MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE RIDER /61 Bursary Program Helps Young Equestrians Reach Their Dreams


The Ontario Equestri- an Federation is proud to present eight juniors from across the province with $1,000 through the OEF Youth Bursary program to help them achieve their equestrian goals.


sary recipients include: Melissa Bayer


“We would like to thank everyone who applied and to congratulate this year’s bursary recipi- ents,” says Dianne Gra- ham, executive director of the OEF. “Youth are our future and we are delighted to be able to help them fur- ther their riding and horse- manship skills through the bursary program.”


Each year the OEF distributes a minimum of five $1,000 bursaries to youth based on their involvement with horses, their future goals, as well as letters of recommenda- tions from their coaches. Family resources and aca- demic achievements are also considered. The bur- saries can be used towards riding lessons, clinics, competition feeds, continu- ing education and other activities that will help them develop their skills and reach their goals. The 2013 OEF Youth Bur-


Melissa Bayer plays an integral role on her fam- ily’s farm in Smiths Falls, ON. The 17-year-old has been a member of the Pony Club for 11 years, achiev- ing her B2 level. She has competed nationally in Pony Club Quiz competi- tions, placing in the top three. Dressage is Bayer’s favourite discipline and she shows her Friesian sport horse, Jisk, at Second Level. They were named champion in Freestyle at the Silver Championships and were also champion in Junior Second Level. Bayer volunteers her time with the Lanark County Thera- peutic Riding Program and assists wherever needed with Pony Club. She plans on putting her youth bur- sary funds towards becom- ing a certified instructor and also wants to compete in the FEI Junior Rider Dressage classes.


Samantha Franco


Seventeen-year-old Samantha Franco of New- market, ON. has watched her passion for horses go


from doodling pictures as a child to becoming an accomplished rider. After many years of riding school horses, part-boards and leases, she gained the skills to transform her own horse, a Thoroughbred named Teddy, from a spooky, tricky ride into a brave competitor currently showing the 1.0m Jumpers. Franco dreams of becom- ing an equine veterinarian and intends to use her youth bursary funds to assist with her tuition when she goes to university this fall.


Isabelle Gauthier


Isabelle Gauthier of New Liskeard, ON. began taking riding lessons seven years ago. Since then, the 15-year-old has competed and placed in many shows and has obtained her English Rider Level 6 in the Equine Canada Learn to Ride program. She is currently training two hors- es through natural horse- manship and looks forward to competing with them this summer. When she’s not riding, Gauthier volun- teers her time with a local therapeutic riding centre.


Gauthier plans on using her youth bursary funds to fur- ther her natural horseman- ship knowledge. She also wants to advance through the levels of the Equine Canada Learn to Ride pro- gram and perhaps pursue her instructor certification.


Alicia Vancasteren


Sixteen-year-old Ali- cia Vancasteren of Minesing, ON. began rid- ing at the age of 12 and has been taking weekly lessons ever since, competing every summer at the North Simcoe Challenge Series. Last summer, she compet- ed at her first Ontario Horse Trials Association Eventing show and hopes to compete this year at the Entry or Pre-Training Level. When she’s not rid- ing, Vancasteren can be found helping with just about everything at Seven Summits Equestrian Cen- ter. Despite her busy schedule, she still manages to maintain a 92 per cent average at Barrie North Collegiate. Vancasteren wants to use her youth bur- sary funds to improve her riding through private rid- ing lessons and clinics. The


bursary will also assist her with the costs of the upcoming show season.


Jessica Ritchie


Jessica Ritchie of Paris, ON. credits her love of horses to her grandfather and the yearling Morgan he bought when she was five years old. As horse and rider grew, they took lessons and joined 4H, as well as Pony Club. She eventually purchased her own horse, Flirt, which she took lessons on. However, the mare developed health issues last spring that took a financial toll on Ritchie and sidelined her riding. The 17-year-old hopes to use her youth bursary funds to continue to care for her horse and begin taking rid- ing lessons again to reach her goal of showing on the Trillium level.


Eszter Simon


Eszter Simon of Ottawa, ON. got hooked on horses during a week-long riding camp when she was 10 years old. She came back for several weeks each year for the next three years and the rest, as they say, is history. From there


she progressed to weekly riding lessons and has part- leased a horse for the past several years. Simon plans on using her youth bursary funds to try for her Rider Level 6 in the Equine Canada Learn to Ride pro- gram and to pursue certifi- cation as an instructor. The funds will also allow the 16-year-old, who is an Honour Society Award recipient, to continue to part-lease her current equine partner.


Angelica Brisson


Angelica Brisson of Haileybury, ON. has been riding for the past eight years and currently has her Rider Level 4 in the Equine Canada Learn to Ride pro- gram. She has had the opportunity to ride a vari- ety of horses and ponies over the years, which she has shown at local horse shows. She has her D2 level with the Canadian Pony Club and hopes to use her youth bursary funds to lease a pony for the Prince Philip Games. The funds will also help offset travel costs associated with travelling from her home in northern Ontario to attend


clinics. She also plans on testing for her Rider Level 5 and Pony Club C level.


Justina Reinhart


Kitchener resident Justina Reinhart was bitten by the riding bug at the ten- der age of six years old. As she grew older and logged more time in the saddle, she gained experience and eventually got a horse of her own. Unfortunately, she discovered her horse had a chronic hoof issue and could no longer be rid- den. After investing time and money into her beloved Dominic, she got him serviceably sound for light work and found him a permanent retirement home. The 16-year-old is now leasing a Canadian sport horse mare named Sumi and hopes to return to the Trillium circuit this season. Reinhart intends to use her youth bursary funds to help pay for competition feeds so she can fulfill her dream of showing.


For more information on the OEF Youth Bursary program visit www.horse.on.ca


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72