has placed top 10 in the world. Being ranked so high would mean a lot of pressure in shows, but Sarah seems to handle it well.

“Yeah there is a lot of pressure. especially when you’re getting ready and in the warm up with all those girls and you have your game face on,” she said. “People start to know your name.”

Fortunately, most of her competitions are in the northeast United States, and she only has to go against them once a year in the National Horse Show. Kuzca shows with her best friend, Sarah Pruetz, who does not go to LHS. Which one would think might be a problem, but both say they enjoy the friendly competition rather than take it as a rivalry.

“Showing with each other hasn’t really affected that [friendship]. We just have fun showing our horses and hope for the best for each other, and if we aren’t showing together we are always cheering each other on,” Pruetz said.

The two friends met through their parents who used to be horseback riders as well. Their parents passed down the torch and made it a tradition for both girls. Preutz said Kuzca is a tough competitor while also being supportive.

“Sarah is also an excellent rider,” she said. “She has had some tough horses, and she has done a really good job with them. She doesn’t just sit there and look pretty. She rides.”