Welcome to My Rally Campaign

My name is Samantha (Sam) Rumpel. I am that kid who has tried almost everything (ballet, tap, swimming, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, lacrosse and Tae-kwon-do to name a few), but NOTHING stuck until I got on a horse for the very first time. The minute I was on a horse, I knew that was what I was supposed to be doing. I remember one of my first experiences was riding on an old retired police horse named Tar -- he was this huge beautiful old creature and it felt like I was floating on a cloud when I was riding him. It was magical.

Tar - the retired police horse

P.S. I look a little sad here because I knew this was the last time I would see Tar because we were moving to GA.

I loved Tar.

I am in middle school now and I KNOW that I want to ride on a Western Equestrian Team at a Division I school and I also know that I want to be a Veterinarian. 

Why I'm Raising Funds

Riding and showing horses is super expensive and in order to offset half of the cost associated with my passion, I am raising money for my 2016-2017 horse show season. To follow is a breakdown of the costs and how I will use the money raised:

• 10 horse shows (Georgia Quarter Horse and Horsemans Quarter Horse Sanctioned Events) @ $350/per show = $3,500
• 5-7 Interscholastic Equestrian Associations (IEA ) Horse Shows and hopefully zones and nationals if I qualify. $1,500 (NOTE: $500 will go towards the team fundraising goals to off set coaching costs, horse costs etc.
• 4 Newton County Saddle Club Shows @ $250/per show = $1,000
• Coaching and Training at Shows = $4,500
• Hotels and Travel $2,000
• Tack and Show Clothes $2,500 
• TOTAL=$15,000

For more information about the shows I will be competing in please click on the links below: 

American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) https://aqha.com/

Georgia Quarter Horse Association (GQHA) http://www.gqha.com/

Horsemans Quarter Horse Association (HQHA) http://www.hqha.org

Interscholastic Equestrian Associations (IEA) http://www.rideiea.org/

Newton County Saddle Club (NCSC) http://www.newtoncountysaddleclub.com/

How I Got Here

• I've been riding horses since I was 8 (I'm almost 12 now). In the summer of 2013, I went to a summer camp at Dead Broke farm in North Carolina for a week where the owners rescue "DEAD BROKE" horses that were abused then give them a great life. They survive by rehabilitating the horses and turning them into trail horses and by offering summer camps. I mucked stalls, helped groom and take care of the horses and I got to do a few trail rides that week. One of the best weeks of my life.

A rescued horse and me at Dead Broke Farm in the summer of 2013

• That fall, I begged my parents to let me take my very first horse lesson. After my first lesson, I was hooked and I convinced my parents to let me abandon all other sports and take riding lessons. I started taking riding lessons at a few different places in Virginia. 

This is me in the fall of 2013 -- this is my second lesson ever and my parents hadn't committed to the horse "thing" yet so they made me ride in my pink bike helmet, ha ha! I couldn't blame them -- I had so much gear from other sports that didn't work out! =)

• After we moved to GA and when, I turned 10, my parents bought me my very own horse, Cody. Cody has changed my life. I am more confident, not only, because of my ability to make this big beautiful creature perform, but also because of our connection and the successes we have achieved in our short time together. I am very excited about what the future holds for me and I hope you will support me on my horse journey.

MY Riding GOALS for 2016-2017

I ride English and Western right now and I am really excited to get into reigning too. My sweet boy is a great all around youth horse, not so much a reigner, but if he could, I would! I will start to reign on other horses this year. My goals for the upcoming show year are as follows: 

1. Qualify for Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Zones and place 

2. Qualify for IEA Nationals and place

3. Rookie of the Year for Georgia Quarterhorse Association

4. Year End High Point Horsemans Quarterhorse Association (13 and under)

5. Start reigning lessons

6. Be top 5 in horsemanship and trail in Novice Youth and 13 and under in GA

7. Get better EVERY time I ride. 

8. Work hard.

9. Have fun. Have so much fun! 

My Team

• I would like to thank my mom and dad for allowing me to pursue my dreams. I would like to thank Mary Meneely for pointing me in the right direction and getting me connected with Rob Meneely who gave me a great start into the world of showing horses. I would like to thank Jenny and James King of King Show Horses for helping me refine and grow. Thank you to all of my friends and family for your support along my journey and thank you to the new supporters and hopefully, fans. 

Join My Team and Spread the Word!

• Thank you all for your support. Please share this link with anyone who may be interested in supporting a little girl with BIG dreams who is working hard for those dreams to become a reality. ~ Sam Rumpel

PS - My mom is coming up with ideas for fun giveaways (SWAG) for donations over a certain amount. We will update shortly. Thanks again for your support ~xoxo Sam