“Winning this award is such an honor,” the 17-year-old college freshman said. “I honestly was just thrilled that I was chosen to represent the Morgan breed.”

Mills has shown an unwavering commitment to her sport. She started taking riding lessons in 2005 which quickly evolved into a passion. Her Christmas gift that same year: a Morgan horse. Since then, Mills has gone on to win three World Championships – in 2007, 2008, and 2009 – and is a World Gold Medalist. She has helped organize and fundraise for riding clinics to benefit junior exhibitors in her region, and was awarded the Shirley Givens Morgan youth sportsmanship award. Mills started the “T-Town Trotters” Morgan youth club, which promotes the Morgan breed and participates in fundraisers for the Justin Time for a Cure program at the Oklahoma University Cancer Institute. In 2007, Mills became a regional representative for the AMHA Morgan Youth Council and then went on to become a regional director for three years. This year, she was voted national vice president.

Mills said that with her USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award win, she is following in the footsteps of someone she greatly admires and respects – her trainer, Jonalyn Gwinup.

“Last year when Jonalyn won the Cecil Brown [Memorial] Sportsmanship Award, I was so proud because I knew that if anyone deserved to win that award it would be Jonalyn,” Mills said. “And then to learn that I possess some of the qualities that she exemplifies, just blows my mind.”

Added mills: “Jonalyn has always taught me to be kind, to have compassion and to have humility towards our sport and my fellow competitors at all times and in anything I do. I have worked so hard to be a good role model in and out of the ring and to always appreciate what I have and it is so rewarding to see that pay off.”

Her commitment does not end with her horses. As Mills can attest, she’s used to balancing quite a hectic schedule. In high School, she maintained a 4.27 GPA and was salutatorian. She was selected to the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, received a National Society of High School Scholars scholarship, and was president of the National Honor Society, Student Council Senior Representative, Science Club treasurer, senior officer for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, assistant editor for the Year Book, and a member of the Spanish Club, Future Farmers of America, and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Since she was a young girl, Mills has wanted to become a doctor. To pursue that dream, she is studying biochemistry for pre-med majors at the University of Tulsa. The first-year student hopes to specialize in thoracic surgery.

Mills will receive a trophy, a $1,000 grant to the educational program of her choice, and a lifetime membership to USEF, valued at $2,500. Along with the other 10 national nominees, Mills will be recognized in January at the 2012 USEF Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, OH.

The other national nominees are:
• Ayla Spry, Milaca, MN (American Endurance Rider Conference)
• Tori Gray, Louisville, KY (American Saddlebred Horse Association)
• Emily Hogye, Ben Lomond, CA (American Vaulting Association)
• Haley Harrington, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (Arabian Horse Association)
• Katie Berger, Naperville, IL (International Andalusian/Lusitano Horse Association)
• Maggie Greene, Highland, IL (Paso Fino Horse Association)
• Drew Carlin, Columbia, SC (United States Dressage Federation)
• Jacob Pope, Owings Mills, MD (United States Hunter Jumper Association)
• Ashley Rosendale, Branchville, NJ (United States Para Equestrian Association)
• Rachel Laufer, Utica, PA (Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America)
The USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award is designed to develop youth to become leaders in the equine industry from all breeds and disciplines. This program provides an opportunity for the USEF to recognize outstanding youth members for their achievements.

For more information on the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, please contact Jennifer Mellenkamp, Director, National Breed/Discipline Affiliates and Youth Programs, at jmellenkamp@usef.org or (859) 225-6955.

ENDS

Lexington, KY – It’s “all hands on deck” as the final touches are being made and the horses and riders are arriving at the Kentucky Horse Park for what has become a celebrated annual event – the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. And for the 2011 competition, there are some exciting additions to this highly-regarded series of international championships.

