Spring Fling fans Nova Quarter Horses students' passion for riding, competition (2024)

It was fear that led Frankfort’s Ava Markunas to loving horses.

Not her fear — her sister Grace’s.

The 11-year-old sixth grader at Hickory Creek Middle School recalls that seven years ago, she was a guest at Nova Quarter Horses in Mokena and wasn’t prepared to be on top of a horse.

“My sister had a Girl Scout trip here and she was afraid to go on the horse,” Ava said. “I went on the horse, and I fell in love with it.”

Markunas and scores of other horse lovers gathered at the Nova farm May 4 for the Spring Fling Student Horse Show. The event is usually held earlier in the year but circ*mstances put it on the same day the Kentucky Derby was run.

The Spring Fling is a competition to give students a 27-event taste of what happens at horse shows across the country.

Gianna Gamino of Frankfort was the intermediate/advanced high-point rider, and Ella Hughes of Homer Glen was the high-point reserve.

Ben Litko of Tinley Park was the beginner/intermediate high-point rider, and Kate Hughes of Homer Glen and Adriana of Frankfort tied for the reserve honor.

Winona Pender of Chicago Heights was the beginner high-point winner and Emerson Berdelle of New Lenox and Eliana Hooper of Chicago tied for reserve.

In the two student horse shows a year at the Mokena facility, owner Lorri Ebeling makes sure competitors know it takes much more than riding skills to win.

“When you show a horse, it is all on the rider and how they present that horse,” she said. “The English category is very uniform, and it’s been that way through many centuries.

“I tell the kids that it’s like they are on stage. They need to be out there acting. They need to know that if they are not having a good ride to fake it. Keep that chin up. I think it added more confidence to the riders. And it’s a prettier look.”

Plainfield’s Veronica Alli, an eighth grader, has become a mainstay at the farm the last six years .

“It’s definitely therapeutic being around animals all the time,” she said. “It’s a great program and a great group of people. I have a lot of friends here. Just overall, I think this helps manage my communication skills and it keeps me in touch with a larger variety of people.”

Added Markunas: “It’s a great community, and everyone is like family.”

Micah Greco, who said he lives in both Tinley Park and Mokena, has been riding for four years. The 11-year-old Bannes Elementary School student is also hooked on horses.

“My mom used to jump and ride horses a lot,” he said. “It was so cool to see all of the pictures she had. I just wanted to try it.

“I fell in love with hanging around all of the horses and how calming it can be. It’s fun to be around the horses, and it’s fun to ride.”

He admits he was nervous on his first ride, at 7.

“I didn’t know what to do but after that, I just fell in love with riding horses, and I just want to do it for the rest of my life.”

Elwood’s Kohlie Mancke has been riding for seven years. And she is not even 10 yet. She started at age 2.

“She had no fear,” said her mom, Kelly Mancke.

Samantha Ebeling, Lorri’s daughter, helps run the place.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” the Lincoln-Way East grad said of the horses and training that are in her blood. “It’s been my life since Day 1.

“I love how it shaped me as a person. My work ethic and determination and all aspects of life are actuated to the horses.”