Zane Jackson II is athletic, but he never thought he'd be a champion.

The 22-year-old Glen Burnie resident took home three gold medals and one silver medal, and tied for grand champion of his division in horseback riding this summer at the state's Special Olympics at Prince George's Equestrian Center.

He also won the Maryland Special Olympics' Ernest Sampson Memorial Award, which is given to the athlete of the year, based on character and athleticism.

Jackson was a beginner when he started equestrian training this year at Crownsville-based Maryland Therapeutic Riding (MTR), which serves horseback riders with special needs and a variety of disabilities. After riding for four months, Jackson competed in the Special Olympics in June on an Appaloosa named Ellie.

"Oh, my gosh, he has blown everyone here away. We can't get over what a tremendous rider he is," said Kerrie Mansfield, MTR program director. "Not only is he confident and competent on the horse, he is so kind to Ellie, which I think is why they were so successful at the games."

Jackson rode with the first Special Olympics team to be sponsored by Anne Arundel County at the state championships. He was joined by Annick Dolard of Riva, and Mallanie Fluck and Danny Barry of Gambrills, who also took home gold medals after winning the relay.

"It means a lot to me," said Jackson, a 1997 graduate of Glen Burnie High School. "I liked everything, especially the dressage competition because it came easy to me."

His mother, Lois Jackson, said she is proud of her son but not surprised.

"He's comfortable on a horse, and he was confident he would win," she said. "He just took to horses naturally; he had no fear at all."

Special Olympics coach Robin Ward helped Jackson prepare for the summer games by practicing dressage courses, proper seat and leg position, and obstacles at the MTR stables.

"He was new to us. I had 10 weeks to work with him before the Special Olympics, but he immediately bonded with his horse," said Ward, an experienced rider who has been volunteering with MTR for a year and a half. "It was love at first sight. They were a really good team."

In the dressage event - probably the most difficult - horses and riders perform maneuvers including a 20-meter circle, changing directions and stopping at specific points. Jackson won the gold medal in the event.

"It's a very accurate sort of riding," said Mansfield. "It takes a tremendous amount of concentration and communication with the horse."

Jackson had no problem, Ward said. Even though he had ridden Western-style with a larger saddle, he easily switched to MTR's English-style riding, which uses a smaller saddle, she said.

Then came the trail contest, in which rider and horse confront a number of challenges, including walking over a plywood bridge, traversing a figure-eight course around two barrels and walking between poles and backing out of them. Jackson took the gold again.

Next was the equitation competition, in which the rider is judged on riding form and the position of his legs and hands. He won the silver in that event.

Jackson keeps his Special Olympic medals tucked away in his room, and he has started thinking about next summer's games.

"He has actually already signed on for regular lessons Saturday morning, and we're already practicing for next year," Ward said. "They [Jackson and his horse] were so calm and cool. It's like they'd been doing it all their lives."

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