In addition to championships being contested in dressage, eventing, and show jumping, for the first time at the NAJYRC, the discipline of endurance will contest a CEI4* 100-mile championship race (a CEI2* 75-mile, non-championship race will also be run concurrently). Additionally, reining, which joined the championships in 2008 for the first time, will have two divisions for the first time in 2011. Non-championship events will also take place in the form of a vaulting demonstration during the Opening Ceremonies and a pair of para-dressage freestyles prior to the dressage freestyle championships on Saturday.

In all, some 250 riders spanning six countries have made the pilgrimage to the Kentucky Horse Park to battle for medals. Among them include:

• 174 riders from the U.S. (57 dressage, 19 endurance, 39 eventing, 52 jumping, 7 reining)
• 59 riders from Canada (21 dressage, 3 endurance, 9 eventing, 12 jumping, 14 reining)
• 10 riders from Mexico (3 endurance, 3 jumping, 4 reining)
• 2 riders from Columbia (endurance)
• 1 rider from Germany (endurance)
• 1 rider from Spain (endurance)

Each of the championships will see exciting competition from the many teams that have come to showcase their talents. Per discipline, they include:

Dressage – Junior Rider

Canada East (Marah Gaudet, Julie Channell, Tanya Strasser Shostak, and Nicole Babich Morin)

Canada Ontario (Anneka Sutton, Noemie Gagnon-Bergeron, Ashley Phipps, and Jonah Freedman)

Canada West (Monika Zillinger, Monica Houwelling, Megan Overwater, and Dalyce Gagnon)

Manitoba (Sarah Loewen)

U.S. Region 1 (Kya Endreson, Julia Burtt, and Dominique Cassavetis)

U.S. Region 2 (Rosemary Julian-Simoes, Allison Gerlt, Matthew Manibusan, and Megan Wisniewski)

U.S. Region 3 (Rebecca Cohen, Sean Sierra Keasler and Mallory Kent)

U.S. Region 4 (Codi Harrison)

U.S. Region 5 (Devon Wycoff, Brook Santangelo, Talia Hershaft, and Taylor Lindsten)

U.S. Region 6 (Brooke Bayley, Molly Eastridge, Sadie Lahey, and Meghan Slaughter)

U.S. Region 7 (Maggie Charbonnet, Leah Myers, Stephanie Early, and Morgan Wolfe)

U.S. Region 8 (Rachel Chowanec, Katelyn Kok, Jannike Gray, and Ciara Cummiskey)

U.S. Region 9 (Courtney Clary Bauer, Ayden Uhlir, Anna Campbell, and Benjamin Winger)

Dressage – Young Rider

Team Ontario (Megan Lane, Alexandra Dvorak, Bronwyn Barlow Cash, Kristin Sutton)

Team British Columbia/Quebec (Esmee Ingham, Anne-Mylaine Messier, Mathilde Blais Tetrault, and Emily Fownes)

U.S. Region 1 (Chase Hickok, Nicole Del Giorno, and Melanie Montagano)

U.S. Region 2 (Katie Foster, Emily Wright, Victoria Retamoza, and Jennifer Harding)

U.S. Region 3 (Alexandra Kitchen, Bryn Cahill, Abby Pritchard, and Anne Ferris Yanney)

U.S. Region 4 (Clare Krska and Katie Cumberford)

U.S. Region 5 (Brandi Roenick, Catherine Chamberlain, Madeleine Birch, and Aylin Corapcioglu)

U.S. Region 6 (Brooke Bayley, Molly Eastridge, Sadie Lahey, and Meghan Slaughter)

U.S. Region 7 (MacKinzie Pooley, Kelli McLean Newton, Ari Lopez, and Jaclyn Pepper)

U.S. Region 8 (Ali Potasky, Isabelle Leibler, Madeleine Van Vleet, and Marlee O’Neil)

U.S. Region 9 (Julia Handt and Mary Kathryn Nommensen)

Endurance – CEI2*

U.S. Central (Sophie Bashir, McKinzie Flanagan, Kelsey Kimbler, and McCamey Kimbler)

