“We like being with our horses more than anything else in the world. The love them and enjoy riding and taking care of them,” said Maddy Sells, a fourth grader who attends the same school as her sister.

“The girls love their horses and the opportunity to compete. They want to be out riding all the time,” said their mother, Donna Sells.

The two are true champions and have a wall full of awards to prove it.

Malloy Sells has been in the National Top Ten at Youth Nationals three years in a row for Country English Pleasure Equitation Age Ten and Under. She was Reserve Champion at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse show last February and Reserve Champion in Region 7 this year. Malloy also has two Top Ten UPHA awards on her horse Forgery DGL. Nicknamed Forge, he is half Arabian, half saddle‑bred, out of Afire Bey V and Forget Me Not. He has won 12 National titles.

Madelyn rides English Pleasure on UltraSonic, her purebred Arabian. She also has multiple National Titles to her name. Maddy won Youth Nationals Age Ten and Under in the Equitation Class for 2006. She was also Region 7 Champion in 2006.

Both girls ride three times a week with their trainer Dede Bisch at Los Cedros Stables in Carefree. “Dede is a wonderful trainer,” said Donna Sells.

With years of experiencew working with children, Bisch has trained many champions over the years.

Sells is serious about her daughters and their horses.

“They are committed to the horses and the sport. They have learned respect and patience from their shows and have gained confidence in themselves through the horses,” she said. “This is the main reason why my husband, Chris, supports them riding. Developing self‑esteem and self image in little girls is crucial.”