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World Cup Workshops Three workshops are scheduled at Clover Leaf Stables for the following dates: Archie Hurst and Terry Johnson will be the clinicians. The workshops are $200.00 each. World Cup riders are expected to attend. For more information, please contact Terry. 2010 World Cup Article World Cup Saddleseat Equitation Team 2012 On Dec 2-4 2011, 17 riders tried out for the 2012 Canadian Saddle Seat team. The trials were held at Cloverleaf Stables in Edmonton Alberta. The judges for the event were David Brent and Terry Johnson. 17 riders were put through 2 mock World Cup experiences. The riders each drew 2 horses, & order of go. The riders were marked on rail and pattern work, with only a short warm up time, on horses they had never ridden before. We would like to congratulate all the riders that tried out, and felt that the calibre of the riders has increased over the past few years. The riders that will be going forward to compete for Canada in South Africa are: And the alternates are #1 Haillie Mackay & #2 Allison Williams. I would like to thank Archie and Leslie Hurst for hosting the event, and donating their facility and horses for the competition, and the judges for donating their time. We are now organising 3 Workshops to be held in 2012, to help the riders train for World Cup. The dates will be announced very soon. We look forward to working with all the riders over the next year and we would also encourage other riders to prepare for the next World Cup in 2014! Terry Johnson Chair EC Saddle Seat Committee
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The 2010 Canadian World Cup Team
Opening Ceremonies World Cup Report By Kim Ross The week of October 3 rd to 8 th marked the World Saddleseat Equitation Championship in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Equitation is described as “the art and practice of riding a horse”. The test is not of the horse, but of the rider’s ability to get the very best out of his or her mount while maintaining the appropriate form and gait required for Saddleseat. With three – and five –gaited teams competing from Germany, Great Britain, South Africa and United States - Canada once again had its work cut out. Both the German and UK teams had spent time in the US training under well known Saddleseat barns, with the German Team being coached by Americans. It was clear that Canada was going to have to work hard for a spot on the podium. Canada’s 3-Gaited Team included Mikayla Frost, Rebecca Macleod, Breanna Van Rooyen, Kim Ross, Margaret Biggs and alternate Emily Rice. Our 5-Gaited Team was comprised of Samantha McWade, Acacia Cheverier, Monique Hetu, Rachelle Reichert, Margaret Biggs and alternate Kim Ross.
The Team: Rachelle Reichert, Kim Ross, Monique Hetu, Emily Rice, Margaret Biggs, Acacia Cheverier, Mikayla Frost(standing), Rebecca Macleod, Breanna VanRooyen With the arrival of the teams on Sunday, the hosting hotel was full of smiling faces, country colours and nervous excitement for the days to come. Monday, October 3 rd was the horse draw and pattern announcement. For those readers who are not aware, the World Saddleseat Equitation Championships are marked by two unique challenges – an unknown mount, and an unknown pattern. Riders draw from a pool of horses provided by the hosting country, and are then given only two half hour timed practice sessions. Canada was the first practice session of the day, so immediately following the draws, the team headed back to the barns to meet their equine teammates. It is here that the experience and knowledge of the Team Coach is invaluable. Team Canada was in excellent hands with Archie Hurst, fifth-generation horseman and three time coach of the Canadian Team. During the practice sessions, horses may be interchanged amongst team members, but no horse may be dropped from the team. This requires a skilled eye and great organization, since the time does not re-set each time a combination does. As riders go through various gaits, the coach starts calling out changes. In a thirty minute session, an athlete may ride one or all horses, until their coach is satisfied with the horse and rider combinations. This means that for some of the athletes, their practice session on the horse they ride in competition can be less than ten minutes!!
The Five Gaited Team with their Bronze Medals Following Monday’s events, team USA organized a BBQ at the stunning Monnington Farms. This wonderful evening, as well as other dinners and barn tours during the course of the week allowed the teams, fans, coaches and others to mingle and, of course, relax. The pace is hectic and the pressure intense during the five days – we thoroughly enjoyed the times we had to get to know riders and fans from other countries. By Friday evening, each countries’ five– and three –gaited teams had only two thirty minute practices, completed railwork twice, and executed two different patterns. Three judges, positioned in the arena such that riders were 360 degree judged, had given in their score cards and the closing ceremonies commenced. Team Canada was thrilled to achieve the bronze medal in both three- and five-gaited competitions. The US ranked gold in three-gaited and silver in five-gaited with South Africa taking the reverse. We barely had time to catch our breath and celebrate our success, and we were off for yet another exciting event. The World Equestrian Games invited the teams to participate in demonstrations at the Kentucky Horse Park. Representing the Morgan, Arabian, Friesian and, of course American Saddlebred, each country rode and participated in the demonstrations over two days. Attended by a large crowd, it was a pleasure to see the delighted and amazed faces of spectators who were seeing the beauty and grace of Saddleseat for the fist time. The US and South Africa continue to dominate the Saddleseat Equitation World Cup and Canada continues to chase these well-established team. The growth of this competition and the caliber of this year’s athletes has made it clear that we are being pursued equally hard by the up and coming teams of Germany and Great Britain. 2012 should bring an incredibly exciting competition with all of these teams evolving and improving.
The three gaited team with Bronze Medal
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