U.S. Northeast (Meghan Delp, Katherine Gardener, Forest Green, Steven Hay, Liz Morgan, and Alayna Wagner)

U.S. Pacific South (Frances Chase-Dunn)

U.S. Southeast (Mallory Capps and Cassandra Roberts)

Canada (Jessica Yavis and Emma Webb)

Columbia (Francisco Quintana Barrera and Camilo Andres Villa)

Germany (Pauline Wadewitz)

Mexico (Mariana Meixueiro Guzman, Gabriel Mendoza Gagnier, and Christopher Ugarte)

Spain (Maira Capdevila de Chopitea)

Endurance – CEI4*

U.S. Central (Devan Horn)

U.S. Mountain (Jessica DiCamillo)

U.S. Northeast (Kyle Gibbon and Lindsay Bean)

U.S. Southeast (Mary Kathryn Clark and Kelsey Russell)

Canada (Lee Hutten)

Eventing – Junior Rider

Canada Ontario (Haley Armstrong-Laframboise, April Simmonds, Sable Geisler, Liza Igochine, and Brooke Pickering)

U.S. Area 1 (Jennifer Lyford and Shannon Quigley)

U.S. Area 2 (Jeanna Begbie, Savannah Fulton, Jacqueline McGuinness, Chase Beach, Clare Green, and Jordan Litter)

U.S. Area 3 (Hanna Begue)

U.S. Area 5 (Victoria New, Alexa Ehlers, Alyssa Phillips, Avery Klunick, and Taylor Wood)

U.S. Area 6 (Zacharey Brandt, Madeline Sexton, Kaitlin Veltkamp, Madison Loving, and Piper Leddick)

U.S. Area 7 (Florence Miller)

U.S. Area 9 (Madline Backus, Ashlyn Dorsey, and Ellie Gilbertson)

Eventing – Young Rider

Canada (Christian Bennet, William Dow, Melissa Boutin, and Joelle Baskerville)

U.S. Area 1 (Imogen DeLavis)

U.S. Area 2 (Benita Strini, Caroline Martin, and Arden Wildasin)

U.S. Area 3 (Libby Head, Mary Hollis Baird, Emily Renfroe, Devon Brown, and Sarah Kamensky)

U.S. Area 4 (Lexi Scovil)

U.S. Area 5 (Emma Kate Fisher, Jacob Fletcher, and Rowdie Adams)

U.S. Area 6 (Scott Kuhlman)

U.S. Area 7 (Lizzie Snow)

U.S. Area 9 (Kendyl Tracy)

Show Jumping – Junior Rider

Canada Alberta (Emma Irwin, Alexandria Smith, Carly Kist, and Sydney Greene)

Canada Ontario (Jacqueline Steffens and Jake Krembil)

Canada Quebec (Daphne Picard)

Mexico (Jose Antonio Chedraui, Jorge Canedo, and Juan Jose Zendejas)

U.S. Zone 1 (Sydney Shulman, Avery Waite, and Dana Scott)

U.S. Zone 2 (Charlotte Jacobs, Maria Van Buskirk, Callie Smith, Gabrielle Bausana, and Leah de Martini)

U.S. Zone 3 (Chloe Reid, Samantha Schaefer, and Sara Kethcam)

U.S. Zone 4 (Hayley Barnhill, Hasbrouck Donovan, Michael Hughes, Frances Land, and Elizabeth Patz)

U.S. Zone 5 (Kalvin Dobbs, Nora Laue, Gabriela Mershad, Catherine Tyree, and Ali Boone)

U.S. Zone 6 (Brooke Cudmore)

U.S. Zone 7 (Katie Cox, Savannah Talcott, Jodran Appel, Megan Bifano, and Lindsay Moss)

U.S. Zone 8 (Alicia Gasser and Bryn Sadler)

U.S. Zone 10 (Madion Bradshaw, Brittany Albrecq, Kilian McGrath, and Hanna Warde)

