2015 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Home Team

New Orleans, La. – In preparation for the 2015 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational and the 2015 South African Saddle Seat Invitational, the U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams attended their first training sessions at Cascade Stables in New Orleans, La.  These training sessions were the first times the riders and coaches could all come together to work and train as a team.  It also afforded riders the opportunity to prepare for Invitational competition by riding multiple horses unfamiliar to them, just as they will at the Invitationals.

The Home team training session was held January 9-10, 2015 in preparation for the U.S. Invitational to be held June 26-27, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Team practice, led by coaches Melissa Smith and Kent Swalla, began Saturday morning with both five-gaited and three-gaited sections doing rail and pattern work, along with other drills on multiple horses.

The following team members were in attendance and gained insight from coaches Smith and Swalla:

The following team members were in attendance:

Three-Gaited
Katelynn Cox/Custer, Mich.
Courtney McGinnis/Fishers, Ind.
Alice Rowland/Kansas City, Mo.
Kasey Saccocia/Halifax, Mass.
Madison Stringer/Scottsdale, Ariz.
Victoria Walz/Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Five-Gaited
Ashley Brandies/Jesup, Ga.
Anne Pateman/New Orleans, La.
Zoe Schaffel/Tampa, Fla.
Ashley Stewart/Pfafftown, N.C.
Emily Van Duren/Bedford, N.H.

U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Travel Team

The Travel Team training session was held March 6-7, 2015 in preparation for the South African Invitational to be held September 18-19, 2015 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.  The session followed a similar schedule to the Home Team training session and was led by coaches Kelly Kraegel and Sarah Lawson.

The following team members were in attendance and gained insight from Kraegel and Lawson:

Three-Gaited
Chloe Deeb/Halifax, Mass.
Matt Huke/Westfield, Ind.
Cameron Kay/W. Bloomfield, Mich.
Hannah McBain/Plymouth, Mich.
Clara McCool/Newburyport, Mass.
Faith Robbins/Carmel, Ind.

Five-Gaited
Erin Beever/Mansfield, Ill.
Cailin Bridges/Salisbury, Mass.
Laura Plant/Advance, N.C.
Allie Poovey/Winston Salem, N.C.
Hayley Pullen/Sandy, Ore.
Caroline Rainbolt-Forbes/Oklahoma City, Okla.

The athletes will meet again to practice prior to the U.S. Invitational in June and the South African Invitational in September.

The Saddle Seat Young Rider Teams and the U.S.  Invitational Competition have been supported by grants from USA Equestrian Trust and the United Professional Horsemen's Association. Additional support has been provided by the following generous donors: Ally Financial, Dr. John and Mrs. Kim Stewart/Scriptor Software, The Rainbolt-Forbes Family, The Schaffel Family, Summit Packaging Systems, Inc., Three Bears Farm, The Kay and Barry Families, Tim and Wendy Pullen, Terry Sturm, and Gary Ortiz. Contribution opportunities are still available for the Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams. If you are interested in supporting the teams’ efforts go to https://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/SSE/2015/2015ContributionOpportunities.pdf.

For more information about the U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams and the 2015 Saddle Seat Invitationals, go to www.usasaddleseatworldcup.org.

For additional information or questions regarding the Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams, please contact Lori Nelson, USEF Assistant Executive Director, National Affiliates, by phone at (859) 225-6957 or via email at [email protected].