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Jun 11, 2012
The Shepherds of Area V
Fleeceworks is proud to announce their Sponsorship of the Area V Young Riders Teams. They would like to invite all of our fans to follow the journey to the North American Junior/Young Riders Championships in Kentucky on their website as well as the USEA site with Area V Young Rider, Jacob Fletcher.
Greetings from Area V Young Riders! Jacob Fletcher here. We have been on quite a ride this year and thought you all might want to take it with us!! Our trip began in January, where most of us have been sprinting around the countryside in a frenzied attempt to get qualified all winter and spring season. We have been everywhere: from the Ocala CCI* and CCI2* to the opposite end of the Country where some are going to Colorado Horse Park’s upcoming CCI* and CCI2*. Somewhere during all of our own shows, we had to take time out to see the show we all dream about going to…Rolex! Here my teammate Avery and I were lucky enough to meet up with the people from Fleeceworks. They have graciously decided to sponsor our Young Riders team this year, so we have decided to record our travels through a blog.
Having just recently qualified at the Chattahoochee CIC2*, I can relax and stretch for a bit, but I still have a long way until team selection and bidding farewell to Area V on board Coach Mike Huber’s beast of a horse trailer! (I think it is safe to say we look like the “Clampits” aka the Beverly Hillbillies traveling down the highway. If only we could find a way to strap Mrs. Diane Pitts our Area Coordinator to the top in her rocking chair.) Just kidding, Diane like all of the other people involved in our young rider program are the best!
I, like many other aspiring young riders, will be staying at Mike Huber’s barn in Bartonville, Texas for the summer in preparation for Young Riders. Two weeks prior to our voyage to the Kentucky Horse Park, the infamous Area V Young Riders Boot Camp begins at Mike Huber’s barn, where we scrub his infinitely long concrete hallway with toothbrushes. OK, maybe it’s not that harsh, but we probably do the equivalent to that in our intense lessons in the unforgiving Texas summer heat! It’s a hard life for us Young Riders who ride until noon and then head to lunch, the mall, Mike’s swimming pool, Six Flags, or an abundance of other entertaining events. (It is tough to be from Area V hanging out together in Dallas.) Seriously, though we work very, very hard. We want to win! We want to be the best! And we definitely want to keep those awesome sheepskin pads coming our way!!!
I think you will enjoy coming along with us on this journey to Young Riders. For those of you who have never been to the Championships it can be like the proverbial “Agony and the Ecstasy”. Things can be going fantastically and then unexpectedly take a turn for the worse. The thing I have found about eventers is that they always seem to persevere. Either way, in Area V there never seems to be a dull moment! On this trek, you will be hearing from riders, coaches, grooms, and kids participating in the mentorship program at this year’s North American Junior Young Rider Championship. This year, we are expecting to have a full team and two individuals on the CCI* team, and a full team and one individual on the CCI** team. Just an introduction to a few of us.
Riders trying out for the CCI* include:
Tori New and Fleeceworks Mystere Du Val (Must be a good omen! Good Horse ... Great product!
Alyssa Phillips and Exploring
Jordan Payton and Slew’s Aftershock
Audrey Figari and Land Des Feuers
Brindley House and Might Be Regal
Diana Heinrich and Weja Annabridget
Taylor Wood and On Eagle’s Wings
Ann O’Neal Pevahouse and Don Bosco
Riders trying out for the CCI2* include:
Jacob Fletcher (myself) and The Prof
Alexa Ehlers and In Any Event
Avery Klunick and In it to Win It
Mary Frances Cargile and Take the Mick
Emma Kate Fisher and Carlingford’s Forever
Dec 23, 2024
Education
Saddle Fit Simplified
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Dec 22, 2024
USEA Foundation
Top Tips for Applying for a USEA Foundation Grant
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
Dec 21, 2024
Education
3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Dec 20, 2024
Sponsor
“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
