By Gillian Ellis
Lexington, KY- The CN FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) presented by Gotham North at the Colorado Horse Park begin July 29, 2008. This six-day competition for junior and young riders, ages 14-21, offers the opportunity for riders to compete as teams and as individuals in the three Olympic disciplines—dressage, eventing, and show jumping. Premiering this year, junior and young riders can also compete in reining. The championships will be held at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO, July 29-August 3.
The Media Guide with the list of horses and riders with some background information can be found by visiting http://www.usef.org/documents/mediaGuides/USEF_NAYJRC_2008.pdf.
The addition of reining to the NAJYRC line up has many excited about the inaugural year. To help share the experience, two of the reining competitors are blogging about their journey in the “Road to NAJYRC: A Rider’s Journey to Parker, CO”. The blogs can be found by visiting http://www.usef.org/ContentPage2.aspx?id=intreining.
Also in Parker, CO and sharing the experience are staff members of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Courtney Barnett, the Director of Reining Programs and Lisa Owens, the Assistant Executive Director of Member Services. Barnett and Owens are making video blogs through out the NAJYRC. To view the video blogs visit http://www.clubequestrian.com/files/.
To help offset the costs associated with qualifying for and competing in the NAJYRC, many teams jumped at the chance to sell the Horses Inspire Olympic Rings. The Rings are bracelets are made of red, white, and blue rings imprinted with “achieve,” “believe,” and “dream,” held together by a Team USA and an Olympic Rings clasp. Passion clasps may be added to display your preference of the four disciplines represented at the NAJYRC—dressage, eventing, reining, and show jumping. Teams are able to keep a portion of their sales, and the remaining proceeds go to benefit the NAJYRC. To purchase the Horses Inspire Team Rings please visit http://www.usef.org/contentPage2.aspx?id=bracelet.
For more information, please contact Joanie Morris, at jmorris@usef.org
