NAJYRC

North American Junior Young Rider Championship

July 17 - 22, 2012 - Lexington, KY

Tuesday July 17 to Sunday July 22, 2012, NAJYRC at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. At this time, we have several riders that have shown interest in competing for Ontario in both the CCI* and CCI** divisions. If anyone needs more information on what is required to compete here, or if you have not already contacted me about declaring for this competition, please do so immediately.

Training Camp for the selected riders will take place July 11^th to 15^th, tentatively at Earnscliffe Training Centre in Newmarket. It will also include a second clinic with Cara Whitam, riding your test at Palgrave and much more….

Peter Gray will be the team coach leading the Junior and Young Riders at this International competition and I (Caroline Morshead) will be attending as chef d’Equipe.

Developing Riders (Pre-Training, Training and non-CCI Preliminary).

Thanks to the wonderful organizers of Will-O-Wind (Geoff and Ann Morgan) and Dreamcrest (Ian Roberts and Kelly Plitz), riders can qualify for NAJYRC within Ontario for 2013. These events would really benefit from you, as a Young Rider, offering to volunteer, or asking others in your family or barn to volunteer. Each event takes about 50 volunteers to run a smooth day, as well as countless hours before the event in preparation.

Midsouth is held in Kentucky in October. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to travel across the border and experience customs, the paperwork required and all the fun of competing in the U.S. We plan to target Midsouth again in October.

A new idea that we are implementing in 2012 is having elite riders or certified coaches being available at designated events to walk courses with you. This is available free to registered riders. Please follow the website for further information.

NAJYRC 2011.....

Sunday July 31st

The day started fresh then turned out warm and humid, with the ton of rain we got the day before. All horses looking exceptionally good after a good night’s rest. We presented all horses at the final jog and all were accepted.

The * Junior riders started the final jumping phase and as a team, we were only able to jump with the 3 riders, so all scores had to count. The course was big but flowing and April was our first rider in. She had a few rails which had us counting the scores as each rider went in. Being the biggest competition in this young lady’s life, she did an amazing job! Our next rider was Brook and she pulled off a confident double clear which moved her up in the standings. Then Sable went in. Individually she had .4 pp lead, but had an unfortunate rail. As a team we still maintained our Bronze medal position, Brook moved up from 5^th to take the individual Bronze medal and Sable received the Silver medal individually. It was pretty cool standing behind the riders (holding their horses for them) as they stood on the podium. We did it!!

Our ** Young Rider team had 4 riders so we could still afford a drop score. Melissa was first in and added a couple rails to her score. Will was next in and he added a couple also, but had a great ride. Christian was next in and his horse Rolex was a Saint. He came into the triple combination and every jump we gasped, but he left every rail up. He also incurred a couple of rails on some other jumps. Then Joelle, who held the second place position throughout the competition, had 2 unfortunate rails that put her in 6^th place individually. We were still able to maintain our Bronze medal position and were on the podium for a second time today!!

All in all it was a wonderful experience for all riders, coaches and our new Chef D’Equip Caroline Morshead. This was Caroline’s first trip at the Championships and she took on the role without hesitation. I’m very confident that she will step in and be an excellent addition to the Ontario Young Rider program and to the team next year and in future years to come. After over 10 years of coordinating the Ontario Young Riders program and cheering them on at the annual NAJYRC, I will be pursuing other avenues in the eventing community and will still be around, only in a different capacity. Caroline was also instrumental in obtaining many signatures on the Canadian flag that I have carried to many Championships, as it will retire with me. Thanks Caroline, it was amazing.

Our special thanks to all the support staff of Peter Gray as head coach, additional coaching provided by Canadian Equestrian Team members Rebecca Howard, Jessica Phoenix and Kyle Carter. Individual coaches also attended - Alex from ON, Anna from Quebec and Momo Laframboise. Momo was also our stable manager who kept the stables organized and ensured the horses were well looked after. To our team veterinarian, Dr. Kathryn Surasky, who was instrumental in assisting the horses by providing fluids after such a hot week for them. Thank goodness we didn’t require anything serious help from her, all the horses recovered well and were amazing athletes for their riders on this final day. And last but certainly not the least, our grooms, who did a spectacular job with the horses and made them look fantastic throughout the week.

Special thanks to all our wonderful sponsors that helped these riders feel what it is like to be the part of a Provincial and National team. It was amazing the way the atmosphere changed when the riders received their uniforms and sponsored products and when donned their new Point Two Air Vests, that they felt they could BELIEVE that winning is possible.

And most of all THANK YOU to all the parents for making this trip possible for your children. You are the ones that have nurtured and supported the riders to this point, through the sweat, tears, and cheers, it has been an amazing journey for us all. I have cherished every one of them.

Thanks for the ride you guys!!

