Can-AM Rivalry at SmartPak NAYRC Reining

The 2010 Adequan FEI North American Young Rider Reining Championship sponsored by SmartPak is off to a competitive and high-quality start at the Kentucky Horse Park along with the Championships for Dressage, Jumping and Eventing.

The Welcome Competition, which provides a terrific opportunity to preview the intense but still friendly Can-AM rivalry, was held on Wednesday with a very strong showing from teams north of the border. The team from Alberta, Canada came prepared and swept the top three prize positions, including first place Nancy Pratch of St. Paul, Alberta aboard Rooster Kicker with a 211.5. Barely edged out by her Alberta teammate, second place honors went to Kaylynn Malmberg of Carseland, Alberta riding Pickin Around with a score of 211, and the third prize to Sage Sapergia with Shiners Q Chex, earning a score of 209.

After some refocusing, the US teams made a big comeback on day two, landing silver and bronze medals in today’s Team Championship. Still it was Canada and the maple leaf on top as the very tough team from Alberta held off all the other competitors for gold. In addition to the top three Welcome Competition riders mentioned above, the fourth member of Team Alberta, Chloe Beveridge and her horse Tucker Genuine Jewel joined her teammates on the team podium as continental champions – the highest honor for the sport of Reining for young riders in North America. All stood very tall as the Oh, Canada played throughout the new KHP indoor arena – hallowed ground for Reining competitors all over the world as the future site of the Reining Championships at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Attention now turns to the Individual Final, where the draw is seeded based on the individual run scores from the Team Competition. Riders placing with the highest scores in the first round will go into the coveted last draws for individual medals and those with low scores are made to go early.

The strength of the Canadian teams may have caught some by surprise, but not for Chef d’Equipe of all four teams from Canada, Wendy Dyer. Dyer, who has worked hard to guide her teams towards the podium could not be more proud. “Last year Canada was honored to have an individual reining gold with Darcy Wilson, and this year, we are so very fortunate to have secured the team gold.” Dyer continued “I could not be more proud, there has been an incredible amount of hard work from all of these athletes and the people who support them in order for Canada to have such a good showing”.

When asked if we can expect even stronger teams at the Championships next year, Dyer only smiles.

See more North American Young Riders Championship Reining this Saturday starting at 8am at the Indoor Arena of the Kentucky Horse Park. For more information and for complete results, click on www.youngriders.org.