When they met 10 years ago at a bonfire in the neighborhood, Virginia Owen and Sarah Peter had no idea of the type of bond that would form between the two.

Sarah was new to the area. She and her family had just moved to Greenville, South Carolina from Germany because of her father’s job with BMW.

“We became instant friends,” the two said in unison.

It catches you off guard at first but if you spend any time at all with Virginia and Sarah you get used to it – because it happens all the time.

Sarah is in Raleigh, North Carolina for her annual visit with Virginia’s family, currently attending the Tar Heel Triple Classic AQHA shows and A Little Futurity.

During the four years that her family lived in South Carolina Sarah learned to ride with Virginia. It was during that time that she developed her own love for horses.

“I rode for the first time about six months after moving to the United States,” Sarah said. “The first time I ever rode it was on Virginia’s pony, Jellybean. After that I got to ride Scarlet, a horse Virginia showed several years ago.”

Just then Virginia remembers.

“I showed her in Halter at an open show where horses and mules all showed together,” she laughed. “I got sixth place. Later I showed Scarlet in walk-trot classes.

In 2007 Sarah’s family moved back to Germany, to Munsing, just outside of Munich, where she “shares” a 19-year-old Haflinger with a friend and rides as much as she can. She has also been to some shows in Germany but says the atmosphere there is much different than at shows in the United States.

“The western shows are just starting to become popular so people don’t all know each other there as they do here,” she explained. “They are very competitive. I love the horse shows here. Everyone knows each other and people are so friendly.”

Sarah has returned to the United States to visit Virginia each year, except for 2009 – the year Virginia’s family traveled to Germany to visit Sarah.

“I loved it there,” Virginia said. It is so beautiful.”

Sarah enjoys horse shows in the United States so much that she plans most of her trips around show circuits. In 2010 she visited during the Reichert Celebration, held that year in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2012 she timed her visit to attend the A Little Futurity and she’s back this year for more southern hospitality.

Sarah says she loves watching Virginia show. She can be found most of the time sitting next to Virginia’s father, Peek Owen, in the golf cart biting her nails as her friend competes.

Here in Raleigh Virginia showed her Congress and World Champion gelding, One Lazy Investment in AQHA and futurity Western Pleasure. She also showed her pattern horse, Classic Coupe in all-around events. She may have won the Congress last year in 12-14 Youth Western Pleasure but Virginia still gets plenty of advice on strategy in the pen.

“I was sitting with Virginia’s dad today watching her show Western Pleasure and we would talk about how she was riding,” Sarah said. “Her dad said ‘I think she’s too slow, do you think so?’ and I said yes I think she could move on.”

But when the classes are over and the horses are settled in for the evening, Virginia and Sarah are just normal 16-year-old girls – who happen to be best friends.

“We’ve stayed in touch all these years,” Sarah said. “I don’t ever see our friendship ending.”

“No way,” said Virginia.