Newsletter
Welcome to Spring Area VII Young Riders! May 2011 Newsletter
While spring has been slow to arrive in the Northwest the Area VII Young Rider program has been busy. We would like to welcome all new members to the program and let renewing members know that we are excited to have you rejoin our program.
As the event season approaches we are planning many great activities for this year’s Area VII Young Rider program. As always you can find information on our website,
www.areavii.org or feel free to email me with any questions or ideas.
Included in this newsletter is a preview of upcoming activities and a bit of information about what has been going on behind the scenes.
Clinic in Kennewick a success!
In April we held an extremely successful clinic at Tulipsprings in Kennewick. Clinicians Hawley Bennett- Awad and dressage instructor, Beth Anderson Ness, gave our YR participants great instruction for two days in dry weather. Both instructors have been part of Young Rider programs and have had the opportunity to begin their international showing experience at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. An informal question and answer was held with the instructors during our Saturday night BBQ. It was great fun to hear about their careers and showing experience. At the time, Hawley was three days away from leaving for Badminton so it was especially exciting to hear about her plans for herself and her amazing horse. We also held the second annual Easter egg hunt with prizes for all!
Area VII Young Riders chosen for Mentorship Program
We would like to congratulate members, Maria Schatz and Brynn Meuchel for being chosen to represent the Area VII Young Rider program at the North American Young Rider program in Kentucky in the mentorship program. Only 5 Young Riders in the Nation were chosen to participate in this program. Brynn and Maria will travel to Kentucky and work under a professional throughout the competition. While both girls await their placement please give them high fives for applying and being accepted to this program! We will update you on their journey as we get closer to the event.
Team Competition Kick off at Northwest
This weekend at Northwest marks the first of the three competitions where Young Rider teams will be chosen at the BN – T levels to compete against each other for prizes. Team members will be selected this week and receive notification on their stall doors at NWEC indicating their team placement. Team entries will be paid for by the Area VII program. All questions can be referred to Jay Benge, team program coordinator at 941-961-0236. We wish good luck to all competitors this weekend! Additional YR team competitions will be held at Whidbey and the Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials. If you have not yet rejoined do so quickly in order to be considered for a future team this summer!
Young Rider Team at Inavale ½ Star
Be a part of the Area VII Young Rider team at the Inavale ½ Star in June. If you are planning on riding in the training level half star and would like to join the YR team please let me know by June 1st. Team members will wear YR team colors, use the saddle pads and stall guards and borrow team helmet covers. A course walk by YR team coach, Jonathan Elliott, will take place and help in the vet box will be provided. Riders are welcome to train, stable and walk the course with their own trainer as well.
Area VII Young Rider Summer Camp
The always popular summer camp is proving to be so again this summer. This year’s camp held at Aspen Farms, June 28- July 1 is already three quarters full. Great instruction by Karen O’Neal, Tiffani Loudon Meetze, Jonathan Elliott and Jean Moyer along with the fabulous meals by chef, Gina Erskine makes this a winning combination! Entries may be found on our website and will be accepted in the order received. Don’t miss out!
Area VII Young Rider Social
Our first summer social will be held at Aspen Farms Horse Trials on Friday at 7:30. Come meet other members in the program at the covered pavilion and join in on the 3rd annual scavenger hunt. Young Rider membership T-shirts will be available to pick up as well. Don’t miss out on the fun and cupcakes!
North American Young Rider Championships
This year’s prestigious international competition will be held in July at the world renowned Kentucky Horse Park. Riders in Dressage, Eventing, Jumpers and Reining will come together to compete at one time at the Horse Park. Area VII Young Riders are busy completing their qualifications in order to become candidates for this One and Two Star Championship Event. To date, riders have sent in letters of intent and in mid May will send in their official application to the USEF. At that time riders will be considered Area VII YR candidates and begin the selection process. An independent selection committee will make the decision on which riders will be eligible for travel to the competition to represent Area VII. Riders who aspire to ride at this competition should read the Area VII Selection Process guidelines which will be posted to the webpage. This process is fairly extensive and often takes several years to complete. The FEI has age restrictions making it often difficult to complete the requirements before a ride “ages out”. Please contact myself or coach, Jonathan Elliott, if you have any questions.
Area VII Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials
Each year the Young Rider program holds its major fundraiser, The Benefit Horse Trials in August. This will be our second year at Lincoln Creek in Chehalis. Proceeds from the event help send team members to the North American Young Rider Championships, subsidize camps and clinics, and buy prizes for the team awards program. Please help us make this year even bigger and better by helping to procure auction items, desserts, and sponsorships for the HT or the YR program.
Please contact our sponsorship coordinator, Diane Snow, with any sponsorship information and/or questions. Diane may be reached at the following email,
diane@gallopssaddlery.com
We encourage all YR’s to come and volunteer at the event during the HT and help clean up the facility the weekend prior.
If for any reason you do not wish to be on this mailing list please let us know.
We look forward to a fun summer! We’ll see you soon!
Piper Cheney
Area VII Coordinator
253-549-4130 – phone
253-459-3805 - cell
February 2011 Newsletter available to read.
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January 2011 Newsletter available to read.
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Fall 2010 Newsletter available to read.
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January 2010 Newsletter available to read.
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July 2009 Newsletter available for download.
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February 2008 Newsletter available to read.
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June 2007 Newsletter available for download.
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May 2007 Newsletter available for download.
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