Lexington, KY- The 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North, will be held at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO, on July 30-August 3, 2008. Reining has officially been added to the NAJYRC this year.

In preparation for the NAJYRC, two up-and-coming young riders are blogging about their experiences.

Jackie Hoyt, 15, of Malius, NY is looking to qualify with her horse Anuther Smart Winner a.k.a Tyson. Hoyt and Tyson have been together for nearly three years and he has been coming along with the help of Hoyt’s father. Hoyt is very happy with all the progress reining.

“This sport has grown so much in the past fifty years, I am so proud to be able to ride and show at the international level,” she wrote in her blog.

Melanie Galbraith from Rocky Mount, NC is a junior in high school. Galbraith is looking to qualify with her horse, Mister Dual Train. Last year, Galbraith, 16, did a reining demo at the 2007 NAJYRC. She looks forward to returning to the NAJYRC this year as a competitor.

Galraith blogs, “This year I am so excited to try to get qualified and finally get to show in the NAYRC.”

Both riders are currently preparing for the NAYRC Reining Selection Trial which will be held at the NRHA Derby and will run concurrent with the USEF National Youth Reining Championships in Oklahoma City, OK on June 28th.

Be sure to check in and see how the Road to NAYRC: A Rider's Journey to Parker, CO featuring Jackie Hoyt and Melanie Galbraith are progressing. Jackie’s blog can be found at http://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/reining/JackieHoyt.pdf. Melanie’s blog can be found at http://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/reining/MelanieGalbraith.pdf

For more information, please contact Courtney Barnett, USEF Director of Reining at: [email protected]

ENDS