Linda

Saturday July 30th

The Point Two Air Vests arrived!!!! And WOW, were we the talk of the town! All Canadian Event riders received their Team Canada air vests this morning, thanks to Mr. Bill Bennett and Kelly List. They arrived early this morning after waiting for them from a courier that they picked up in Toronto before leaving for Kentucky. Long story, but they got here! One of the Chef’s jobs is to ensure that everything runs smoothly for the team, the coaches, the riders etc. and this was one job that required a lot of nurturing all the way through the Equine Canada office until the canisters were inserted this morning and the vests fitted to the riders two hours before they went on course.

The ** riders were very impressive and solid, with Will and Midleton jumping around clear moving up in the individual standings, but picking up a few time penalties, Melissa Boutin and Siamese Cat from Quebec had unfortunate run out at the skinny after the drop but carried on and finished with a few time penalties also. Christian Bennett had a great ride with a double clear round and moved up the standing into 5^th place. And our anchor rider, Joelle Baskerville from Alberta held her second place position with a double clear round also. She’s breathing down the neck of Area 3’s Devon Brown and Dynamic Image by 3.9 pp! As a team we are still sitting in Bronze medal contention but close behind the Silver Medal team at this time by 12 pp.

Individually the riders are currently in the following position:

Melissa Boutin and Siamese Cat (QC) 18^th

William Dow and Midleton (ON) 16th

Christian Bennett and Rolex (ON) 5^th

Joelle Baskerville and Malibu (AB) 2^nd

Our * Junior team headed out with conviction this morning, and I have to admit that it was one heck of a day. We had some awesome rides from everyone but had some disappointed riders too. All horses and riders came home sound, but unfortunately Haley, came out of the last water complex, and mistakenly jumped the Intermediate (**) skinny (beautifully I must say!). It resulted in a Technical Elimination. She was with in time and had no jumping penalties at that point, so needless to say Haley, the trooper that she is, was so upset with herself. She did however, put her game/team face on and came back down to the vet box, helped and cheered on the rest of the team on. We also had an unfortunate parting of the ways of Liza and Karla, but once again, everyone was OK and the team camaraderie took over. Liza helped everyone continue to cool down their horses and was right in there up to her elbows in ice water! April Simmonds, whose birthday was today, had a clear jumping round, but picked up some time penalties along the way. Brook Pickering had an incredible round going double clear. Our anchor rider Sable Giesler had a spectacular round and also posted a double clear. After Brooks’ and Sables’ round they both moved up the standings, with Brook to 4^th place and Sable into the Gold medal position going into tomorrow’s show jumping. As a team, be are sitting in Bronze Medal contention with only 1pp separating us from the Silver.

Individually, the riders sit in the following positions going into show jumping tomorrow:

April Simmonds – Sunday Best 18t^h

Brook Pickering – Abbey Rhode 4^th

Sable Giesler – Evil Munchkin 1st

We had some fun visitors today in the vet box, David O’Connor was around and congratulated some of our riders, and we had some extra hands offered from Ontario’s Show Jumping Team, Hyde Moffat who picked up an ice cold sponge and helped cool the horses down. He had never seen or worked in the vet box before, but we explained it to him and put him to work! Also having Peter Gray, Kyle Carter, Jessica Phoenix, Rebecca Howard, what more human horse power can a Young Rider team have to be successful!

The weather cooperated with us today, with cloudy skies throughout the morning, but the skies let loose and torrential downpour and thunderstorm this afternoon that stopped the dressage freestyle. This gave us a chance to bond as a team even more. The Canadian team celebrated April’s birthday with a cake and some birthday wishes from everyone. The team jogged the horses after they had their fluids, ice boots and massages, and every horse looked good going into the evening. The riders had the competitor’s party this evening at the horse park, hopefully everyone is having fun J and will get enough rest tonight, as they will have a very early morning tomorrow ensuring the horses are good for the jog.

To say the least, tomorrow is going to be an exciting day for Ontario and Canada at these Championships! I won’t be able to get tomorrow’s report done until I get back to Ontario, maybe Monday morning, but will finalize this incredible week we have had here at the North American Young Riders Championships in Kentucky.

Linda

Friday July 29th

The Ontario Juniors (CCI*) riders rode their dressage tests today in the early morning. The weather was a carbon copy morning as yesterday when our Young Riders rode. Ontario Junior Riders * team consists of Haley Armstrong- Laframboise and Ichabod, April Simmonds and Sunday Best, Brook Pickering and Abbey Rhode and Sable Giesler and Evil Munchkin. Our individual rider is Liza Igochine and Karla.

