Lynne Larsen: British Columbia Developing Young Riders Camp

Lynne Larsen, coach of the British Columbia Developing Young Riders, sent in a great write-up and photos from the program’s fourth annual camp. Five years ago, the British Columbia Young Riders Committee decided to expand their program to include a Developing Riders Program to help riders develop their skills at the beginner novice, novice and training levels. Take it away, Lynne!

Rebecca Howard teaches at the British Columbia Developing Young Riders Camp.

From Lynne:

Riders from British Columbia (waaaay out here in the northwest of the continent) have always been a force to be reckoned with … both past and present. Many of you will know Chelan Kozak, Nick Holmes-Smith, David Wilding-Davies, Joni Peters, Therese Washtock, Karen Brain and Ian Roberts to name a few from the past. In more recent years, Rebecca Howard, Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Hawley Bennett-Awad all represented British Columbia at NAJYRC and have gone onto represent Canada on the world stage.

Five years ago, it was decided by our Young Riders Committee to expand our YR program to include a Developing Riders portion with the intent of having a strong focus on improving delivery of skill sets to riders in the lower levels — beginner novice, novice and training — to prepare them to the NAJYRC level.

The annual YR program includes:

• A section at the Horse Trials BC Spring Clinics, which involves upwards of 100 riders and multiple coaches. This year the section featured Matt Ryan and Wendy Wergeles. In past years, Dorothy Crowell, Jessica Phoenix, Mike Winter and Kyle Carter have all paid visits. These clinics are held at one of our biggest event facilities, usually amid snow/sleet/hail/wind and sun over Easter weekend.

• Cross-country course walks at all the BC events for the Young Riders, facilitated by myself and other coaches that help out with the program.

• Participation in “Destination Shows” like Rebecca Farms in Kalispell, Mont., where the riders get to compete at one of the best venues on the continent and watch the highest level of their sport. They also develop a sense of competing as a team for the first time.

• Regional Fall Clinics to get riders started on their “homework” for the winter.

• And, of course, CAMP!

Last year we were very lucky to have Hawley Bennett-Awad healthy enough after London to come and coach for us, and this year we were extremely fortunate again in the timing of camp to have our own Rebecca Howard back to the province directly from England and her successes there. It is a HUGE inspiration to the Young Riders to have graduates of our program come back to work with them, particularly after representing their country. Following WEG 2010, we had Steph Rhodes-Bosch come and share her experiences with our Young Riders as well. Dana Cooke, Merritt native and groom to Rebecca Howard in London, has also been our guest at camp.

This year our camp was held over the July 1 weekend (Canada Day up here!) at our facility The Dot Ranch in Merritt, about four hours north of Vancouver in the southern interior of British Columbia, deep in cowboy country! We had 55 riders attending with a total of 58 horses, four coaches, and many parents and siblings as well. All brought their own accommodation, and horses were housed in a variety of outside pens and paddocks, while a few were lucky enough to be stabled under a roof. Summer chose to arrive that weekend with temperatures moving up each day, ending up at 41°C (105°F) on the last day — hot to say the least. Creating/manipulating a schedule to work for four coaches and all those riders will leave me with nightmares for weeks to come, but somehow it all worked out just great!

Camp kicked off on arrival day with a horsemanship groundwork demonstration by Stefanie Travers of Lodestar Horsemanship, with many of the campers having private sessions with Stefanie over the three days of camp. This proved to be a popular addition to camp, and many riders were glad of the help they received in achieving more respect from their horse on the ground. Lectures were also held throughout the three days, with topics such as “Fitness and Management of the Event Horse”; “Planning a Training Schedule/Calendar”; Building Blocks for Success in the Competition Season”; “Leg Care for the Equine Athlete”; and “Be Strong — Ride Strong,” a session on core strength facilitated by Fitness Leadership Candidate Blaire Owen.

Day 1 was spent working on dressage skills in semi-private lessons with Rebecca, myself and coaches Maeve Drew and Brandy Saunders. Correct achievement of connection from behind, with a horse going forward from the leg and accepting of the contact, was a constant theme amongst all the coaches.

Day 2 saw many of the riders having two lessons that day, some show jumping and also going for a steeplechase school, and other groups working in the cross country field. Adhering to the basic principles of the flatwork whilst working over the fences was the focus of the day, and all riders had successful rides and coaches were happy with the progress made.

Day 3 saw Rebecca move her groups into the cross-country field while the rest of the groups show jumped or steeplechase schooled, and camp ended with a happy group of campers eager to move on to their next show to test their skills. I know a highlight for a lot of the riders was Rebecca’s evening presentation “The Road to Badminton,” which enabled the riders to hear Rebec’s story from her Salmon Arm Pony Club days here in BC to representing her country at WEG in 2010 and on to Pan Ams, London and then Badminton this spring. Talent is great thing to possess, but grit, a great work ethic, huge desire to keep learning from the best and a constant focus on the goal is something they all took away as all important in the pursuit of excellence.

Many thanks again to Rebecca for taking time to come home to Canada to work within our program (she also came home for her Mom’s birthday!). The inspiration she has provided to our up-and-coming eventers is priceless. And congrats must go to Rebecca and Riddle Master on their third place finish at Barbury Castle CIC*** this past weekend! Go Rebecca, and go eventing!