Show Jumping – Young Rider

Canada Alberta (Kristy Yopyk and Kennedy Ellingson)

Canada Ontario (Miranda Travers-Cavill and Sarah Bagworth)

U.S. Zone 1 (Robert Lee)

U.S. Zone 2 (Katherine Dinan, Karen Polle, Danielle Cooper, Francesca Bolfo)

U.S. Zone 3 (Kaitlin Campbell, Alise Oken, and Paulena Johnson)

U.S. Zone 4 (Taylor Land, Liza Finsness, Jordan Coyne, Chase Boggio, and Samantha Senft)

U.S. Zone 5 (Lisa Kent and Douglas Masters)

U.S. Zone 8 (Brooke Kennedy)

U.S. Zone 10 (Cayla Richards, Danielle Korsh, Kendall Skreden, and Sage Flynn)

Reining – Junior Rider

Canada Ontario (Lane Wilson and Emily Wilson)

U.S. Northeast (Tiffany Wynn)

Reining – Young Rider

Canada Alberta/Manitoba (Nancy Pratch, Lisa Hiebert, Kylie Wasiuta, Jessica Green)

Canada Ontario/Quebec (Starr Boisvert, Lyndsay Kloster, Darcy Wilson, and Antony Jolin St. Laurent)

Canada Saskatchewan (Lindsay Wankel, Bretty Dembisky, Jonathan Katzman, and Shelbie Friesen)

Mexico (Alberta Aguilar Raz, Jesus Arturo Leal Marroquin, Gerardo Leal Garza, and Giblerto Leal Alanis)

U.S. Northeast/South Central (Raquel Roberts, Jake Letner, and Will Letner)

U.S. Southeast (Michael Pope, Laura Sumrall, and Jonathan Timberlake)

The NAJYRC is the premiere equestrian competition in North America for Junior and Young Riders age 14-21. The competition is run under rules of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.

Many of North America’s best equestrians got their start at the NAJYRC including Olympic medalists Greg Best, Karen O’Connor, Chris Kappler and McLain Ward.

The NAJYRC began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A dressage championship was added in 1981, and show jumping was added in 1982. The first complete Young Riders championship was held in British Columbia, Canada, in 1982. The championships were expanded to officially include a championship division for Juniors in 2006. The discipline of reining was added to the official schedule in 2008.

Opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, and admission is free of charge (there is a nominal parking fee for the Kentucky Horse Park). For more information, visit www. http://www.youngriders.org.

Don’t forget to read blogs, watch video and follow the competition at:
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/NAJYRC2011

###

Today we have posted the following forms/score sheets:

• 2011 Youth Stable Management Score Sheet
• 2011 Youth Formal Inspection (Jog) Score Sheet
• 2011 Written Study Guide

This show is to be held at the DevonWood Equestrian Centre, 25033 SW Pacific Highway, Sherwood, OR 97140. Sponsored by the ODS Youth Program. Open show designed to benefit the ODS Youth Program on Friday and Operation Smile on Saturday, and team championship format open to youth only. Offering Dressage Equitation, Intro – Second level plus Musical Freestyle, Pas de Deux and Quadrille plus practice class for Third and above.  Scheduled judges are Kathy Casey (r); Linda Coates-Markle (L).  The official prize list is published here – http://www.oregondressage.com/2011_omnibus/2011-Youth-JrYrTeamChamps.pdf.

The show has closed, however, some late entries may be accepted.

For more information, contact Gaye McCabe, manager at (503) 378-0309.

###

In addition to the Jr/YR Team competition, this year we are including benefit classes.  Friday’s open benefit classes will benefit ODS Youth Programs.  On Saturday the Open classes will benefit Operation Smile.

If you are interested in sponsoring any of these classes or helping scribe please contact Gaye McCabe at the below address.  In addition, if you would like to help out we have many opportunities available.

