Taryn McEntire and Crunch K claim the win after three phases of competition in the inaugural YSJF U25 Challenge. In the winner's circle (L to R) are trainers Skylar and Shayne Wireman, YSJF President DiAnn Langer, Anne Kurskinsi, Ronnie Beard, Karen Healey, PCHA representatives Emily Esau-Williams and Sally Hudson, Kathy Hobstetter, Robert Ridland, and Alexandra Zulia.
September 23, 2024 – Taryn McEntire (Oceanside, CA) rose to the top of the field in the inaugural Youth Show Jumping Foundation (YSJF) U25 Challenge held at the Blenheim Equisports International Jumping Festival in San Juan Capistrano, CA, this past weekend. Presented by the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association (PCHA), the three-phase class hosted 1.10m and 1.20m riders and was judged by Olympian Anne Kursinski (Frenchtown, NJ) and renowned trainer and judge, Ronnie Beard (West Palm Beach, FL), with course design by Karen Healey (Simi Valley, CA) and Anthony D'Ambrosio(Red Hook, NY). YSJF President DiAnn Langer was the Technical Delegate.
The unique three-phase class required riders to demonstrate horsemanship, flatwork, and jumping skills. The class is the first event put on by the YSJF with many more programs to come, which all emphasize the pathway to the top ranks of show jumping and future teams.
"This was really a riding test, it was not a beauty contest by any means," explained Kursinksi. "Seeing the riders being effective and having an effective position along with the right mindset and fighting for it, trying to win, were all things we were looking for. The rider (Taryn McEntire) that won it, went all in to win it, she didn't play it safe. It's just a wonderful competition with really great questions. It's a jumper format, they need to be thinking like a jumper rider... and learning how to prepare their horse for the competition that's coming the next day. That's what we wanted to see."
Judge Beard added, "In show jumping, it's about getting the job done and this is what they had to do out there. Did it always look perfect, no, but they got themselves out of trouble when they had to. There were little glitches here and there but they worked through them and that's what it's about. We all know it doesn't come up perfectly in a grand prix and you have to solve it. These three riders all had problems, each one individually, and they figured out how to solve them."
DiAnn Langer, Ronnie Beard, and Anne Kursinski spoke to riders at the opening riders' meeting.
The event began on Thursday evening with the official jog, a welcome reception, and a rider’s meeting with conversation from Kursinski and Beard on what they would be looking for during the competition. The class was designed to prepare riders for more advanced jumper competition. The exercises lead riders to think on their own and perform flatwork, gymnastics, courses with an open water option, and demonstrate the ability to ride an unfamiliar horse. McEntire explained she never participated in a class like this before. She said it really got her thinking instead of just listening to her trainer, she could be in the trainer’s shoes, especially when she had to design her own gymnastics course. She loved the experience of riding the jumping course on her own horse and then on a borrowed horse.
“My goal is to get to the biggest level that I can and I think this class is a great stepping stone for that and its great preparation in teaching the basics to get to that high level. I would 100% do it again!” stated McEntire.
“I want to thank the Youth Show Jumping Foundation for setting up such a fun class and such an awesome stepping stone for the younger generation hoping to get to the top, and I also want to thank Shayne and Skylar Wireman for being the best trainers I could ever ask for and for giving me opportunities that I never would’ve gotten without them. And a huge thank you to MJ and Todd Kaplan for such an amazing horse … and I’m endlessly grateful for everybody,” said McEntire.
Riders walked the gymnastics course without trainers.
Grace Belmont in the gymnastic phase with judges Anne Kursinski and Ronnie Beard in the booth with YSJF Board Member Marnye Langer scribing.
Phase I
Competition began on Friday with Phase I, the deNemethy Phase, which consisted of a course of gymnastics combined with flatwork. Riders designed their routes to include both mandatory and optional flatwork movements combined with the gymnastics. Riders walked the course without trainers or distances marked on the course sheets to create a plan that would show off their horse as well as the ability to prepare for a jumper class.
Phase 1 winners Lillian Muzzy for the 1.10m and Taryn McEntire for the 1.20m section.
After Phase I, Lillian Muzzy (Coto De Caza, CA), trained by Jason Mcardle (Rancho Santa Fe, CA), topped the 1.10m section aboard Castelino 5, owned by MZ Farms. McEntire proved to be the best in the 1.20m section aboard Cruch K, owned by MJ & Todd Kaplan and trained by Shayne Wireman (Bonsall, CA).
