The Juniors, fresh off a gold medal win in the team competition, gave Canada high hopes going into the individual phase.
The Canadian Juniors each had their game faces on, and coaches on site. The barns were all abuzz this morning and there were many extra hands around and loads of support for our riders.

A podium trip was not to be in our friday agenda, however, as our best finishes today were Esmee Ingham riding Norsemann to a 5th place finish with a score of 67%, Sarah Loewen and Ricardo who finished tenth with a score of 65.211% and Monica Houweling with Stentano who finished with a 64.211%.  These three riders will be the only ones to move forward into the Freestyle competition on Saturday morning. The winning ride today was Jamie Pestana of the USA (Region 7) riding Winzalot.  Pestana won the class handily with a 71.842%.

The Young Riders and their families took up three rows of the stands in the main arena to support the each of the Juniors.  There were many cheers as Canadian riders came into or left the main ring at the Kentucky Horse Park. Six of the Young Riders will make their own trips to the main arena tomorrow when they come back out to compete in the Freestyle event.

The teams from Canada had another prolific day in Kentucky.  Of seven riders in the individual Young Riders competition today six have made it through to the Young Rider Freestyle, which is set for Saturday evening at 6 pm. Riders in the individual competition today were Maura O'Sullivan with Pik Czar, Erika Urff with Focus, Santana Rooyakkers with Ravallo Sun, Amy Jager with Key West, Lindsay Seidel Wassenaa with Oslo, Jaimie Holland with Fluerina, and Megan Lane with Caravella. 

While all the riders had quality tests, the last set of rides kept us all on the edge of our seats.  Jaimie Holland of Ontario and her mare Fluerina rode a lovely, harmonious and accurate test. Her score reflected the quality of the ride.  She was the crowned the new leader and the entire Canadian contingent erupted with cheers as the announcement was made. Her score of 68% looked to be good enough to take the gold.  It was a short lived celebration as the next rider in, Jhesika Wells from Kansas, aboard Intrepid stole the top spot with a big ride. Her score of 70% went up on the board, bumping Holland to the Silver Medal position. 
Our last hope for Gold in the Individual Young Rider competition came with the final rider in the ring - Megan Lane aboard Caravella. They put in a super effort and a we knew it would be so close. Megan beat her team mate Jaimie,  to take the Silver.  Canada had two medals - Silver and Bronze.

When asked later how they felt about their rides today, both said they had a good feeling in the warm-up and felt very prepared for the class.  When it comes to the mental preparation in the morning before the class though, the girls couldn't have been more different.   Holland said "I like to review the notes I have on each movement - how I want to approach it, and what I am hoping to achieve in that movement."  Lane on the other hand said "I try not to plan too much, I ride what I have in that moment'.

The girls share a common cheering section - Holland's father.  He and his wife have been a fixture on the Young Riders circuit for the last few years with their daughter.  Mr Holland can be heard from anywhere in the stands with his big voiced support of the girls. When asked in the press conference if cheering section distracted them or helped them,  both laughed and said "it definitely helps".  Holland said "I can't always hear everyone else - but I can always hear my dad - and it's great to just know he's there."
No doubt we'll be hearing more from Mr. Holland on Saturday evening when his daughter steps into the ring for the last time as a Young Rider in the Freestyle class.

In that this blog is entitled Chef D' Equipe Program I felt I should answer the questions I've been getting about how I got here, into this 'shadow chef' role.  Remember - you asked!

Dressage Canada posted a call for volunteers on their site some time ago  - they were looking to recruit people to join a program.  The Chef training program was meant to encourage volunteers with an interest and background to come forward
ostensibly so that there would not be a shortage of people willing to give up their time and their living for a week or more to travel in support riders representing our country. I responded to the posting and here I am.  There was a fair amount of conversation and back and forth, documents forwarded  - but for the sake of space...we'll cut it there.

For those of you that have stabled with me, or next to me at a horse show,  you'll know me as the person who will have whatever it is you left out of the trailer. Clippers? - 'check' , safety pins? - 'check', extra saddle pads?. - check', that thing you forgot at home but really need ?  'yes, I have three of them - would you like to borrow one?'
If I've groomed, clipped or braided your horse at a horse show, you'll know,  I'm a perfectionist.  I know all of our times, have them on handouts for everyone and I had them laminated in case it rains.  If your horse is sick and you are worried about it - 'sure - I don't mind staying till  whatever time in the morning taking turns walking it until the vet comes.'  I have the vets numbers on speed dial and probably his/her home number too, as well as the number for the vet who won't yell at you for calling at this hour.  Yes I have that thing you need for a cut, scrape, or hives or mud fever and of course I'll look after your horse while you are on vacation. In short , I'm a project manager  and I former high performance groom - and I bring that approach to every horse show.

