Young riders challenge veterans in the Grand Prix show jumping arena.
ROADTOTHE MACLAY Sometimes it is not possible for even the best young riders to advance as quickly as they would like. Maggie McAlary of Amherst, New Hampshire first gained stardom in the equitation ring when, in 2006 at the age of 16, she won both the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals. In 2008, she finished up her highly successful junior career by taking the victory in the three-round Inaugural George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation competition.
goals being set are realistic. I believe I was ready, because I was showing a horse I had for two years that I felt very comfortable on. I knew that if I did make a mistake, he would be able to handle it.” When the decision is made to advance to the next level,
any responsible trainer will make sure that all the appropriate skills are in place before entering a young rider in a class. While the obstacles in the Open Jumpers are bigger than that in the Young Riders and High Junior Jumpers (which can reach Level 8: fences 4’6” to 4’9” in height; 4’9” to 5’3” in spread; triple bars to 5’9” and water to 12’6” in some zones, including Florida), it is the technical questions that are asked on the course that pose the biggest challenge to the newcomer.
A SEASONED MOUNT Parents and students rely on their trainer for many things, from their skills as an instructor to their good judgment and ability to make educated and safe decisions on their behalf. The trainer’s job is not just about teaching horsemanship but also making sure that their clients are safe, appropriately mounted and competing at the correct level for their ability and experience. It is not only the coach that is key to a young rider
“I had done a few small
Grand Prix classes when I was 14 and 15,” remembers Maggie, who was also featured in Animal Planet’s reality show Road to the Maclay. “The first real big class I did was a 1.50m at the Winter Equestrian Festival with my horse Pedro, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Indoctro. He was nine years old at the time and I was 16 and riding with Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith at Heritage Farm.” Maggie made the jump to the Open Division at a relatively
Maggie McAlary in 2005 competing Pedro at the WIHS.
slow speed, especially considering her riding resume. “I had to wait until my horses were ready before I could move up. My parents did a great job supporting my riding dreams. But it was financially better for us to buy younger horses and produce them for a few years, rather than buying older, more experienced mounts. We bought Pedro as a seven-year-old and took our time with him. When he was ready, we moved up to the next level together,” she explains. Now 23 and a professional, Maggie works for well-known
European trainer François Mathy. She has been busy at his Ecurie Francois Mathy in Belgium and competing at two and three-star horse shows around Europe. “I think it’s really exciting to see young riders in these classes. Some of these kids are very lucky and have the opportunity to ride great horses with the help of top professionals. But,” she cautions, “it is important that a child is not put in over his or her head. I think that’s the job of the management, to make sure that the
mounts are well-prepped and seasoned veterans themselves. In fact, it is not unusual to see a young rider on a Grand Prix mount that is the same age (or even older) than they are! Eighteen-year-old Charlotte Jacobs of East Aurora, New
Charlotte Jacobs on Promised Land at the WIHS.
York trains with Missy Clark and John Brennan at North Run in Warren, Vermont. Her road to the Grand Prix was a traditional
Warmbloods Today 27
moving up to the Open division; the horse is equally as important. While many juniors “catch” ride horses they are not familiar with on a regular basis, it is rare to see a brand new partnership in the Grand Prix ring. Both the trainer and the rider want to have confidence in the horse’s ability, scope and experience. These traits will no doubt come into play if there is a mistake or miscalculation made on course. Normally these
Courtesy Phelps Media
Diana DeRosa
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