Two young Shelby County horse-lovers recently walked and trotted towards making a difference in the lives of Alabama children.

Katie Clark and Madison Waddell competed at the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show in Decatur on Oct. 21.

Proceeds of the show went to Children&8217;s Hospital.

The two girls ride their American Saddlebred horses at James Hale Stables in Columbiana and are trained by Jackie Hale and Ashley Davis Taylor.

Both girls have received numerous awards in the several years they have been showing, usually placing among the top ribbons.

At the charity horse show, Clark, a fourth-grader at Chelsea Intermediate School, placed sixth in the nine to ten-year-olds walk/trot division on her horse Penny, shown as Pure Passion.

Taylor describes Clark as very determined, saying, &8220;She&8217;s becoming an aggressive rider, which is good.&8221; She added, &8220;She used to be shy, but has become more outgoing being around the horses.&8221;

Last year, Waddell placed fifth at the charity show and this year she placed eighth twice in the eight and under walk/trot division, riding her horse Rhythm-N-Blues, who she affectionately calls Jazz.

Waddell, who attends Cornerstone Christian School, began riding lessons at the age of four.

Taylor said of Waddell, &8220;She is a little firecracker. She can hang in there with ten and eleven-year-olds, and she knows her stuff.&8221;