Six  Athletes Awarded Eventing Canada [!] Young Rider Bursaries

The Directors of Eventing Canada [!] are pleased to announce the following successful applicants for its second annual Young Rider  bursary:

Jessie Ferguson (ON), Nicole Leuthardt (BC), Jennifer McGuire (ON), Julia MacKay (BC), Erin Pereira (ON) and Morgan Walsh (ON) will each receive a bursary of $1000. to train and compete in the Olympic discipline of Three Day Event and Horse Trials.

"We believe that all young equestrians should be able to  pursue their dreams.  We hope that  these bursaries will provide additional opportunities for young eventers to learn, care for, and compete with their equine partners to further their equestrian goals," said  Arthur Tateishi, Chair of Eventing Canada [!]

Bursary applicants were assessed on financial need, Eventing experience, and equestrian goals. .  The Youth Bursary Committee members were so impressed with the quality of the 20 applicants that they agreed to fund one more than the original five bursaries.

Bursary recipients were all under 21 years of age (as of 01 January 2003).

Eventing Canada [!] is an amateur athletic association, and  is an independent supporter of  the Olympic Sport of Three Day Event and Horse Trials in Canada.  The Directors and Volunteers of the Association annually organize a fundraiser, "imagine (!)".  Eventing Canada [!] conducts equestrian clinics with international trainers, which include Lucinda Green, James Wofford and Patricia Burgess in 2002.

The Association also organizes Ride for Riders, a fundraising clinic inviting top Canadian coaches from all disciplines to volunteer their day to teach Riders at all levels.  The proceeds from this fun-filled clinic are credited to The Event Riders Benevolent Fund to assist injured or disadvantaged Athletes of the Sport.  This year, Ride for Riders will be hosted by Checkmate Farm in Feversham, ON on 30 June 2002.

For more information on the activities of Eventing Canada [!], please contact Arthur Tateishi.

Related Links:
2001 Bursary Recipients

Jessie Ferguson (Uxbridge, ON)
Jessie is currently riding 3 horses:
Little Joe (Joe) is a ten year old Canadian thoroughbred gelding. Last year Jessie and Joe competed at the preliminary level and won Joe's first CCI* at Glen Oro. They also completed their first Intermediate level event at the Glen Oro Autumn horse trials in 2001 at which they placed fourth. This year they hope to complete a CCI**.

Finale Treaty (Sally) is a seven year old bay thoroughbred mare bred by Leslie Saila of Glen Oro Farm. This year Jessie hopes to make their debut at the pre-training level.

Exploring (Digby) is a five year old bay thoroughbred gelding. Digby and Jessie also hope to compete at the pre-training level this year.

Good luck to Jessie and the herd!

Nicole Leuthardt (Chase, BC)
Amazing Grace is an 8yr old TB mare that Nicoles describes as "a pleasure to ride as she is a very quick learner". Nicoles hopes to move up to Preliminary with her by the end of the 2002 season.

Amber's Promise is and 11yr old TB mare that Nicole describes as "a fabulous teacher with all the qualities we look for in an event horse - courage, endurance, speed and agility".

Nicole hopes to qualify her for the 2004 NAYRC CCI**.

Good luck Nicole and Amber!

Jennifer McGuire (Uxbridge, ON)
Prestigous is an 9yr old, 17hh TB mare that Jennifer has been riding for 3 years. In that time they have progressed from the uninitiated to the Intermediate level and are hoping to complete their first CCI** in the 2002 season. Jennifer says that Prestigous is "a fabulous jumper and can't wait to get on course". This pair have traveled all over North America together including Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Maryland, Illinois and Quebec. They are long-listed for NAYRC and hoping to be chosen for the 2002 team.

Jennifer thanks her present and past coaches: Ian Roberts, Dana Balfour, Jacqui Brooks, Annaliese Farber and Laurie Crust for everything she has learned from them. Jennifer has recently been accepted to the Nursing program at Humber College, and hopes to keep up her riding/training at the same time.

Good luck Jennifer and Prestigous!

Julia MacKay (Surrey, BC)
Benson is an 10yr old TB gelding that Julia has had for 4 years. In 2001 Julia moved him up to the Preliminary level and had a great season, finishing as leading Preliminary Young Rider in BC. .

Julia and Benson will compete at the Intermediate level for the 2002 season, and work towards qualifying for a CCI** in the spring of 2003.

Good luck Julia and Benson!

Erin Pereira, (Greenback, ON)

Erin is currently riding and training four horses:
Shadow, aka Cookies'n Cream, is a nine year old appaloosa mare that Erin found at a sale in Waterloo. She was a back yard horse and had only ever been ridden western. Erin quickly turned her into an event horse and sold her to one of her students. Now Erin is riding and competing her at the pre-training level so that she is ready for her student to event next year.

Annie is a four year old Irish Thoroughbred mare. She was bred and raised by Leslie Salia of Glen Oro Farm. Erin is hoping to compete her next year at the pre-training level.

Jeff is a seven year old appendix that Erin found at a sale. He had done some local showing at a fairs and a lot of western. In the last few months he has learned to jump and seems very bold so Erin hopes to event him next year.

Garth is a three year old 16 hand appaloosa thoroughbred gelding that Erin bought in the spring as a re-sale project and she has been working him throughout the summer. He is a very quiet three year old and is going to make somebody a great horse.
Currently Garth is going well and is for sale.

Morgan Walsh (West Montrose, ON)
19 yr old Morgan competes at the Preliminary level with Marcipan, a 10yr old, 15.3hh TB mare that she got off the track 4 years ago. Morgan says 'Marci' has a lot of spunk and attitude and is one of the smartest horses she has ever met!  They hope to upgrade to Intermediate by the end of the 2002 season.
Morgan also has a young horse, Babe, another 15.3hh OTTB mare who is 6yrs.  Morgan plans to have her competing by the end of the 2002 season.
Morgan is coached by Dana Balfour and thanks both Dana and her parents for their support.  Morgan has been accepted into Queen's University in the fall to study Music and hopes to continue riding as much as possible.
Congratulations and good luck Morgan!