08/11/08 Northwest Olympic rider

Olympic equestrian are the only Olympic sport other than sailing that features men and women competing against each other so tune into today at 3:00 Pacific Standard Time on the OXYGEN network, the Northwest's own Amy Tryon will be riding for team USA in Cross Country. I'm Susan Allen pinch hitting for Jeff Keane who's off working harvest and I will be back after the break with more on how a girl and her horse from modest backgrounds become an Olympic Cinderella story. The Northwest is becoming known for Olympic caliber rider's in fact equestrians from Idaho and Washington are representing our US teams. Today and tomorrow Amy Tryon from Washington and her horse Poggio II will contend for a medal in cross country. Amy's is what the Olympics are supposed to be about, a horse crazy girl from modest means grew up showing in 4-H in Issaquah Washington, dreams of the Olympics and makes it, all because of a tiny ad in the Seattle Times for a retired race and former pack horse. She saw something special in the grey thoroughbred she calls Poggio II and he did in her as well because he trusts her completely to guide him over massive obstacles at a gallop. The $2500 horse is competing against those that sold for six figures or more and at 16, is the oldest horse on our US eventing team. Cross country is the triathlon of horse events requiring guts and stamina The fact that thirty eight year old Amy was Issaquah fire fighter until she retired two years ago to ride full time can't hurt. I'm Susan Allen