30/ JANUARY 2011 THE RIDER This Place Is Fantastic!


Orangeville, Ontario’s Mikala Chesler echoed those words this past Holi- day Show Series New Year’s weekend. Begin- ning 2011 with a winning week during for her first time showing on the newly revamped Palm Beach Equestrian Center show- grounds elicited, “this place is fantastic.” Natural- ly, that would be her response. Her champi- onship was on Sher-Al Farm’s eight year old Selle Francais gelding Gandhi in the low child/adult jumpers.


As a child, she rode in the small pony division for one short year. Mikala now 15, stopped riding seven years ago for ice skating and became an


accomplished competitive figure skater. When asked about the possibility of falling off, she related that since beginning to ride again this past August, she has taken a tumble or two and according to Mikala it does not appear to be that big of a deal-yet. She added, “When I was learn- ing my double and triple jumps, I did more face plants on the ice than you could shake a stick at. I did a dirt skid the other day and later found it every- where!”


Mikala is here for the winter hoping to move up a division or two before end of season. She has big aspirations but comes from a ‘horsey family’ where can’t is not part of their


vocabulary. Mikala is coached by her sister Cana- dian Team rider Frankie Chesler. Fortunately, she has the opportunity to ride some of the other farm mounts and they have taught her plenty. Her father, Alan keeps a watch- ful eye on her.


Mikala relates the dis- cipline of skating; the bal- ance, posture, timing, posi- tion and developing an eye to riding. Hers is on the long side, which her sister is trying to shorten. She has said that when skating, the set up is crucial and there is a point of no return where you must jump or miss the element. In con- versation, she said, “your visual level looks far for- ward and rises as well as


Orangeville, Ontario’s Mikala Chesler


your posture when setting up and riding is very equiv- alent.” Her execution of the course still looks as though she is skating, because there is a gliding effect throughout the pattern. While here for the winter the Orangeville Dis- trict Secondary Public School student attends Dil- lon Country Day School as well as fitness with Grace Huber at Ultima Gym. Fit- ness and nutrition was a major ingredient of skating and she wants to keep wearing those skinny jeans! So far, Mikala is off to a great start. However, the season is long and arduous but she is making new friends, having lots of fun and very appreciative to be part of everything.


2010 Equine Canada


Bronze Officials Subsidy Pilot a Success


Ottawa, ON—The Equine Canada Competitions and Officials Committees are pleased to announce the success of the Equine Canada Bronze Officials Sub- sidy Program in 2010. Developed as a pilot in 2010, the Equine Canada Bronze Officials Subsidy Program awarded more than $6500 in funding to organizers of Equine Canada Bronze competitions.


Twenty two Bronze competitions in eight provinces representing the disciplines of hunter/jumper, endurance, driving, dressage, breed sports, reining, eventing, general performance and Pony Club received funding upon successful comple- tion of the application process demonstrating need for


Lamaze Continued from Page 29


attendance. It marked the mare’s first time competing in the 1.60m grand prix events, which is the top level of show jumping sport.


“Our results in Geneva were a good way to finish the year,” said Lamaze, who will now travel to his win- ter base in Wellington, Florida, to contest the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival. “The past four weeks were really great for my horses, and the young ones got some good experience and exposure. It was fantastic that Hickstead could finish out the year like this.” All of Lamaze’s horses will now be shipped to Florida, with Hickstead having time off to concentrate on his breeding duties. Lamaze plans to start Hickstead back in competition near the end of the Florida circuit and have him fit and ready for the European spring sea- son.


financial assistance in obtaining suitable Equine Canada officials for their competitions. Following the 2010 success Equine Canada Competitions Com- mittee and Officials Committee have agreed to extend the program with a few administrative improvements for 2011. An application package for this program will be available to organizers of Equine Canada sanctioned Bronze competitions shortly, at www.equinecanada.ca.


“I am pleased that our two committees were able to work together to create and implement this first ever funding program to competition organizers of EC Bronze competitions this year. By providing sup- port to these organizers, who are often challenged financially in bringing qualified officials to their competitions we have helped our organizers provide the best possible product for exhibitors across this country at the Bronze level,” said Anne Welch, chair of the Equine Canada Competitions Committee. “It was a priority of the Equine Canada Officials Committee to ensure that this program promoted the use of Canadian officials at these competitions. All of the subsidized officials were licensed by Equine Canada,” explained Jill Barton, chair of the Equine Canada Officials Committee.


Additional details about the Equine Canada Bronze Officials Subsidy program are available from the Equine Canada Competitions department at com- petitions@equinecanada.ca.


About Equine Canada


For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.


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