Carter McInnis, Magdalena Valenti, Hayden Jones and Emma Reid with Hilda Donahue at Area III Young Riders Camp. Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.
North America’s Young Riders have been gearing up for what is often called the “Junior Olympics” at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, presented by Gotham North.
These Championship will take place at the Colorado Horse Park this July 26-31 and feature the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, jumping, eventing, the Para-Olympic discipline of para-dressage and two of the World Equestrian Games disciplines with reining and endurance.
Area III Young Riders Coach Kyle Carter with the sport’s future stars! Photo via USEA Area III Young Riders Facebook page.
Many of today’s eventing greats came up through the Young Rider ranks–it is a program that gives us a glimpse of the future of the sport–and competing at “Young Riders” is a major goal for many young equestrians.
Since the 2016 season began, and indeed for several seasons, eligible Juniors and Young Riders (ages 14-21) have been working hard to qualify and get themselves and their horses ready to achieve a dream.
Hilda and one-star riders Carson Richards, Aki Joy Maruyama, Emma Keller and Haley Curry. Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.
Besides qualifying for the level, competitors interested in competing at Young Riders go through a detailed application and selection process, much like those High Performance combinations bound for major international championships like the Olympics or World Equestrian Games.
Each Area has liberty to identify selection trials or tryout events for their NAJYRC hopefuls. This week the Area III Young Riders are having a selection trials in conjunction with the summer Young Rider camp at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Ga.
Thursday’s packed lesson schedule. Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.
They’re training hard but having tons of fun, too. They’re coach is a seriously good sport!
Best Young Rider Camp ever! Kyle in the Dunk Tank #yrcamp2k16
Posted by USEA Area III Young Riders on Wednesday, June 22, 2016
The camp, organized by Catharine Clayton and Laurie Leavitt, has more than 70 campers taking daily lessons from Team Coach Kyle Carter and selectors Hilda Donahue, Leslie Law and Tiffani Loudon-Meetze.
The eight individuals who are hoping to be placed on a team for NAJYRC are required to assist trainers and camp volunteers throughout the week as well as teach an educational horsemanship session to the other campers.
Area 3 BN riders !
Posted by Hilda Donahue on Friday, June 24, 2016
Area III has been a force to be reckoned with in the last several years, sweeping team and individual gold medals at both the two-star and one-star level in 2013, winning team gold in the two-star in 2014 and bringing home the individual two-star gold in 2015.
We’ll be seeing NAJYRC teams named in the coming weeks as the deadline for submitting nominated entries to the FEI is fast approaching.
To learn more about the USEA Young Riders Program, click here! Between this and the budding Intercollegiate Eventing Programs around the country, it’s remarkable the opportunities and support systems that are out there now for young people in the sport.
What’s going on in your Area Young Riders Program this summer? Let us know in the comments!
When you work this hard you have to eat well, too. Lunch at camp is being provided by Robin and Lillibet Barnett, Karyn Owen and Cari Johnson. Photo courtesy of Hilda Donahue.
