Welcome to Area I Young Riders

Dear Area I NAYC rider and groom candidates, parents, coaches, selectors, etc:

First, WELCOME to the 2019 Area I NAYC community. We are very excited by the group of candidates hoping to represent Area I this year, and are hugely appreciative of the support they receive from each of you.

We have a lot to do in the coming weeks and months, and this email has a lot of information so please review it carefully. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Topics

Candidate conference call
Key changes to NAYC for 2019
Important Dates
NAYC Logistics
Fundraising and payments
Request for professional videos
Working together

Candidate conference call

I would like to have conference call with rider and groom candidates (and anyone else who is interested)next week – does Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 7 pm work?

Key NAYC changes

Most important for this year is that riders at both levels will be able to compete two horses. I am also checking whether a single rider might be permitted to take a horse at each level; so far I have not received a clear answer.

Please understand that if you plan to bring two horses, you will also need to pay two fees for each training session, etc.

Important Dates

Now Renew USEA, USEF, FEI, Area I YR memberships (rider and horse)

Complete Safe Sport

Feb 15, 2019 First fundraising contribution due ($1000 for rider candidates; $250 for groom candidates)

March 1, 2019 Rider candidates must complete a USEF application via www.usef.orgby this date. Please note that the applications are live now; you do not need to wait to fill these out.

March 15, 2019 Second fundraising contribution due ($1000 for rider candidates; $250 for groom candidates)

April 15, 2019 Third fundraising contribution due ($1000 for rider candidates; $250 for groom candidates)

May 15, 2019 Fourth fundraising contribution due ($1000 for rider candidates; $250 for groom candidates)

June 15, 2019 Final fundraising contribution due ($1000 for rider candidates; $500 for groom candidates)

Observation Trials (must complete one):

Feb 22 – 24, 2019 – Pine Top (Stephie)

March 1 -3, 2019 – Rocking Horse III (Jane, John)

April 10 – 14, 2019 – Ocala International (John)

May 18 – 19, 2019 – Fair Hill (Stephie)

Training Sessions:

March 3-4, 2019 Training session The Vista, Aiken, SC. Please let me know ASAP if you need help with housing, stabling etc. Rider candidates may bring more than one horse; grooms are invited to audit

June TBD 3-4 day Training session PA. Potential to include a LandSafe clinic. Rider candidates may bring more than one horse; groom candidates are invited to audit, and to participate in the LandSafe clinic. Groom candidates are required to attend one day of the clinic, which they will spend learning from our Head Groom/Chef d’Equipe, who will also be selecting the grooms to join us in Montana.

Mandatory Activities:

June 19? Potential final selection event at CourseBrook Farm in Sherborn, MA

June 29-July 1 Groton House fundraiser

July 15-18 Training session GMHA

July 19-24 Training at Rebecca Farm

July 25-28 Competition

NAYC logistics

One topic for discussion on our call is whether riders prefer to trailer or fly their horses. In past years, fundraising amounts have applied to the cost of trailering; if extra costs are incurred to fly particular horses, the families of those horses have paid the difference themselves.

Riders, grooms, and Head Groom/Chef travel to Montana Friday, July 19; horses arrive July 20. One topic for discussion on our call is whether the team wants to be housed in an AirBnB or in trailers on the Rebecca Farm property. Past team members are invited to comment on their experiences with the different options.

Riders are responsible for booking and paying for air travel for themselves and their groom

Fundraising and finances

Please make your fundraising payments on time. I’ll note that some of you have not yet sent in your application fees ($500 for rider candidates; $250 for groom candidates); I realize that we didn’t have the online system up and running, so I have not nagged. Happily, that is now working – it can be found here (https://area1usea.org/donate/); you can also get there by clicking on the giving hand icon on the upper right of the area I website. Once there, select “Young Rider Championships” from the Donation category, and type your name plus either “Application fee” or “Fundraise” in the “In Honor Of” section. Please also share this link and instructions with any donors who want to contribute on your behalf; please make sure that they know to type in your name and the work “Fundraise” to ensure proper credit. Anyone who does not want to donate online can mail a check made out to Area I YR to me, indicating the candidate name and “Fundraise” in the memo line.

Please note that if we raise enough money to cover travel and/or clinic fees, stabling etc, we will do that – let’s help each other out!

On our call, we will also discuss the Acts of Kindness Fundraiser that we ran last year, to discuss whether people would like to do that again this year.

Request for Professional Videos

The selectors greatly appreciate rider candidates sharing professional videos of their competition rides. If you have, or get such videos, please pass them along.

Working Together

An important topic for our call will be “sharing the load” – there is a lot that we need to get done to make all of this happen! I would love to have others volunteer, for example, to help with:

Researching options for housing in MT

Researching options for housing in PA during Training Session

Researching options for housing/stabling in Aiken during Training Session

Coordinating stall cleaning with Groton House

Collecting donations for silent auction at Groton House

Brenda Herschbach Jarrell

AREA I YOUNG RIDER PROGRAM – Mission

To be the core program for the encouragement, promotion and development of young riders of all abilities in the sport of eventing throughout New England and New York, fostering inclusion of all in the youth eventing community

AREA I YOUNG RIDER PROGRAM – Vision

★ To enhance enjoyment and involvement in the sport through an engaged and supportive youth eventing community.
★ To equip young riders with fundamental skills and knowledge to enable them to compete safely and competently in lower level competitions.
★ To provide a structured path for riders pursuing qualification and selection as performance athletes for upper level national competitions.

What is the YR Program?

The Young Rider Program is offered through the United States Eventing Association for riders 21 years of age or younger. Each Area runs its own YR Program accommodating riders of all levels. The Young Rider program is divided into two sub-programs or branches: YRAP Young Rider Advancement Program and NAJYRC North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Program. The price to join the YR Program is $50 for riders competing at Training and below and $75 for those riders competing at Preliminary and above. Each Area program is facilitated by a volunteer Young Rider Coordinator.

YRAP Young Rider Advancement Program

This branch focuses on providing a wide variety of activities and provides support to riders at all levels in developing their individual goals. Its mission is to develop camaraderie among young riders and a commitment to the sport that will be carried on into their adult lives. YRAP can help the region’s Young Riders to realize their goals and eventually achieve the success they desire through dedication, teamwork and discipline.

View more about YRAP HERE.

NAJYRC North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Program

The NAJYRC branch focuses on developing riders and horses to create teams to represent Area I at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) each summer. This program is more structured than YRAP as the ultimate goal is to field a team that represents Area I. There are significant costs associated with participation in this program which can be reduced by successful team and individual fundraising.

View more about NAJYRC, including forms, important dates, how to donate, and news HERE.