Benefit Classes                                                                                     Fri*     Sat*

USDF Introductory Level,

USEF Training Level,

USEF First Level,

USEF Second Level, and above

USEF Third Level, and above

FRI SAT SUN — JR/YR/HS CLASS LIST —

PAC Dressage Equitation

PAC Dressage Equitation

USDF Introductory Level, Test A

USDF Introductory Level, Test B

USDF Introductory Level, Test C

USEF Training Level, Test 1

USEF Training Level, Test 2

USEF Training Level, Test 3

USEF First Level, Test 1

USEF First Level, Test 2

USEF First Level, Test 3

USEF Second Level,

USEF Third Level & above,

USDF Musical Freestyle,

USDF Pas de Deux,

USDF Quadrille ,

JR/YR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS DIVISIONS — ONE TEST RIDDEN SATURDAY, ONE SUNDAY

Division A, USDF Introductory Level Tests A

Division A, USDF Introductory Level Tests B

Division B, USDF Introductory Level Test B

Division B, USDF Introductory Level Test C

Division C, USEF Training Level Tests 1

Division C, USEF Training Level Tests 2

Division D, USEF Training Level Tests 2

Division D, USEF Training Level Tests 3

Division E, USEF First Level Tests 1

Division E, USEF First Level Tests 2

Division F, USEF First Level Tests 2

Division F, USEF First Level Tests 3

Division G, USEF Second Level Tests 1

Division G, USEF Second Level Tests 2

Gaye McCabe
j-g.mccabe@juno.com
503-378-0309

###

We are gearing up for this year’s summer camp! The USDF Region 6 Youth Dressage Overnight Camp, hosted by ODS and DevonWood Equestrian Centre will be held from July 5^th – July 7^th.  So far we have had excellent response and we are getting excited to see all of the camper’s happy faces on July 5^th.

We wanted to remind you that the closing date will be June 15^th.  Registration is hosted at http://camp.devonwoodec.com/ .   After you submit the registration form, we will send you a confirmation email.

Once we have all the participants registered, we will send an email with further instructions regarding payment, liability waivers, and the proof of vaccination. We will also be emailing a suggested packing list, directions, contact information for the on-call vet and farrier.

This webpage also lists the approximate schedule of activities and other details.

The camp is also accepting donations towards youth scholarships and stipends to help cover instructor expenses – if you want to contribute, please contact me.

If you have any questions, please contact me directly at jessica.rattner@devonwoodec.com.

Thank you,

Jessica Rattner

Camp Coordinator, ODS Board Member

###

We are gearing up for this year’s summer camp! The USDF Region 6 Youth Dressage Overnight Camp, hosted by ODS and DevonWood Equestrian Centre will be held from July 5^th – July 7^th.

To answer a few frequently asked questions:

• The minimum age limit for the camp is 8 and the maximum age limit is 21
• We are currently able to accept 70 riders to the camp
• Participants will be required to stay overnight at DevonWood Equestrian Centre from when they arrive at DevonWood on Tuesday until their departure on Thursday
• The price of the camp will be $200; this price includes food, stabling, covers the cost of hiring a licensed EMT to handle First Aid, and several other necessary expenditures to ensure that the camp is a safe and comfortable environment for all those in attendance!
• Horseless youth may attend the camp for $80; if we have enough campers without horses, we will arrange for additional activities specially for this group

In an effort to minimize the costs of attending this camp, all of the instructors and lecturers have generously donated their travel fees, time for the weekend and are being housed by friends of the camp. Additionally, DevonWood Equestrian Centre has also donated the use of their facility and staff for the weekend.

Our instructors this year include:

• Nicki Grandia
• Morgan Barrows
• Jessica Rattner
• Natalie Perry
• Meredith Crawford
• Shaun Meyers
• Heather Oleson

In an effort to conserve paper, the registration process will be done entirely via the web and email. Registration for this camp will be first come first serve. The camp is currently OPEN for registration and the closing date will be June 15^th.  Registration is at http://camp.devonwoodec.com/ .   After you submit the registration form, we will send you a confirmation email. Once we have all the participants registered, we will send an email with further instructions regarding payment, liability waivers, and the proof of vaccination. We will also be emailing a suggested packing list, directions, contact information for the on-call vet and farrier.  This webpage also lists the approximate schedule of activities and other details.

