Photo by Whitney Allen (Carly Anthony and Ricky Neal)
When asked how they felt about winning, both Anthony and Neal expressed their excitement. “It is an honor, and I feel very privileged to be chosen as one of the two winners. I am extremely happy for Ricky, he deserved it and I am very proud of the rest of my peers for riding as hard as they can and being the best horsemen they can as well,” stated Anthony.
Neal shared her excitement “To be chosen from a group of riders of this quality is really an honor so I feel pretty fantastic.“
Anthony and Neal were among the 12 finalists to travel to Maplewood Stables in Reno for the three-day training session. Riders were each given horses provided by Julie Winkel, and attended seminars and presentations on conformation, natural horsemanship, and general equine health. Riders were trained by Peter Wylde for the first two days and on the third day the riders were broken into three teams of four to compete in a Nations Cup format competition. Each team was named after a famous show jumper: Team Fein Cera&mdashChef d’ Equipe-Peter Wylde, Team Authentic&mdashChef d’ Equipe-Sally Ike and Team Sapphire—Chef d’ Equipe-Eliza Shuford.
On Saturday night, parents and auditors were able to feel like they were part of the team during a rider reception. The teams were auctioned off in a fundraising effort. Team Sapphire brought the highest bid of $1,400. A total of $3,330 was raised. Each of the top bidders donated their portion of the proceeds back to the Emerging Athletes Program.
Team Sapphire, consisting of Alexa Anthony, Arden Cone, Molly Osier, and Ricky Neal took the Gold with zero faults over two rounds. Team Authentic, consisting of Amelia McArdle, Elizabeth Kenny, Nelson Bierwirth, and Hayley Barnhill took the Silver with a two-round total of eight faults and Team Fein Cera with Nick Gegen, Matt Wildung, Kathryn Hayley, and Carly Anthony took home the Bronze with 15 faults.
Each rider was evaluated heavily on their riding skills, as well as their horsemanship in the barn and in the ring, and a written exam. EAP Committee members, Melanie Taylor, Julie Winkel, Sally Ike, Eliza Shuford and Kathy Moore, as well as Peter Wylde, Mindy Bower and Dr. Midge Leitch evaluated the riders each day to select the overall two winners.
“I am passionate about developing horsemen and not just riders. This program has provided our industry with an opportunity to make that happen. I have been very impressed with not only these 12 riders, but with all the riders that applied and went through the selection process. They all showed a commitment to their horses and to their riding. Carly and Ricky displayed an overall excellence and are ideal young horseman to be named inaugural winners,” stated Melanie Taylor, head clinician for Level 1 and 2 and Chairman of the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program.
President Bill Moroney shared his congratulations. “The creation of the Emerging Athletes Program and its development has been seemingly effortless, which speaks volumes for the necessity of a program of this nature. I congratulate each finalist and applaud Carly and Ricky on the hard work, determination and effort they put forth, which led to their being chosen as the inaugural winners.”
Complete coverage of the EAP National Training session will be available in the February issue of USHJA In Stride. For more information on the EAP, contact Melanie Fransen at (859) 225-6717 or [email protected].
A special thank you to Dover Saddlery who was the Product Sponsor of the EAP National Training Session and providing all 12 riders with a fully stocked grooming box, two polo shirts and a vest as well as $1,500 to each winner for the purchase of show clothes.
For more information please contact Whitney Allen, Director of Marketing and Communications, at [email protected] or (859) 225-6707.