Young Rider Advancement Program

The Young Rider Advancement Program (YRAP) is a sub-program of the existing Young Rider Program. Within each Area, the existing Young Rider Program has essentially been divided into two parts. The YRAP and NAYC branches each function in cooperation with the other and operate under the facilitation of the Area Young Rider Coordinator.

The YRAP is designed to present Beginner Novice through Preliminary level young riders with a structured developmental process that will provide the education and skills they need to progress through the levels, and eventually into the ranks of the North American Youth Championships (NAYC).

At the USEA Annual Meeting in Portland in 2001, the concept of the new Young Rider Advancement Program (YRAP) was introduced, as outlined in a proposal put forth by the Active Young Rider Committee. The YRAP is intended to provide the average young rider with the vital steps of a developmental process from the earliest levels of competition. This program focuses on those riders from the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels, prior to their ascension into the ranks of the NAYC developmental program. While we can't reasonably replace the educational process of a traditional apprenticeship under an established and accomplished rider, we have created a program to expose riders to educational opportunities. The YRAP activities vary by Area, based on their needs. The YRAP structure encompasses a variety of clinics, camps,referrals and educational activities which provide the educational development necessary for a young rider's progression into the NAYC program, eventual recognition by the US Equestrian developmental programs, and their ultimate ascension into international ranks. While many young riders never endeavor to progress this far in their riding careers, the steps will nevertheless be in place for them to accomplish whatever competitive goals they may have. The goal in organizing this program is to create a structure which similarly parallels the structure of the NAYC program and the US Equestrian developmental programs so that riders may become familiar with this format from the beginning.