The camp is also accepting donations towards youth scholarships and stipends to help cover instructor expenses – if you want to contribute, please contact me.

If you have any questions, please contact me directly at jessica.rattner@devonwoodec.com.

Thank you,

Jessica Rattner

Camp Coordinator, ODS Board Member

###

The show is about kids with horses…all ages and all levels. Our mission is To provide young riders, 21 years and under, the opportunity to participate in a dressage competition that is exclusively their own, in an environment that provides a fair playing field for junior riders of different age groups wherein each will compete against his/her peer group at all levels of skill, from beginners to advanced.

With our first “Festival-Of-Stars” being held On July 29-31, 2011 ………Competitors may come from all throughout the Northwest including our Northern friends of Canada.

Our show is all about kids and we’d like unique prizes and activities that go on all weekend long. Some of the prizes might be saddles, boots, bridles, tack trunks, and complete outfits as Championship  prizes and a huge variety of other prizes such as bridle bags, garment bags, boot bags etc all with  logos.

The shows Creative activities may stretch their imagination releasing tension and easing nerves, while the educational sessions /lectures instill valuable knowledge.

Each year we’ll have new and different activities for the kids to attend.

The Classes offered will not only have the Intro levels of Dressage but include FEI Children; FEI Pony; FEI Jr; and Young Riders. There will be Team competitions as well as trying to start up a Can-Am Challenge with our Canadian friends. Classes will be divided into age groups. A Performance Hack show is on the Sunday. No Child returns home without a prize.

For most of the kids it will be their first time riding in front of a panel of  judges and achieving a milestone in their riding careers.

Riders enter dependent on their levels of ability, choosing either Gold or Bronze.  The Kids extend their skills by participate in the parade of Champions with spectators of proud parents, grandparents, friends and fellow competitors

It should be a terrific show,

Gwen Blake 360-507-9306 for info.

Go410s@aol.com

Donida Farm

###

All National Winners will be honored during the 2012 USEF Annual Meeting. Each will receive a $500.00 grant to be paid to the educational program of his or her choice and will be invited to attend the USEF Annual Meeting as the Federation’s guest, to attend committee and board meetings, a career opportunity session and awards banquet.  Meals, accommodations and travel expenses (up to $500.00) will be provided for all who are invited to participate.

The overall winner of the 2011 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award will receive a $1,000 grant payable to the educational program of choice and a USEF Life Membership valued at $2,500, a commemorative trophy, as well as an invitation to the USEF Annual Meeting and career session. The winner will also be one of the nominees for the USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year Award.

Applications are available online at http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Youth/sportsmansAward.aspx

or through any USEF Recognized Affiliate or International Discipline Association. A listing of contact information for these affiliates is available on the Youth Sportsman’s Award webpage.  Required materials are to be submitted directly to the applicant’s respective USEF Recognized Affiliate or International Discipline Association and received by their respective office on or before October 1, 2011. Each USEF Recognized Affiliate may select a National Winner, who will be considered for the overall award.

To be considered for the 2011 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, applicants must:

· Have a current membership in good standing with the USEF

· Have a current membership in good standing with a USEF Recognized Affiliate or International Discipline Association

(For affiliate contacts, visit: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Youth/sportsmansAward.aspx)

· Be 17 years of age or under, as of December 1, 2010

· Demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the promotion of equestrian sport

· Serve as a positive role model for peers

· Participate at any level of competition, including local, regional or national events

· Be involved with their community

· Exhibit characteristics that exemplify positive sportsmanship principles

For more information regarding the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, please contact Jennifer Mellenkamp, Director, National Breed/Discipline Affiliates and Youth Programs, via e-mail at jmellenkamp@usef.org or call (859) 225-6955.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrians in Action program tracks youth volunteer hours that are aimed at improving the welfare of the horse or positively promoting equestrian sport. Sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation, the program encourages youth to give back to equestrian sport  -  at horse shows, equine promotional events, equine businesses or organizations, trade fairs, therapeutic riding clinics, horse rescue and 4-H events.

