Local horse trainer Jessica Hedges won first place at the Innesville Trainer Challenge from Aug. 19 to 22.

This was her second ever challenge.

“It’s hard for me because I don’t normally work in front of people. It’s good for me to be able to get out and work in front of people and get out there a bit more,” she said.

“I was really nervous, more about the people, I knew the horses fine. Once I get over my nerves, it’ll be good.”

The 21-year-old went up against eight other competitors to train untouched colts to progress as far as possible over four one-hour sessions.

Hedges won the challenge by haltering, breaking, saddling, riding both with saddle and bareback while using her bull whip lariat and pulling a log.

“They mostly just judged on how you dealt with things and how far you took the horse and if it was ready to go that far,” she said.

“It’s a good learning experience, I had a lot of fun doing it.”

She won $1,100 and a belt buckle.

Hedges got her first big horse when she was nine and has been working on her own and others’ horses since. She works on her dad's ranch in Upper Halfway where she helps neighbours at brandings, cattle drives and round ups.

“Over the years I’ve just been going to clinics and working on horses and taking pieces from everybody and making my own way of training,” she said.

“I think it’s pretty cool working on them and you get them through something and it’s such a great feeling when they understand and they improve and get better.”

Her first competition was earlier this summer in Fort St. John, where she placed third and she and her horse had to complete specific tasks like swing a rope and drag a log.

Hedges continues an average of 40 horses in the Fort St. John area.