Student earns honors for riding

In some ways, junior Samantha Roper is just like any other 20-year-old college student. She attends class, joins student organizations and dreams of a future in business. But, while most are still sleeping or relaxing after a hard day on campus, Roper heads to Rocky River Farms twice a day to pursue her hobby; horseback riding.\nCalling her equestrian passion a hobby is a drastic understatement. Though Roper insists school work, and later her career, will always come first, she has taken her "hobby" to the next level.\nHer classmates might never know they are sitting next to a world champion.\n"I've been first or second at the world show three times in my career and have been national champion nine times," Roper said without the slightest hint of bragging. \nThough barely in her 20s, Roper's list of accomplishments reads like a veteran of the sport.\nShe is an eight time Congress Champion, which according to its Web site is the World's Largest Single-Breed Horse Show. She was a member of the World Cup Team in 1998 and won a gold medal in showmanship in Italy. She was the American Quarter Horse Youth Association world champion in 'Hunter Under Saddle' style riding in 2003, and two-time reserve world champion.\n"I've had success in my younger years, but I always have the ambition to keep improving myself," Roper said. "What I enjoy about showing horses is that every time you go into the arena, technically you're competing against yourself."\nRoper said one of the most challenging things about her passion for riding horses is the fact that many don't recognize what she does as a true sport.\n"It's hard for them to understand the level at which people like myself compete at," she said.\nRoper's boyfriend, junior Kevin MacCauley, said he was stunned when he realized how hard it is to ride.\n"Some people think this is easy," he said. "When you get on it's extremely difficult."\nMacCauley attended his first show earlier this year, and admitted he was not a horse person before meeting Roper. After seeing her compete once, he said it was obvious how good she is.\n"It's truly breathtaking to watch the natural-born talent Samantha has with horses," he said. "When you see her ride, you know she's exceptional. When you see her compete, you know she's the best in the nation." \nRoper said working with animals always adds a challenging and unique element to her sport.\n"Animals are unpredictable at times," she said. "That is part of the fun for me. I never know what is going to happen and just prepare as best I can and hope for the best."\nAlthough some people spend their lives showing horses full time, Roper plans to follow in her parents' footsteps.\n"I enjoy is so much, but if I had to do it as my every day life I don't think I would enjoy it as much," she said. "It's always been a hobby for my family. My parents are business people and I've never really thought twice about it"