The participant with the most volunteer hours in 2011 (minimum of 150 hours) will earn a $1,500 grant for his or her education or training. All youth have the opportunity to earn one of three certificates depending on their participation level. Those who volunteer at least 50 hours will be awarded a Bronze certificate while youth who volunteer at least 100 hours will receive a Silver certificate. The highest level, the Gold certificate, will go to those who volunteer 150 or more hours. In addition, the top 10 participants will receive special “Top Ten” certificates.

Participants of USEF Equestrians in Action must be 21 years of age or younger at the start of the award year, which began December 1, 2010, and need a current USEF membership. In order to ensure a level playing field, volunteer hours must be given freely, without payment or other compensation. Participants may create an account, which will track their volunteer hours: http://usef.org/_IFrames/Youth/EquestriansInAction.aspx. The website will also show which participants are currently in the lead for Top Ten status.

For more information, contact Jennifer Mellenkamp at jmellenkamp@usef.org.

USEF Equestrians in Action is sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation. For volunteer opportunities and ideas, visit their website at www.equusfoundation.org and join the carrots4acause network.

###

Lexington, KY (April 21, 2011) – The Platinum Performance/USDF Region 2 FEI Jr/YR Clinic held on March 26-27, 2011 proved to be a success, when eight riders from five different states convened at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL, to ride with USEF National Youth Coach, Jeremy Steinberg. For the first time in the program’s history, USDF and USEF joined forces for the purpose of educating the country’s upcoming dressage riders.
Over the past several months USDF and USEF have been working in concert in order to fully develop a youth pipeline. With the naming of the new National Youth Coach, Jeremy Steinberg, it was an obvious choice for USDF when a clinician was needed to step in for a FEI Jr/YR Clinic in Region 2. Steinberg, who recently traveled to the IHS Palm Beach Derby CDI for talent scouting was more than enthusiastic to take on the clinic with only a month’s notice.
The eight riders were thrilled to hear they were selected, some traveling at least six hours to the clinic. Each day participants rode in a private session and while not riding, they attentively listened and watched their peers. At the beginning of each session Steinberg quickly noted each combination’s unique traits allowing him to customize their training objectives. The importance of being a “thinking rider” was evident throughout the clinic. By firing questions at the riders, Steinberg challenged riders to think quickly. He advised the participants that they shouldn’t just ride, but rather become the horse’s trainer.
Clinic rider, Victoria Retamoza stated, “I love Jeremy’s philosophy in many aspects.  He stated that you should always shoot far in your goals.  If you are riding a Training Level horse, train it as if you were training it to Grand Prix.  I told him that I wanted to make the Region 2 NAJYRC Young Rider Team.  Jeremy advised me that I should not just aim at making the team, but to medal.”
At lunchtime everyone gathered around for a theory discussion with Jeremy, where he not only offered great advice, but graciously answered questions from both riders and parents.
“What a great program! It is worth its weight in gold from the knowledge my daughter gathered in just two days!” stated Cathy Miller, parent of one of the participants.
At the end of the clinic, riders were sparked with enthusiasm and went home with effective training tools, new friends and inspiration for a successful future.
USEF National Youth Coach, Jeremy Steinberg, was recently added to the roster of official USDF clinicians and will be featured at more Platinum Performance/USDF FEI Jr/YR Clinics in the future.  For more information about the USDF FEI Jr/YR Clinic Series or to find specific dates and locations for upcoming clinics (available soon), visit the USDF website or contact the USDF office. The Platinum Performance/USDF FEI Jr/YR Clinic Series is made possible with funding from The Dressage Foundation.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, e-mail usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.

###