The competition got under way at 8:00 am with Haley as our first rider. Haley and Ichabod rode well, but had a minor glitch in their test but finished strong and Haley was the first back to cheer the rest of her team on. Next in was our youngest member of the team, April Simmonds on Sunday Best who rode a bold and brave test, and was sitting in second until right before the end of the dressage phase. Our next rider was our individual rider, Liza Igochine on Karla, who had an accurate and forward test. Brook Pickering, riding in her first NAJYRC, had a lovely, pleasant, accurate test. Our final anchor team rider, Sable Giesler had another forward, engaged and brave test, on Evil Munchkin leaving her in 3^nd place with only one horse to go in the dressage phase. At the end of the dressage competition, our team was in 2nd place with 1.7 penalty points separating first to second!

Individually the riders are currently in the following position:

Haley Armstrong-Laframboise - Ichabod 25th

April Simmonds – Sunday Best 5^th

Brook Pickering – Abbey Rhode 9^th

Sable Giesler – Evil Munchkin 3^rd

Liza Igochine – Karla 14^th

The event riders have a busy few hours ahead of them – organizing the vet box, making sure all equipment is ready to go, do that final course walk, get focused and have a good night sleep. The cross country courses look challenging for these levels, David O’Connor and the ground jury has been monitoring the weather all week, with the extreme heat that we have been having, they have closed the interval times to 3 minutes apart which will get both divisions completed by 11:00 am. There are cloudy skies in the forecast, 70 F temperatures for the ** when they start at 8:00 am and up to 83F by the time the last * rider goes. So we won’t need to deal with the sun, but the chance of rain is good by the time the last few horses go.

All horses look good, we’ve been monitoring water intake all week also giving electrolytes and our team Veterinarian, Dr. Kathryn Surasky arrived today to give everyone a final look tonight before they were all tucked in for the evening.

Our air vests are arriving tomorrow morning just in time for cross country from one of our major sponsors - Point Two Air Vests and thanks so much for bringing them from Ontario to Kentucky (Kelly List and Bill Bennett)! The riders will appreciate them! All riders are pumped for cross country day – wish us luck for safe, successful rides from everyone!

Linda

Day 2 at NAJYRC!!

Thursday July 28th^h.

Today was dressage day for the Canadian Combined Young Riders ** team of William Dow (ON), Melissa Boutin (QC), Christian Bennett (ON) and Joelle Baskerville (AB). The dressage this year was held in the centre of the race course, next to the historical Big Barn. It was about a 15 min walk from the stabling – good warm up time for the horses.

The organizers felt that we should be separated from the yearly Kentucky Summer Festival, a 6 week hunter- jumper show that is held annually at the horse park, usually the same week as NAJYRC. In the past few years we have been stabled right in the thick of this competition, amongst the golf carts and confusion. This year, they have us stabled in our own stabling complex, in lovely temporary stables up by the Rolex arena, much closer to the cross country, the schooling area (other than the dressage area) hospitality tent and discipline offices. I think I forgot to mention yesterday that this year they have the most entries in the NAJYRC since they have started this competition – 175 riders in all disciplines!

The day started early with schooling opening up at 6:00am - still dark here in Kentucky, but at a cool 22 C degrees. The competition got under way at 7:30 with William Dow from Ontario as our first rider. Will and Midleton’s dressage has improved so much since we first saw him this spring, Midleton warmed up like a champion and Will rode very smart in his test. Next in was our Quebec rider Melissa Boutin riding Siamese Cat who rode a nice, accurate test. Our Ontario rider Christian Bennett riding Rolex was next to go, who put in his best test ever, putting him in 2^nd place at that point! Our anchor and returning NAJYRC ** rider from Alberta, Joelle Baskerville and Malibu, put in the test of her life, an accurate, forward and engaged test, leaving her in 1st place with 4 horses to go in the division. At the end of the dressage competition, our team was in 3^rd place with 8 penalty points separating first to third and Joelle 2nd individually!

Individually the riders are currently in the following position:

William Dow and Midleton (ON) 20th

Melissa Boutin and Siamese Cat (QC) 15^th

Christian Bennett and Rolex (ON) 7^th

Joelle Baskerville and Malibu (AB) 2^nd

The temperature was heating up and by the time we were finished at 10:45 am it was already 28 degrees C! (97F was the forcasted temperaturefor the afteroon), so we headed into air conditioning in the afternoon. Thank goodness for our sponsored shirts from Equestrian Factory Outlet, they kept the Canucks cool with the “Cool Canuck” shirts, the riders commented on how hot they were coming out of the ring after test, and how hot they would have been if they had to wear their jackets.

The event riders took advantage of the afternoon to watch the other disciplines – show jumping started this afternoon and the endurance does their 75 mile ride tomorrow. That will be interesting to watch for sure – especially their vet boxes in this heat!

Tomorrow our Junior Riders start…and they are READY!

Linda

Joelle Baskerville (AB)

Wednesday July 27^th.

