Kate Knowles and Cillnabradden Leona. Photo courtesy of Kate Knowles.
The Triple Crown Junior Young Rider PRO Scholarship, an annual award offered to junior and young riders who have success at the Training level, offers its winners an incredible opportunity: the opportunity to spend a week training at the facilities of an upper level PRO rider.
And the 2016 winners are …
East Coast
Kate Knowles, 19, of Alexandria, VA
Arielle Aharoni, 16, of Bedminster, NJ
West Coast
Mikayla Howitz, 19, of Salt Lake City, UT
Bella Silveira, 15, Santa Rosa, CA
Kate Knowles, a student at the University of Virginia, finished as overall Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard Champion. She and her mare Cillnabradden Leona have had a successful year, accumulating several wins and top finishes at Training and enjoying a successful Prelim debut as well.
In addition to the scholarship, Kate wins a full complement of tack from World Equestrian Brands. She will receive a new Amerigo Saddle, girth, breastplate and leathers, a Vespucci Bridle and reins, an E.A. Mattes Half-Pad and Equilibrium Airlite Cross Country Boots.
“Participating in the Triple Crown PRO Junior scholarship program this year was an amazing experience,” Kate says. “Receiving feedback on my performance, connecting with other young riders, and attending the seminars all benefited my education as a rider and horse person.
“I am so grateful to Triple Crown, World Equestrian Brands, and the Professional Riders Organization for sponsoring this program, and to all of the individuals involved in organizing, including Marcia Kulak, Ashley Johnson and Samantha Lendl for making this program possible. I am honored to be receiving this award. Having programs like this to motivate young riders to strive for excellence in this sport is crucial for the future of eventing and I am so lucky to be a part of it.”
Following closely behind Kate on the Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard was Arielle Aharoni, a longstanding PRO Junior Member who also participated in the Triple Crown Prelim to PRO Team Series in 2016. This is the first time that she has earned a scholarship week.
Mikayla Howitz and Bella Silveira, both West Coast based riders, will be hosted by Tamra Smith and Hawley Bennett Awad respectively.
“We continue to be amazed at how mature and ‘together’ these young riders are; their parents really should be proud,” says Amy Iafolla, Regional Sales Manager at Triple Crown Nutrition.
The goal of the program is to provide talented young riders the opportunity to learn first hand the valuable skills needed to be successful at the upper levels of the sport and covers all aspects of technique and horse and stable management.
“I’m really thrilled with the success of the program, the quality of the educational seminars and the incredible support that we’ve received from Triple Crown Feed,” says Marcia Kulak, founder of PRO Junior Programs. “The Triple Crown PRO Scholarship Award is a wonderful and rewarding achievement for young riders to work towards and the incredible prize package that World Equestrian Brands so generously gives to the Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard Champion is truly exceptional.”
To learn more about the Triple Crown PRO Scholarship Program, click here; to learn more about the Prelim to PRO Team Series presented by Triple Crown Nutrition, click here.
Many thanks to PRO and the sponsors of these great scholarships, Triple Crown Feed and World Equestrian Brands.
