sport horse snippets
Jacob Pope Emerges as Top Talent in EAP Patti Schofler
J
acob Pope was prepared to take on a tough challenge and it paid off. He proved his metal when he earned top honors at the USHJA Emerging
Athletes Program (EAP) National Training Session. Tested in riding, horsemanship and horse care,
the 16-year-old from Columbia, Maryland, topped 11 other finalists during the intensive four day session at the Country Ridge Stables, Mundelein, Illinois, last November to take home a $3,000 training grant, and $1,500 gift certificate from Dover Saddlery, and to earn a spot in the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Clinic in Wellington, Florida, held this past January. Jacob made his way up the ranks of the EAP,
becoming a finalist from a pool of 198 riders. Following his standing was Natalie Crane, 19, of S. Dartmouth, Massachusetts, who also received an invitation to the Morris’ Horsemastership Clinic and, along with other finalists, a $125 Dover gift certificate. “This victory gives me the confidence to do bigger
and better things,” says Jacob, who would like to pursue a professional riding and training career. “Jacob has the whole package,” says show jumping Olympic gold medalist and lead clinician Peter Wylde about the high school junior. “We all were impressed with every aspect of Jacob on every day. I look at Jacob as someone who has a future as a rider in the sport, as well as a horseman.” Jacob also demonstrated his stable management
knowledge to clinicians Jennifer Alfano and Sally Ike, and his horsemanship abilities to natural horsemanship trainer Mindy Bower. “We all felt strongly that he’s exactly what we’re
looking for. He’s the ideal, in a way—someone who has a big future and needs some doors opened, and we spotted his raw talent and want to help,” Peter adds. In its third year, the Emerging Athletes Program has
provided opportunities for young riders to advance their skills through four-day regional clinics, during which riders work with top riding clinicians and leading stable managers. They are instructed on flatwork, gymnastics, related distances and course work, as well as an intensive stable-management curriculum that incorporates proper care and grooming, horsemanship skills, and barn management.
116 March/April 2012
A thrilled Jacob Pope after the Nations Cup Format Event & overall award presentations. © USHJA Archives/Tricia Booker
Riders are invited to the EAP National Training
Session based on the riding and stable-management skills, written test results, and potential shown during regional clinics. The first two days were dedicated to flatwork and
over fences training on borrowed horses, natural horsemanship sessions, stable management and veterinary and health care issues. On the third day riders compete over a 3’6” course based on designer Linda Allen’s course for the Washington International Horse Show. They are evaluated on their riding skills, knowledge and understanding of their horse’s performance under pressure and team work. In addition to top honors going to Jacob,
other awards given during the program were for sportsmanship (Sean Summers), best written test (Julie Bravelle), stable management (Candice Schober) and horsemanship (Abagail Postle). Congratulations to Jacob and all the award winners!
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