New Heights
N E W
H E I
G H T S
by Diane Korsh A Mother’s Story of a Trip to The Young Riders Championships
I
ing out on an extremely exciting event. In the summer of 2007 our family, my daughter Danielle (Dani), along with our horse San Diego, set off for Lexington, Virginia and the North American Young Rider Cham- pionships. Then this summer, 2011, it was déjà vu as all of us headed out again, but this time for Lexington, Kentucky. The climate was similar in both Lexington’s, hot and often times extremely uncomfortable. Thankfully the event in Kentucky was held at a beautiful equestrian facility in an out- door arena where breeze and shade were easily accessible. This year, the Zone 10 Young Rid-
ers Team consisted of: Cayla Richards, Danielle Korsh, Kendall Skreden (who placed fifth overall- congratu- lations!), and Sage Flynn. The Zone 10 Junior Riders Team was Hannah Warde, Kilian McGrath, Brittany Al-
f you have never been to NA- JYRC competition, you are miss-
brecq, and Madison Bradshaw. The Chef d’equipe for both Teams was Kelly Van Vleck who did a great job at organizing the group and forming them into a cohesive unit that sup- ported and rooted for each other. It is never easy for the California
athletes, horses and riders alike, to travel East in the summer. They are conditioned, trained and compete in much more temperate climates. This year Kentucky was experiencing one of the hottest summers in recent his- tory and the day the team arrived in Kentucky it was nearly 100 degrees. The Championship began on
ever, the other members from Zone 10 did extremely well in the class with lots of clean, fast rounds. The second day of the competition
Thursday with a speed class and riders would carry their faults throughout the remainder of the weekend. As luck would have it, Dani’s horse spooked at the third jump and they ran by it. She turned back around, gave it her all and rode the rest of the round fast and flawless ending up in seventeenth place at the end of the first day. How-
Above: Larry Langer and Shelby French with the California Girls. Photo © Sportfot 34
is always Team day, which happens to be my favorite day of the Cham- pionships. The jumps are raised and the riders compete together as teams, against other teams representing the various Zones of the United States as well as Mexico and Canada. The Junior Rider Team jumps at the 1.40 meter level while the Young Rider Team jumps the 1.50 meter level. The courses were big and technical. The Junior Team was off to a good start but unfortunately, they were unable to rank in the top three Medal positions. The 1.50 meter Young Riders
Team went later in the day. Cayla led off for the Team and had two beautiful rounds. Dani rode sec- ond and was much more focused and self-assured then I had seen her. She had never disappointed a team
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