Phase II
Saturday was Phase II, the jumping phase, which included the open water as an option. Riders were scored on ability, style, and performance with scores added to phase I scores. The new total left Lillian Muzzy still at the top of the 1.10m and Taryn McEntire at the top of the 1.20m section, with Devi Ferreira (Jamul, CA) and Dancer Z grabbing the third place spot.
Top three riders after Phase II, Lillian Muzzy, Taryn McEntire, and Devi Ferreira.
Top eight riders in the 1.10m and top five riders in the 1.20m after Phase II.
Lillian Muzzy and Castelino 5 tackle the Phase II course.
Devi Ferreira and Dancer Z in the Phase II round.
Phase III
Riders then attended a brief draw meeting for Phase III, the Ride-Off Phase. Participants were privileged to hear from USEF Chef d’equipe Robert Ridland as well as Kursinski and Beard again about the importance of the YSJF in assisting riders with goals and a pathway to future team competitions. The top three riders drew Challenge horses for the third round of the class. Challenge horses were graciously donated for the class by Shayne Wireman, Marnye Langer, and David Bustillos.
For the Ride-Off, riders first competed on their own horses over the jumper course and returned to ride their draw horse for the second round over the same course. These scores were added to the previous phase scores to determine the overall winner. McEntire drew Bustillos’ horse Change Up PS for her second round and put in an amazing ride to score 89, giving the pair a total of 478.75 from all the phases for the win. McEntire was awarded a $3,500 Training Grant to be used for future educational opportunities. She also received a ribbon wreath picture frame from Top Line Design and a Custom “ALON” Riding Coat courtesy of Pacific Saddlery.
Ferreira drew Wireman’s Barclino B and rode to earn an 84 and a total of 465.25 to slide into second place. Ferreira earned a $1,500 training grant.
Muzzy drew Langer’s LEGIS Air and put in another great ride to score an 82 for a total of 462.5 for third place and a $1,000 training grant.
Leading trainer Skylar Wireman said, "I felt this class was laid out really well...it encourages them to put their thinking cap on and think about how they are going to prepare their horse. For the future, if they really want to become a trainer, if that's their goal to be at the top of the sport and be in the Olympics someday, it prepares them to think 'How am I going to prepare my horse to jump a bigger track or a nation's cup' where its important to be clear and not have a time fault."
Special Awards
After the victory gallop, additional awards were presented. A $3,000 bonus was awarded to Shayne and Skylar Wireman for the Gold Medal Ride Off Winning Trainers.
Change Up PS won the Best Challenge Horse Award.
Fernando Navarro won the Best Turned Out Horse in the Jog with Kyara Semrau’s Evermore.
Thank you
Special thanks to Blenheim Equisports, Robert and Hillary Ridland, and Alexandra Zulia for their generous hospitality, amazing staff, great facility, jumps, and jump crew.
Thank you to the following:
PCHA for sponsoring the class and being part of the first YSJF program.
Karen Healey for the time spent creating the courses and overseeing the build with Anthony D’Ambrosio. for the inaugural event.
Top Line Design and Pacific Saddlery for some of the awards.
Kathy Hobstetter for being the fan ambassador and assisting parents in understanding the program.
Shayne Wireman, David Bustillos, and Marnye Langer for the Ride-Off horses.
All the participants and trainers!
The YSJF U25 was the first kick-off event for the YSJF, an independent not-for-profit organization, with plans for more classes throughout the country along with additional educational programs, team competitions, and parent/owner programs.
For more information on the YSFJ, visit the website atyouthshowjumpingfoundation.org.
All photos courtesy of Marketing4Equestrians.
About the YSJF
The mission of the Youth Show Jumping Foundation is to enhance and establish a strong youth equestrian program through training, support, and education to ensure a healthy, successful, and sustainable equine industry for the future of the sport.
The Youth Show Jumping Foundation with the assistance of private donations and sponsors, will provide opportunities for youth riders to grow and excel in the sport through unique competitive programs, friendly team competitions, in-depth educational workshops, clinics, internships, community outreach, and financial support, to empower the next generation of equestrians to become the trusted guardians of the horse and horse sports around the world.
The foundation provides a building block to programs established by the federation and its affiliates to enhance the global efforts for continued National and International team competition and a credible field of play for the sport.
YSJF is an independent not-for-profit 501c(3).
For more information on the Youth Show Jumping Foundation, visit the website at YouthShowJumpingFoundation.org.
Commentaires