Canadian Pony Club - National Dressage Championships By By Liana Shaw
T
he 2015 National Dressage Championships, held July 15-19 at Olds College, was a fabulous success! Fourteen riders from across the country met in Olds to be paired up with 15 grooms for a competition they will not soon forget. Nine different Pony Club Regions from New Brunswick/PEI to the BC Interior were represented. The competition was only one aspect of their stay; Olds College campus was a destination in itself, and off-campus activities filled their spare time. A private lesson with clinician Christina Seidel kicked things off. As horses had been borrowed from around the Alberta Central Pony Club Region, horse-rider matches had to be approved at the introductory clinic before each groom and rider team entered into the championships. The Championships consisted of riders performing three dressage tests over the four-day competition; Training Level and First Level were the two divisions offered. Borrowed horses added an interesting component to the show -- even local members were not permitted to ride their own horses. Both horse lenders and parents alike
enjoyed seeing their charges in the capable hands of a new competitor. Though few Regions sent grooms, riders did not go without. Local Pony Club branches rallied their troops to produce a groom for each rider and one to manage the spare horses that were kept on site. While the competition was tight and all riders and grooms produced high scores on ridden tests, stable management and turnout, Grand Champions emerged. Spare time was scarce as Olds has so much to offer. An Olds College recruiting representative took the competitors on a short tour of the college and talked extensively about the programs offered and opportunities available. An interesting array of fields are offered at Olds College from Brewing Beer to Meat Cutting, Hotel Hospitality to Farriery, lots of agricultural programs, even Fashion, and our favourites -Equine and Animal Sciences. Swimming and bowling were other activities the group participated in around Olds. The Town of Olds proved to be the perfect location to host this National Competition.
Vernon Young Riders By Abby McLuskey
I
want to tell everyone how terrific Stock Show 2015 was. It was at the IPE grounds July 6-10 in Armstrong BC. It was sooo much fun and I think everyone had the best time ever!!!! We all gathered with the 4-H Beef clubs for the opening ceremonies and after that we played games, not on horseback but mixing with all the other 4-H clubs. We played with water balloons, had super large sack races and winning teams got 4-H water bottles. Thanks to Sean and Nicole Currie for our new blue beautiful western shirts that we all wore to the opening ceremonies. Overall, Stock Show was absolutely amazing and we would like to also thank our leader Lorna Kotz for all the work she does to put together this show, along with Diana Dore and Amanda Morgan. This wouldn’t be possible without you guys!!!! We had many members who achieved awards at the end of the show, listed below… LYDIA COATES. Reserve Champion Jr. Horse Judging Reserve Champion Jr. Showmanship 40 • Saddle Up • September 2015
ABBY MCLUSKEY Reserve Champion Jr. Equitation Reserve Champion Jr. Trail Champion Jr. Pleasure 1st Educational Display Board LILLIAN BATTEN Reserve Champion Int. Trail GEORGIA CURRIE Reserve Champion Int. Hippology Test Reserve Champion Int. Showmanship MORGAN SENGOTTA Champion Sr. Jumping
Leader Lorna Kotz and her CLOVERBUDS
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS. We can’t wait till next year!!!!!!
Vernon Young Riders
Abby, Morgan, Lydia and Lillian HCBC 2010 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR