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 (Carberry, MB – February 13, 2010)
A
major initiative of the Canadian Quarter Horse Association
(CQHA) is to co-ordinate a team to represent Canada at each
biennial American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Youth World
Cup. The Youth World Cup competition is an educational,
leadership-based event for youth members from around the world,
culminating in showcasing skills learned in an atmosphere of
friendly competition. |
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Canada will be one of 16 countries
to field a team at the 2010 American Quarter Horse Youth World
Cup. The event will be held from July 3rd to 11th, 2010 in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Funding for travel expenses for Team
Canada is cost-shared by AQHA/CQHA, provincial/regional Quarter
Horse Associations, corporate and/or individual sponsors, and
team members’ families.
Each participating country may
select up to five competing riders, two alternate riders and
three non-competing youth (leadership members). The host country
will provide the pool of horses of various ability levels, which
are subsequently grouped into lots of five horses each. During
the opening ceremonies, teams draw to determine their assigned
group of five horses. Teams then designate three riders each to
compete in Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Western
Riding, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Showmanship,
and Trail; and two riders each for Reining and Cutting classes.
The CQHA actively sought out qualified youth who are
Canadian citizens, members-in-good-standing of the American
Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA). Many applications were
received from youth from all across Canada, who possess
excellent horsemanship skills in a variety of events, and who
volunteer in their local communities and/or equine sport
organizations. This made the job of selecting finalists for the
team both gratifying and challenging.
The CQHA Board of
Directors, Team Canada Coach, and Team Canada Manager are
pleased and proud to announce that Team Canada for 2010 has been
selected as follows:
The riders are:
Paige Carter Fleetwood
Paige is a 16 year old from
St. George, Ontario. She has been involved with American Quarter
Horses her entire life and helps her family operate their
training facility. Paige has competed throughout North America
riding several of her American Quarter Horses. She has earned
many achievements including AQHYA World Show National Qualifier,
OQHA Reserve High Point All Around 14-18, and AQHA Youth
Champion. Besides competing, Paige is an active participant of
the Ontario Quarter Horse Youth Association, and was
nominated this year as President, for her second term. Paige
attends Paris District High School where she has been involved
in two musical productions, is Treasurer on Student Council, and
was selected as PDHS Panther of the month in December of last
year. She volunteered extensively at the 2008 YWC in London,
Ontario. Paige is very excited to be a part of Team Canada and
compete at the 2010 Youth World Cup and she extends best wishes
to all the competitors.
Danielle Olafson
Danielle is a 17 year old from Edmonton, Alberta. She has been
riding since the age of six and began showing when she was ten.
She has shown five different American Quarter Horses and has
earned numerous AQHA Superior awards and an AQHA Performance
Champion. In 2006, Danielle was the National Justin Rookie of
the Year. Danielle has competed at four AQHYA World Shows and
placed Top Ten and as a Finalist. At the All American Quarter
Horse Congress she has been a Champion and has had multiple Top
Ten and Finalist finishes. She is a Reserve NSBA World Champion
and won a Gold Medal and several Top Ten finishes for Team
Canada at the 2008 Youth World Cup. Danielle is actively
involved in the Alberta Youth Quarter Horse Association and has
been the Webmaster, Treasurer and Vice President. Danielle likes
to swim and is certified to be a Lifeguard and Instructor. She
enjoys running and competes with her school Cross Country
Running Team. Danielle has been accepted by the University of
Alberta in the Faculty of Science, with future plans to be a
Chiropractor. Danielle is honoured and excited to be a part of
Team Canada for a second time and is looking forward to a
successful and competitive team.
Deejay Reid
Deejay is a sixteen year old from Sherwood Park, Alberta. She
has been riding since she was two in a variety of disciplines.
For the past six years Deejay has focused her riding and
competition in the area of cutting. Her first year cutting, she
was Reserve Champion in both Alberta and Canada in the Youth
division. With such a successful season the NCHA awarded Deejay
the Most Improved Rider. In her second year of cutting, Deejay
entered the Calgary Stampede and placed third in Youth. She has
travelled to the US to represent Canada at the Western
Nationals. This past year Deejay was ranked Top Five in Alberta
and Canada, competing against adults. In addition to cutting,
she also likes different riding disciplines just for a change of
scenery, and to learn more about horses. Deejay also takes
soccer very seriously and competes at a very high level. She is
currently enrolled in a high school soccer academy school and
she also plays competitive Club Soccer for an Edmonton team.
Deejay is always looking for a new challenge and adventure to
push her and to test her skills. Deejay is thrilled to be part
of Team Canada and is looking forward to the experience at the
2010 Youth World Cup.
Morgan Shipka
Morgan is a 17 year old from St. Albert, Alberta. She has been
riding and showing horses for as long as she can remember and
began showing her first American Quarter Horse when she was 12.
Morgan has achieved success showing three American Quarter
Horses in All-Around events including many Circuit and
All-Around awards. She is a Regional Experience Champion and has
several Top Ten finishes. At the All American Quarter Horse
Congress, Morgan was a Reserve Champion, as well as a Top Five
and Finalist finisher. She also competed on the Alberta NYATT
team and at the AQHYA World Show. Morgan is active in assisting
her school and the Alberta Youth Quarter Horse Association in
fundraising efforts and also volunteers at her community’s
Humane Society. In her spare time Morgan enjoys snowboarding and
spending time with her horse and friends. As a member of Team
Canada 2010, Morgan is looking forward to the challenges of this
new experience and meeting new people.
Rianna
Storey
Rianna is a 15 year old from Cambridge,
Ontario. She has been riding horses her entire life and began
showing competitively at the age of seven. She has successfully
shown various horses in All-Around events and has earned
numerous Superior awards, an AQHA Champion and a Performance
Champion. At the Regional Experience and the All American
Quarter Horse Congress, Rianna has been a Champion and has had
multiple Top Ten and Finalist finishes. She is seriously
committed to her academics at school and enjoys playing soccer
on a varsity team. For a number of years, Rianna has been
involved with the Ontario Quarter Horse Youth Association and
currently is the Vice President. She has also been a member of
the Ontario NYATT team for five years. She helps out at the
family horse training facility and also works for a dog groomer.
Rianna is looking forward to being a part of Team Canada and
hopes that she, along with her team-mates, can achieve great
things.
The two
alternate riders are:
Kennedy
Almas
Kennedy is a 16 year old from Hagersville,
Ontario. She started showing horses at local club shows at the
age of 9 and then progressed to showing American Quarter Horses
when she was 12. She has won many All-Around awards from the
Ontario Quarter Horse Association. At the All American Quarter
Horse Congress, Kennedy competed twice on the Ontario NYATT
team. She has been active in the Ontario Quarter Horse Youth
Association, twice as a Director and last year as the Reporter.
In 2008 Kennedy showed at the Ontario Reining Horse Association
and was an active member of the ORHA youth. This year, Kennedy
looks forward to doing her co-op with an equine vet. When not
busy with school or horse shows, you can find her at the barn or
on top of a horse. She hopes to help Team Canada enjoy their
time and learning experiences together. Kennedy volunteered at
the YWC 2008 and has dreamed of being on the team since then.
Amanda Thomson
Amanda Thomson is a
17 year old from Oil Springs, Ontario. She has been riding and
showing horses all her life. She shows in several divisions from
all-around events to reining and barrel racing. Amanda has
earned many Circuit and Year End awards in these divisions,
including being a Reserve Champion with Reining Canada, and a
Regional Experience Champion. Away from the show pen, she enjoys
trail riding, team penning and breaking out young horses. Amanda
has been a member of the OQHYA board and currently is the
Secretary. For the past two years, she has been on the Ontario
NYATT team at the All American Congress. She is involved with
multiple horse organizations, as well as 4-H, serving in
positions such as President, Vice President, Treasurer and Youth
Leader. Making the Youth World Cup team is a dream come true for
Amanda and she cannot wait to see what the future holds for Team
Canada.
The three
leadership members are:
Sarah Connors
Sarah is a 17 year old, from Fredericton, New Brunswick. She
plans on attending University in the fall to pursue a career in
Media Studies and Communications. Sarah has been riding horses
all her life, she now owns four American Quarter Horses which
she keeps at her own barn. She competes in various classes at
AQHA shows in the Maritime Provinces and New England. She has
been the Maritime Quarter Horse Youth Association Secretary for
the past two years. She maintains their website, as well as
being very active in fundraising and events for the association.
Sarah has represented the MQHA at many trade fairs and
conferences. This past year she was the MQHA High Point Youth on
her four-year-old gelding and also won numerous All-Around and
High Point awards. Sarah is thrilled with the opportunity to be
representing Canada at the 2010 Youth World Cup, as it was a
long time goal of hers.
Elizabeth Priest
Elizabeth is an 18 year old from St. Pierre, Manitoba. She has
been riding horses since she could walk. Growing up in England
she spent the first years riding English, competing in gymkhanas
and going to hunt meets. After moving to Canada, Elizabeth got
very involved in 4-H and was a part of the program for nine
years. This led to showing American Quarter Horses and she has
earned many achievements including Circuit Awards, Year End
Awards and a couple of Canadian National titles. Elizabeth is
involved in extra curricular activities and is an active
volunteer. When not riding and working, she helps coach ringette
and basketball, and plays volleyball in a women’s league.
Elizabeth is the Treasurer of the Manitoba Quarter Horse Youth
Association. She has taken a year off school and plans to start
university in Toronto this September. Elizabeth is very excited
and honoured to be a part of Team Canada, as it is the perfect
way to end her last year as a youth.
Jasmyn
Rivait
Jasmyn is a 13 year old from Orillia,
Ontario. She has been riding for four years and competing
successfully for three years, winning many Circuit and High
Point Awards. Jasmyn has held the title as the Ontario Quarter
Horse Association Princess for two years, as well as being an
Area Director for the OQHYA. At the All American Quarter Horse
Congress, she has had several Top Ten finishes and has been a
member of the Ontario NYATT team for two years. During the 2008
Youth World Cup Jasmyn volunteered proudly and tirelessly in a
variety of tasks daily. Jasmyn excels in both academics and
extra curricular activities; she volunteers her time for
numerous charitable organizations within the realms of her
family’s business. She is also involved and accomplished in
snowboarding at her local ski hill. Jasmyn is very excited and
proud to be on Team Canada and to be a part of the Youth World
Cup.
Team Canada Coach –
Scott Neuman
Scott Neuman of Billings, Montana has
taught at Montana's Rocky Mountain College for seventeen years,
serving both as Associate Professor of Equestrian Studies, as
well as Director of Equestrian Studies, in addition to operating
his own training facility. He is originally a native of the
province of Saskatchewan, and holds dual US and Canadian
citizenship. Scott is an AQHA Professional Horseman and AQHA
judge. He has coached students to numerous top ten finishes as
the All American Quarter Horse Congress, including champion and
reserve champion winners, in the youth division. Scott has also
coached students to numerous top ten finishes at the AQHA
Amateur and Select Amateur World Championship shows. He is well
acquainted with the duties and responsibilities of coaching Team
Canada, as Scott previously served in this capacity in 2004 and
2006 where the teams finished third and fourth, respectively.
Team Canada Manager – Karen
Lobb
Karen Lobb of Edmonton, Alberta is an
experienced Quarter Horse exhibitor, having shown at AQHA World
Championship shows since 2005; the All American Quarter Horse
Congress since 2006; and at the Select Amateur World
Championship show in 2009. She has had a top five finish at the
Congress and a top ten at the Select World show. Karen has also
had multifaceted parental roles at the AQHYA (Youth) World
Championship shows since 2006. Karen’s daughter was a member of
Team Canada 2008, which gave her an opportunity to attend the
2008 Youth World Cup held in London, Ontario. Karen’s business
background and skills come from working for IBM Canada as an
account manager in Marketing. She has an Arts degree from the
University of Calgary, with a minor in Business. Karen’s work
with IBM exposed her to corporate fund raising and the
challenges of getting sponsorship involvement in events. On the
provincial level, Karen has been a board member with the Alberta
Amateur Quarter Horse Association and an active volunteer with
the Alberta Youth Quarter Horse Association.
For more
information regarding Team Canada's participation at the 2010
AQHA Youth World Cup, visit the CQHA web site:
www.cqha.ca and check out the
Youth World Cup section. |
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