Shannon Lilley has kindly sent us a few thoughts from the Area VI Young Rider preparations in California including bareback jumping videos. For the record, I would be terrified to jump an oxer that size without a saddle, so major props to the Area VI riders! As always, thanks for writing this Shannon and thank you for reading.
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From Shannon:
This is an exciting time for our sport as the Olympic team was just named and the Olympics are just around the corner. I, for one, feel like the USA had so much depth this year with the pairs we sent over to England. They all performed tremendously, making these upcoming Olympics all that much more significant as the USA has a legitimate shot at being on the podium.
The North American Junior Young Rider Championships(NAJYRC), which will be held July 18-22 at the Kentucky Horsepark, are somewhat overshadowed by the Olympics this year. NAJYRC now encompasses several equestrian sports – Eventing, Jumpers, Dressage, Endurance, Reigning, Vaulting- making this event, in essence, the Jr Olympics or Jr Pan American games. Unfortunately, I do not think the team or individual medalists get enough credit for the amount of work they put in nor do they get enough opportunity to make it to the next level in the sport. This blog may not have enough room to defend that position but that will be soon to come.
My point is more that the Young Rider organization as a whole is put in place by incredible volunteers who year in and year out try to come up with innovative ideas to attract the grass roots part of Eventing (the lower levels) to want to join in the fun, hone their skills, and develop goals to maybe compete at Championships someday. Even if the latter may not be the dream of some kids, it really does not matter because the point is to create enough fun and camaraderie among the young riders in the sport that they want to continue to do it FOREVER!
Area VI has the strongest Young Rider program it has had in years largely due to the amazing committee we have running the program with coordinator Laura Powell at the helm. This past weekend we had our annual Young rider camp held at Twin Rivers ranch in Paso Robles, CA where 32 kids came to get lessons with top instructors, play educational games and goof off with their horses and ponies as they should.
The opening evening activity is the famous bareback jumping contest. Many of the younger kids are so brave on their ponies. The older or more upper level kids, not so much. Maybe ignorance is bliss? Or your balance is better, more monkey-like as a kid? Or the younger kids are simply better? Ultimately, it does not matter because the contest is hilarious and extremely entertaining.
Naima, 1st place
Sophia on Elisi, 2nd place
The other purpose of camp is to get the team members together for a final dressage and jump school before they head to Kentucky. Dayna Lynd-Pugh is the coach of the Area VI team and she worked with each member individually on the flat and over fences. Vicki Matisi, a dressage and eventing ‘R’ judge, also judged the team riders’ tests then critiqued them and broke down each movement to help perfect it.
It takes so many people to put this camp on and a special thanks to Jodie Renk, Margie Molloy, and all the other parents who helped cook meals and came to chaperone. I am so proud of what this program has become in Area VI and feel that the more we can build up the riders through this organization, the better they will be to compete someday for Senior teams – hence keeping the depth we have now for such teams.
This is my 5th year being Chef d’Equipe for the Area VI Young Rider team and, unfortunately, this year I cannot travel to Kentucky due to my injury but want to give a special shout out to the five riders and the coach going to represent Area VI. Good luck Dayna Lynd-Pugh and your riders – Teresa Harcourt, Sarah Braun, Gigi Herron, Erin Murphy, Jordyn Horwitz – ride fast, take chances, be safe!!
GO Area VI!!
