Patience O’Neal and Markus. Photo by Jo Arlow Photography.
The Professional Riders Organization has announced the 2015 Triple Crown Junior PRO Young Rider Scholarship winners! Patience O’Neal, 16, of Deer Park, Washington, is the Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard Champion, followed closely by Mikayla Howitz, 17, of Salt Lake City, Utah. Alexandra Peterson, 18, of Annapolis, Maryland, topped the East Coast leaderboard, followed by Mia Colman, 14, of Millbrook, New York.
Patience O’Neal also won this scholarship in 2011 and said she is very excited to win it again. “I want to thank my mom and trainer, Karen O’Neal, who has supported me and made all my riding possible, and all my supporters here in Area VII and the Young Rider program,” she said. “I am so grateful and honored to have such great horses and people to help and support my goals and me.”
Mikayla Howitz finished second overall on the Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard thanks to strong finishes at Rebecca Farm and Galway Downs with her horse, Black Gold. “I am so honored to receive this scholarship,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without love and support from my family and Lynnleigh Farm. We have worked so hard for this. I love my super pony.”
Alexandra Peterson and her 10-year-old off the track Thoroughbred, Willie Wiggins, train with Valerie Vizcarrondo of Blue Clover Eventing. “The scholarship is an unbelievable opportunity for me to strengthen my riding skills, improve my horsemanship skills and support my relationship with my horse,” she said. “I appreciate the fact that the scholarship applicants are not only judged on riding skills, but on many aspects of horsemanship and sportsmanship, as well.”
Alexandra’s scholarship will allow her to spend a week training with Jennie Brannigan, one of many upper-level riders to host a PRO Junior Scholarship winner since the program started three years ago. “Being a part of giving a leg up to the future of our sport is one of most important things to do, and I love that PRO is giving back to the grassroots of our sport,” Jennie said.
Mia Colman competed at Carolina International and Millbrook Horse Trials with her 14-year-old Trakehner gelding, Downtown Getdown, as qualifiers for the scholarship program. She finished second amongst the East Coast competitors and will train for one week with PRO Junior Program Founder Marcia Kulak.
“After five trips around Training level events, including Carolina International and Millbrook Horse Trials, my qualifying rides, we moved up to the Preliminary level in August,” Mia said. “It has always been my dream to attend Young Riders, NAJYRC, and I believe that the awarded scholarship week will assist me achieving that goal.”
Marcia said she has been thrilled to watch PRO’s junior and young rider programs grow this year. “The number of young riders involved and the enormous benefits they receive has far exceeded our expectations. Title sponsor Triple Crown Nutrition and prize sponsor World Equestrian Brands have recognized the importance of supporting the next generation of top riders … Everyone involved has worked incredibly hard and the success is very gratifying.”
Robin Moore of World Equestrian Brands, which provides amazing tack packages to the scholarship winners, said, “It is very encouraging to watch these young riders develop in their riding, as well as in teamwork, camaraderie, horsemanship and professionalism. We are very grateful to be able to partner with PRO and Triple Crown as this next generation of riders comes along.”
Triple Crown has been the program’s title sponsor since its inception three years ago, and Michelle Mulcahy said the company has thoroughly enjoyed being involved: “Providing the next generation of event riders with the opportunity to learn more about the care and management of their horses benefits all of us who have an interest in a successful and vibrant equine industry.”
Samantha Lendl, PRO’s executive director, said she is grateful to the team of people who have helped makes PRO’s Junior Program a success. “Ashley Johnson of Ocala, Florida, stepped up to become the PRO Junior Program Coordinator, which due to their enormous growth has been a huge asset,” she said. “Ashley coordinates the mentors, juniors and all the judges that donate their time to this program.”
Thanks are also in order to Tamie Smith and Marcia Kulak, longtime hosts of the scholarship winners and supporters of the program, and to Karen O’Neal and Jordan Linstedt, who have helped grow and promote the program in the Pacific Northwest region.
Click here to see the final PRO Junior Leaderboard. To all junior and young riders with big goals and dreams: This program is available to you, so get involved! Click here to learn more about the Triple Crown Junior PRO Young Rider Scholarship, and click here to learn about the Prelim to PRO Team Series. Go PRO. Go Eventing.
[O’Neal, Howitz, Peterson and Colman Win Triple Crown JYR PRO Scholarship Award]
