Lexington, Ky. - Excitement is building for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event getting underway this week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga. Teams from Canada, South Africa, and the United States will compete for gold medals in three- and five-gaited saddle seat equitation. Team practice started on Monday, April 3, with the competition to be held April 5-6. Judges Lewis McKim of Canada, Jaco Jonker of South Africa, and Lisa Cunningham Waller of the United States will officiate the competition.
The 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event will be live streamed on the USEF Network.
The event features amateur athletes who compete for individual scores, which ultimately accumulate toward a total team score. The athletes compete on horses they are not familiar with that are supplied by the host competition – a true test of their riding skills. The competition consists of four segments, to be completed in two phases held over two days: rail work, where the athletes compete as a group, and then individual workouts.
This year the Invitational/Test Event will feature a Junior and Senior competition. Senior teams representing South Africa and the United States will compete against one another in the Senior competition. Junior teams representing Canada, South Africa, and the United States will compete in the Junior competition.
The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Stripes Team consists of the following athletes:
Three-Gaited:
Frannie Gefke (Brooklyn, Wis.)
Raven Gropp (Augusta, Ga.)
Jacquelyn King (Tyler, Texas)
Joseph Plunkett (Tucson, Ariz.)
Nicole Rodriguez (Grand Blanc, Mich.)
Victoria Walz (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)
Five-Gaited:
Emily Hopp (Bellevue, Neb.)
Matt Huke (Westfield, Ind.)
Anne Pateman (New Orleans, La.)
Holly Sarette (Goffstown, N.H.)
Lindsay Slemmons (Birmingham, Ala.)
Jade Woods (Altoona, Iowa)
The team is coached by Devon Garone (Richmond, N.H.), Kristin Logan (Hampton Falls, N.H.), and Christy Parker (Brunswick, Ga.).
The South African Senior Team consists of the following athletes:
Three-Gaited:
Denielle Dercksen
Madine Dercksen
Rufus Dercksen
Nichola de Waal
Anike Louw
Tammy Theron
Five-Gaited:
Nicole Bester
Madine Dercksen
Liza Gerber
Daniela Karsten
Anike Louw
Tammy Theron
The South African Senior Team is managed by Rika Joubert and coached by Enid Norton.
The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Stars Team consists of the following athletes:
Three-Gaited:
Grace Allison (Ringoes, N.J.)
Michael Arquilla (Woodridge, Ill.)
Lora Becker (Sac City, Iowa)
Ellie Grosspietsch (Cross Plains, Wis.)
Audra Lee (Binghamton, N.Y.)
Hallie Ricci (Allentown, N.J.)
Five-Gaited:
Cecelia Bolka (Dayton, Ohio)
Ainsley Budzinski (Mukwonago, Wis.)
Madison Kobylski (Asbury, N.J.)
Olivia Schumacher (Sergeantsville, N.J.)
Téa Snider (Carmel, Ind.)
Madeleine Wood (Edmond, Okla.)
The team is coached by Avery Bul (New Orleans, La.), Scott Matton (Hartland, Wis.) and Michelle McVey Haisch (Cave Creek, Ariz.).
The Canadian Junior Team consists of the following athletes:
Three-Gaited:
Carly Johnston
Taylor Lunny
Madeline MacRae
Georgina Sanche
Isabella Wallin
The Canadian Team is managed by Lynne Redmond and coached by Raylene McWade.
The South African Junior Team consists of the following athletes:
Three-Gaited:
Ziléke de Jager
Anje Dercksen
Daniela Karsten
Mary-Ann Lovemore
Mila Olivier
Lizen Pienaar
Five-Gaited:
Carla Conradie
Anje Dercksen
Rufus Dercksen
Amelia Kemp
Carla Krugell
Mila Olivier
The South African Junior Team is managed by Attie Koen and coached by Glenda Koen.
The 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Team efforts are supported by the USA Equestrian Trust and the United Professional Horsemen’s Association. The USEF is pleased to partner with American Jods, who supplied practice jods for the 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams. Additional support has been generously provided by Elisabeth Goth, Jack & Debra King, Golden Creek Farms Inc., the Walz Family, and multiple patron and stall donors.
For more information about the U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Teams, 2017 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational/Test Event, or for a complete list of our supporters, go to www.usasaddleseatworldcup.org.