Before I went back to my 'real job'  ten years ago - I groomed high performance Dressage horses in Canada, the USA and Germany.  I loved it, and I had the good fortune to work for a handful of truly wonderful team riders, owners and their horses. I attended many major horse shows  across Europe, Canada and the USA.  While I've been out of that world for a few years, that kind of experience is something I am always willing to share  -  particularly with the youth teams.

A huge thank you to Christine Peters, and the Youth Performance Committee at Dressage Canada for giving me a chance to do this.  I'd also like to thank the Eastern and Western Chefs  - Ellen Dvorak and Leslie Steel answering questions, when they were already so busy , and for bringing me along to as many meetings as they could.

To our really amazing Junior and Young Rider teams thank you for being who they are  - a talented group of young adults who are making their mark in this sport.  If this week is any indication - the talent pool in Canada for Dressage is exploding with a very talented next generation.  I was happy to be along for the 'ride'.

Day two - team competition day.  It was a long, hot and sticky one! 

We got an early start, with the first Canadian rider in the ring at 7:30 this morning. The weather here is definitely a factor for horses and riders.  The best way can describe it is think the hottest humid day in Ontario and mix in the Vancouver humidity, and you'll have Lexington in July. We looked for reasons to run errands on the golf carts today just to get a short time in the breeze.  Mr and Mrs. Loewen, from Winnipeg kept all of us hydrated with the cases of bottled water on ice for all.  A welcomed gift from the parents of young rider  competitor Sarah Loewen. Horses are being closely watched and charted for fluids in this weather.

The quality of horses and riders and the competition has been super.  Both west coast U.S. trainers - Willy Arts and Jeremy Steinberg had riders who turned in fabulous tests and made us watch the scoreboards closely all day.

Our Canadian teams from both the east and the west worked hard today. They have been right in the mix or at the very top thanks to their great efforts in the ring and the help of all of the coaches, parents, grooms and friends who traveled from all over to country to be here today to help them be their very best.
Before I give the run down on the actual scores and results - I'd like to mention the dedicated coaches who graced the alleyway today:  Tom Dvorak, Chris Von Martels, Karen Pavicic, Wendy Christoff, Janine Little and Albrecht Heidemann. 

The Ontario Young Riders Team of Amy Jager / Key West , Jaimie Holland / Fleurina, Maura O'Sullivan / Pik Czar and Megan Lane / Caravella won the Team Silver Medal. 

The Junior Team from British Columbia Esmee Ingham / Norseman, Sylvie Fraser / World Star LHF  and Monica Houweling / Stentano claimed the Team GOLD. 

The Junior team from Ontario placed fourth, missing the podium by .03 percent.  I'm sure they will be pondering how close it was over their break day tomorrow and as they head into the individual portion of the competition on Friday.

Tomorrow the Young Riders will begin the individual portion of their competition.

It was a rainy and muggy day in Lexington, Kentucky today.  I drove into the Horsepark grounds, excited to see what the day would bring. Big horsehows like this one always remind me of my days as a high performance groom.  It's exciting in a way I can only liken to the way it felt going back to University for the second year.  You see old friends, relive the great and truly bad moments from last year,  and happily add to your circle of friends. In second year, there are people around you that you can depend on.  Friends and mentors who have been through it before and can help you navigate the challenging classes, the bad tests, or the toughest marking professor.  In our horse show world - those friends and mentors are the team mates, grooms, coaches and the chef d'equipe(s). 

The Chef's I'm 'shadowing' are Leslie Steele (west) and Ellen Dvorak (east).  Both have done this gig before, so they know the routine and have done a good job prepping the riders for what to expect each day. Team meetings were segregated today with the eastern and western teams each doing their own morning briefing.  Tomorrow - we will meet as one big Canadian junior and young riders dressage team.

The jog was set for the late afternoon, but was called early because of a big weather system coming in.  Instead of being inspected in teams - the riders were encouraged to get there as soon as possible and then get out of the weather. 

One Canadian horse was held from the jog this afternoon.  The rider from Quebec was given the opportunity to be re-present her horse in the morning, however, she has opted to scratch instead.  I know that this was a  tough decision to make - having traveled all the way to Kentucky.  Her horse will compete another day - because she had the courage to put him first.  Today, she is the horse person we all aspire to be. Everyone else passed inspection and are prepping themselves and their charges for tomorrows competition.

We had the draw this evening. We have a schedule for tomorrow, and our first rider in is EARLY.  Our barn 'call' is in 5 hours - so off to bed!  I'll leave you with some images from the jog today....Enjoy!

Coming Soon