15/08/2023
Feeling Inspired....
This year I’ve noticed such a buzz amongst the now many junior and younger riders we have in our VSC and Island communities at this time. It has been a good many years since we have seen this many active junior competitors. The growth and adventurous spirit of these youngsters is an inspiration not only for the sport of dressage but for the even bigger goal of ‘riding for life’.
This buzz doesn’t happen without visionaries who come in many forms, the competition organizers, clinicians, supportive family and friends, and especially the coaches who love to coach children without pushing them beyond their personal boundaries but rather show what is possible for each individual whilst instilling good horsemanship and strong basic skills to keep both rider and ponies/horses safe. Encouraging children to become interested in competing is a special skill, lessons need to be interesting and fun amongst like minded students to create camaraderie and good sportsmanship, some will quickly become competitive by nature, others will prefer to take longer before feeling confident enough to ride in front of a judge. Today in our area, we have some excellent coaches of children who are guiding their young students to the local competition arenas and as they become more accomplished, to the bigger higher licensed competitions off Island or, even further to the North American Youth Championships (NAYC) this year in Michigan, where one of our local juniors is competing this week.
Which brings me to the reason for this post. Many of our local junior riders are heading off to the new Rising Stars Youth Dressage Festival being held on August 18-20th., at the Mapleridge Equestrian Centre. They have been working hard with their coaches to hone their skills toward this big event, fundraising in many personal ways but also by running a concession at some of our Victoria Saanich Cadora competitions. This is a fabulous competition solely for competitors 21 years or under, with lots of fun and educational events alongside the technical tests, team competitions, hack classes, specialty awards, stall decoration contests and so much more. It is a family friendly event where our future Rising Stars of dressage will build lifelong friendships and memories.
From my perspective, I can say that my involvement with Rising Stars Youth Dressage goes back many years, having been lucky enough to have judged at two of the former Rising Stars Youth Dressage Competitions and subsequently, in 2018 when those competitions changed to the current Rising Stars Equitation Program offered at many EC and HCBC competitions, have often been the ‘Rising Stars Equitation’ judge at Island competitions. The program officially became part of Equestrian Canada competitions in 2023 and here, as the person then working on rule changes for the EC Dressage Committee, had worked with the Rising Stars Committee to ensure their updated program had the new rules included in the EC Section E Rulebook. Needless to say over these years, Rising Stars became an important addition to my role as a judge with the responsibility to evaluate and encourage each youth rider’s equitation toward becoming the best equestrian they can be.
Please join me in sending the very best of good wishes and rides to each and every one of you who are part of the Island youth group heading off to the Rising Stars Youth Dressage Festival next week.
You are the future of the sport of dressage and inspire us every time you head down the centre line. Good luck!
Sheila Skene
