Will Coleman stands with the Area II Young Riders at a dinner sponsored by Cavalor. Photo courtesy of the Area II Young Riders Facebook page.
I’ve just received confirmation from Megan Kepferle, Area II Young Riders co-coordinator with Pam Medlin, that the selectors have approved the Area II teams that will compete later this month at the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. Abigail Wilson and Fernhill Flag and Hannah Krueger and Pinney North will scramble with Area IV to form a 2* team. Unfortunately, Marina Royston’s horse Illusion of You sustained a minor injury last week that will keep them off the 2* team. It’s devastating timing for Marina, and we wish her all the best as the horse recovers. The 1* team will be Chase Shipka and Victory Shetan, Madeline Parisan and Hope to Star, Morgan Booth and Lucky Little Spy, and David Pawlak and Just Bailey. Caroline Day and Malibu will compete as individuals in the 1*. Congrats to all the riders selected for the teams!
The Area II Young Riders have been hard at work this week at The Fork, where they’ve been participating in the final training camp before shipping out for Lexington on Monday. Will Coleman has graciously stepped in to assist in coaching the team after Sinead Halpin fell at Chattahoochee Hills last weekend, sustaining a punctured lung and broken shoulder blade and ribs. “Sinead is really sad to miss it and is looking forward to take over the reins from Will after she’s well,” Meg said. “She can get up by herself now, and she’s feeling more comfortable every day.” Area II scrambled to quickly make a decision on who would coach the team following Sinead’s tumble. On Monday, Will agreed to assist Sinead. On Tuesday, Bobby Costello helped teach flat lessons on the first day of camp. Will flew in on Wednesday to officially begin his duties and meet the team, who flatted again that day. Thursday saw a jump school, and all the horses had their final gallop this morning.
“Sinead’s fall was really unfortunate, but all the parents and riders have stepped in to help make sure we’re sending a well-prepared team to Championships,” Meg said. “Once Will came in and gave everyone a pep talk and told them he was a former Young Rider himself, the mood definitely changed. That was the missing piece, and now everyone is getting very excited to leave on Monday.” Meg said Will’s strategy at camp has been very similar to David O’Connor’s approach to High Performance training sessions. “Whatever they’ve been doing has made them the best in Area II and gotten them this far, so he’s not looking to come in and change what they’ve been doing,” Meg said. “These final days have focused on tweaking little details to help them perform the best they can in Kentucky. The team has responded really well, and I think they know what’s at stake.” Go Sinead, go Will, go Meg, and go Area II Young Riders!
