Well, it's official! The dust has settled after the last of the qualifying competitions for the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships and Chance and I have ended up leading the U.S. Region 5 Junior Team with a 66.4% average! The other team members are Jordan Farr with her horse Phoenix and Aylin Corapcioglu and Ruhman. Our Young Rider Team consists of Brandi Roenick with Nobel, Laura Decesari with Cheenook II, and Maddi Birch with Starlight. I'm so proud of everyone and I know we're going to have a great time! Chance and I have had our ups and downs this season, but he always tries so hard for me and I appreciate every ride I get on him. We've been training really hard and I'm confident that we will be able to perform to the best of our abilities in Kentucky.
This year we also tried out for the National Junior Dressage Championships held in Gladstone, New Jersey at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters. The top twelve Juniors in the country are invited to compete for the title of National Junior Champion. The competition is only two weeks after the NAJYRC and will be held August 13th through the 15th, but after ending up 5th in the rankings we decided the extra trip would be worthwhile. So, not only will we be vying for team and individual medals at the NAJYRC, but we will also be trying to become the next National Champions in New Jersey! I have also been riding my trainer's horse, Wynsum, and we came in 10th in the rankings. Since he is for sale, there are currently some people looking to purchase him, so I don't know whether or not I will be taking him to Nationals as well. But, we'll just have to wait and see what happens! Whether I'm showing one or two horses I know I'll have a blast.
With the extra show we will be gone for three and a half weeks and, as you can imagine, the journey is going to be a long and expensive one, especially coming from Arizona! My family and I have been trying to fundraise to help come up with some of the money we will need for such a long trip, and I'm suprised and touched at how generous everyone has been. It really means a lot to know that others are hoping I succeed, and I want to ride my best to show them they put their faith in the right place! But no matter what, this will be an unforgettable adventure and I can't wait to begin! Chance and I will head back east in another three weeks, so in the meantime we will work hard and train, train, train! It will be a lot of hard work, but I can't imagine doing anything else.
If you want to view the National rankings, follow this link: http://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/dressage/JuniorRankingLis....
Also, you can watch a video of me showing Chance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDFOc0-Wom0

~Cat~
P.S. Look for updates as the Championships get closer and I'll fill you in on all the details as we head back east!

View the 2010 Team Members Below

Chance and I, members of the Region 5 Junior Team.

Jordan and Phoenix, members of the Region 5 Junior Team.

Aylin and Ruhman, members of the Region 5 Junior Team.

Brandi and Nobel, members of the Region 5 Young Rider Team

Maddi and Starlight, members of the Region 5 Young Rider Team.

Laura and Cheenook, members of the Region 5 Young Rider Team.