Pat Boyle and Diane Carney Welcome Olympian to Illinois
This past weekend Showplace Productions hosted a clinic with Olympic Show Jumping Assistant Chef d'Equipe Melanie Smith Taylor for the United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program. The clinic was managed by Pat Boyle and held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL.

"I think the clinic was excellent and great for the area," commented Pat Boyle. "It was a great opportunity too for the kids to learn from Melanie, who has such impressive credentials and notoriety. I think it was really educational. To be able to learn from her and from her career, I think it really encourages the kids to set goals and aspire to a higher level of riding."

The clinic had three different sections, with eight students in each. There was a 3' group, a 3'6'' group, and a 4' section.

"Diane Carney arranged for us to host the clinic, so she really got the ball rolling. We are happy to have been a part of it" explained Boyle. "The way we do things at Showplace Productions is at the higher level. The ring was decorated just as the grand prix ring would be for a show. Everything was top notch that way. We really wanted to produce a high quality event for everyone, and I think we did," he said. "I think we had a good clinic, and we hope to make this an annual event."

Diane Carney of Hampshire, IL, assisted Boyle with producing the clinic. Known for her enthusiasm toward proper horsemanship and the fundamentals, Carney has been an active rider and trainer at competitions that range from the grassroots level to the most prestigious international horse shows in North America.

"There is great enthusiasm throughout the country for USHJA's Emerging Athletes Program," said Carney. "Everyone understands that it's a valuable cause. We love that Pat Boyle hosted such a successful clinic with a past member of the '84 Olympic team. He treated her with the utmost respect, as did all of the participants."

She added, "The respect was apparent through the level of horsemanship involved, as well as the care of the footing, the jumps, and the area set up for auditors. Pat thought out every detail involved, and the treatment was excellent. This clinic was not as grassroots as I had been told at the annual meeting, but it was certainly a great event," she stated. "It was a valuable weekend, and we look forward to holding a Level 2 clinic at Canterbury Farm on the weekend of September 5th and 6th."

Diane Carney is based out of Hampshire, IL, and trains at Telluride Farm, her hunter/jumper show stable. She is the Vice Chairperson of the Zone 5 USHJA Hunter Committee, and her devotion extends from the show ring to the many riding clinics that she organizes at her farm and across the country. In addition to teaching clinics herself, she hosts annual clinics for U.S. Show Jumping Chef d'Equipe George H. Morris and top hunter/jumper trainer Don Stewart, Jr., In 2008, she was voted Horse Person of the Year by the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association for her dedication to the equestrian community.