Sam's equestrian journey

Samuelle W. Leerkamp, a young Midwest-based Hunter Jumper Equestrian, whom through an intensified training schedule during the covid pandemic progressed out of cross poles to .80 meter jumpers from the start of 2021's show season by season's end; 

At age 11, in 2021  Samuelle reached:

- .70m USHJA Children's jumpers division National CHAMPIONS (17yo & under)

- 3 times IHJA State Champion & twice Reserve CHAMPIONS

- IEA High Point Rider, flat for Zones 5 (ZEQ - Zionsville Equestrian Team) 

At age 12, in 2022  Samuelle rode her heart out to become:

- USHJA High Point Scorer for not only Zone 5 BUT all of US Zones's

> Winning her the Golden Backstage Pass to compete at 2022 USHJA Nationals again where they placed: 

TOP 2 in Children's jumper divisions (17yo & under)

- .80m National Reserve CHAMPIONS

- .90m National Reserve CHAMPIONS

- 1st Place .90 jumpers Grand Prix Winners

and was awarded:

- 2022 T.I.P. National Junior Rider CHAMPION for the year!!!

- 4 times IHJA State CHAMPION & twice Reserve CHAMPIONS

- Overall IHJA High Point Jumper CHAMPIONS with Idol of Kings

- Overall Reserve High Point Jumper CHAMPIONS with Be Sorta Bad

At age 13, in 2023  Samuelle & Idol of Kings explored new out of State show grounds and competition...

USHJA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in Las Vegas:

TWICE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in both Children's jumper divisions competed (17yo & under)

- .80m National CHAMPIONS

- .90m National CHAMPIONS

- 1st Place .90 jumpers Grand Prix Winners

- IHJA, twice Reserve State CHAMPIONS, a third and two fourth places State wide

Hi! I'm mom, the "narrator." I grew up in BXL, Belgium and lived in BIG CITIES my whole life (BXL, Amsterdam and San Francisco) before moving to Indianapolis, IN. With English as a third language, the "horse language" is a fourth that I speak at toddler level by now -so I tag my husband in (who grew up playing soccer here in Indiana,) when it comes to helping her figure out the rule book and regulations. I resort to contributing and supporting her in the ways that I know best. Having majored in the arts, I used to build websites to make ends meet and have always loved photography, so documenting her journey is one of those contributions along with chauffeuring, sponsoring, providing horsies with treats, mucking, grooming and being her biggest fan. GO SAM!