Well the heat wave continues! We thought it was hot in Ontario last week, well, we are still in it! However, they seem to have had more rain than we have, as the grass is still green, and the footing is amazing. Heat advisory for tomorrow, but our CCI** Young Riders ride dressage in the morning and will be done before it gets too hot.

All * and ** horses passed the vet inspection today with flying colours, all riders - despite the heat - looked very crisp, clean and professional and all represented Ontario and Canada in true Canadian fashion. This evening the Opening Ceremonies occurred with the Canadian Dressage team going in first and being seated in the stands close to the arena walls. As each Canadian team came up onto the podium for pictures, and when they were being seated in the grandstands, they cheered, clapped and waved with Canadian and Provincial flags. They were super and all the Canadian teams joined in. In the end, when the reiners came in there was quite a loud noise coming from the grandstand!! We also had a demonstration of the next discipline to be added to the Young Riders and that is VAULTING. They hope have it as a non-championship event next year – similar to the Endurance that is added as a non Championship event this year.

All the Canadian Eventers, Dressage and Show Jumping teams were supplied “Cool Canuck” shirts for the Opening Ceremonies from one of our wonderful sponsors, Equestrian Factory Outlet. Thank you again Marc and Victoria Nicols!!

Getting back to the heat, the Ground Jury advised the riders today that due to health and safety reasons, the jackets for dressage and show jumping will NOT be allowed. I’ve been coming to the Championships for 11 years now and this is the first time that they have made the no jacket rule mandatory. We plan on doing some photo op’s with the riders with their jackets on prior to or after, but it was deemed in the best interest of the riders to do this. Tomorrow’s temperatures are to be in the high 90’s (F). So the riders will put EFO’s Cool Canuck shirt to the test in dressage – they say that if the material gets wet, it actually cools the skin. The dressage riders wore theirs today in their tests and said they were wonderful.

We have a great support group of coaches, parents, grooms and organizers, we even have some support from our current Canadian Eventing team members.

Being an FEI event with multiple disciplines in one stabling area, the stewarding is very strict. The riders have to adhere the scheduled times for schooling, grazing and stable closure times. So if anything they are learning to organize themselves and be ready to go when they need to go, or they will miss their window of opportunity!

All in all, the riders are becoming very close, cohesive teams and the camaraderie is really starting to show! Stay tuned for details of tomorrow’s results of the ** dressage scores.

Linda

FEI and USEF have approved, the following date and location for the 2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). "Kentucky Horse Park July 27 - July 31, 2011.

As competitors begin to plan their 2011 competition seasons the USEF is providing this information so Juniors, Young Riders and their Chef d'Equipes can plan accordingly.

An indepth explanation of the NAJYRC can be found here.

General Guidelines for the Ontario Selection for the NAJYRC

From the results of those eligible athletes who have complied with the minimum criteria, the selection committee will assess the performance, fitness and consistency of each horse/rider combination. The selection committee reserves the right not to select any horse/rider if, in its opinion, or that of a veterinarian or doctor, horse/rider is unfit, unsound or unsafe.
Decisions of the selection committee are final. Appeals to decisions must be made, in writing, to the chair of the Young Riders program, within 48 hours of the decision being announced. Final dates for long and short list selections will be announced when the 2010 competition dates are finalized.
The selection will be determined using the following percentage based system: a) 50% - Competition Consistency b) 30% - Soundness and fitness c) 15% - Competitive Attitude d) 5 % - Competitive Results
There will be some specified selection trials for the Ontario Young Riders team. Selectors will also be at some Ontario preliminary and intermediate horse trials and of the out-of-province competitions.
Completion of at least one out-of-province competition between August and June is required to meet the minimum qualification criteria for each division. This may include CCI* and CCI** events.
Final placings and complete scores (i.e. dressage percentages, jumping and time penalties cross country and jumping penalties showjumping) for all qualifying horse trials, CIC’s and CCI’s must be accurately reported to the selection committee. This can be done via email to Caroline Morshead at killustyfarm@hotmail.com
There will be a mandatory soundness assessment (jog up) for short listed competitors from all NAJYRC divisions. A date and venue will be announced. Any rider who cannot make this jog must notify the chair of the selection committee at least 48 hours in advance and make alternative arrangements.
It is mandatory that all competitors who have declared their intention to compete at NAJYRC, attend all the clinics with the team coach prior to the NAJYRC training camp. If a declared rider is unable to attend a scheduled mandatory clinic, a justifiable reason will be submitted for discussion with the selection committee within 3 days of the scheduled clinic. Spring clinic dates and locations are still being confirmed. It is intended that approximately three clinics will be held and that they will be spread across the province. Selection preference will be given to horse/rider combinations that show consistency in their horse trials performance and have met the FEI requirements for Championships. There will be no exceptions to the above guidelines.