44 JULY 2022 THE RIDER
12 Students Participate in MET Grant Week at Stonewall Farm
Ixonia, Wisconsin - This week, 12 Metropolitan Equestrian Team students received grants for a week-long equestrian training session at Emily Elek’s Stonewall Farm in Ixonia, Wis- consin. During the first day of the training session, MET students rode in two to three riding les- sons and learned from hands-on demonstrations from veterinarian Dr. Shannon Roska from Johnson Equine Veterinary Service as well as Kendra Skorstad of Sko- rstad Farrier Service. “Having these students
here has been an amazing expe-
passionate about horses and learning, providing students na- tionwide with grants to attend programs and prepare for college. Stonewall Farm has been an im- mersive equestrian education learning site for MET students since 2019. “These student athletes are headed off into an amazing week of mounted and unmounted in- struction,” says Lana Ciaramella, Director of Operations and Rid- ing Programs at MET. “Coming off a month-long Clarkson Uni- versity equine course, taught by Dr. Piper Klemm, has given them
students watched and
discussed
day discussing hooves and taking student questions while shoeing various horses and ponies in their rehab processes. “Teaching young equestri-
ans is so important because we need so many more people in all aspects of the equine industry, and veterinary medicine in par- ticular. Only 6% of veterinary school graduates enter into
equine practice and 50% leave within 5 years,” says Dr. Roska. “We are lacking in large animal and equine practitioners across the country. These events are im- portant to stimulate interest and encourage kids to think about what opportunities there are.” Skorstad and Dr. Roska
worked collaboratively on a horse with a hoof abscess while
how they collab- orate with Elek on every horse from a veteri- nary, farrier, and training fitness and program per- spective to make each horse their best. All three women take the holistic approach to care from nu- trition and fitness to hoof health and accounting for performance and conforma- tion. Skorstad spoke with stu- dents about con- necting internal and
external
anatomy to help train their eyes. “We have a really cool
rience. They have been fully im- mersed in our daily training, rehab, and sales program,” says Elek. “With multiple riding les- sons a day and studying with var- ious equine professionals, they are learning really valuable les- sons.”
MET is a nonprofit organi- zation for young riders who are
a newly educated lens to experi- ence this equestrian immersion program.” Students watched Dr.
Roska perform flexion tests, joint injections, and hoof X-rays, all while learning about the veteri- nary industry and what being a general equine practitioner en- tails. Kendra Skorstad worked all
team here. It’s really important to share the team experience with young riders to show how profes- sionals communicate on behalf of the horses so they can be their best,” says Skorstad. Helen Gurley Brown Ge-
nius Grant recipients, MZ Farms Grant Recipients, and the Becky Family Grant recipient are partic- ipating in Stonewall’s training session as well as equestrian courses at Clarkson University with Dr. Piper Klemm Throughout the week, stu-
dents have been immersed in
Canadians Shine at Spruce Meadows CSI 2*/5* Pan American Over Canada Day Long Weekend
Calgary, AB, July 5, 2022 – Spruce Meadows hosted it’s second CSI 5*/2* tournament of the summer during Canada Day long weekend with the Pan American running from June 30 – July 3, 2022, at the pre- mier facility just south of Calgary. In front of an array of fans
sporting red and white to celebrate Canada Day on July 1, Jacqueline Steffens of Harriston, ON, captured the Duncan Ross Cup – 1.55m. Rac-
ing around in the course designed by Canadian Peter Grant, Steffens and Freaky (Darco x Litho X), a 12- year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she co-owns with Team Eye Candy, jumped double clear and finished with 41.27, over 24 athlete-horse combinations and four in the jump- off, including fellow Canadian Mario Deslauriers and Emerson, who finished in second place (42.90).
A day earlier, on June
30 in front of a home crowd, Jim Ifko of Calgary, AB, cap- tured the win in the Friends of Meadows
Jumper 1.50m.
Aboard Un Diamant des Forets (Diamant de Semilly x Papillon Rouge), a 14-year-old Selle Français stallion owned by Eventyre Farms Ltd, the pair finished with a blazing time of 58.77 ahead of Australia’s Katie Laurie and Cera Caruso (61.56).
Equestrian Canada
(EC) staff were on hand throughout the weekend of competition, engaging with fans and athletes, and to sell EC merchan- dise. Hats, vests and pins were being sold at the EC booth with proceeds going to support the Canadian Equestrian Team’s equipment needs for the World Championships later this summer.
Jim Ifko clearing a jump aboard Un Diamant des Forets during the Friends of the Meadows Jumper 1.50m. Photo Credit: Mike Sturk
PHOTO TOP RIGHT: Jacqueline Steffens and Freaky. On Canada Day 2022, Jacqueline Stef- fens and Freaky captured their biggest win together so far Photo Credit: Mike Sturk
hands-on learning about horse care, various equestrian job op- tions, and riding lessons. “It’s amazing for students
to see behind the scenes of a great program like Stonewall Farm. High-quality programs that have space for future indus- try professionals to learn from are essential to caring for our horses and our community long- term,” says Catherine Muzzy of MZ Farms.
Photo by Copper Arrow Photog- raphy
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