RIDGE RIDERS ATTAIN ALL-AMERICAN NATIONAL EQUINE STATUS

Korn sisters, Corbett and Jackson earn Top in Nation

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA: Several members of the Ridge Riders Pony Club, of Goshen, NY, were crowned National Champions at the spirited championship competitions of the United States Pony Clubs, held August 3-7 in Lexington, Va.

One of the country’s largest youth equine organizations, the United States Pony Club provides youths, age 4 through 21, with opportunities to train and compete in English-based riding and horsemanship activities. All of the riders who competed in the USPC Championships previously qualified by attaining top scores at their regional rallies throughout the country.  

Rachel Korn, riding Moon Dancer, became a national champion by earning 105.5 points in the 3-day Eventing Preliminary Finals. Also earning honors in Eventing was Jamie Lee French, who took placed 11th overall at the Novice Level. 

Eventing, which could be termed an "equestrian triathlon," includes three riding discipline: dressage, endurance (or cross-country), and show jumping. 

Rachel and Alex Corbett also placed first in Horse Management, which is a very competitive evaluation of horse care. 

Becca  Korn, riding Shorty as a member of the “Hot Ice” team competing in the President’s Club was crowned a National Champion in the Senior Games Division with 95.6 points.  The Games competition consists of over 20 mounted horse games that involve team work, hand/eye coordination and superb horse riding skills.  The top six winning teams of games are selected for the Prince Philip Cup in Lexington, Kentucky in October 2005, which features the finest junior games riders in the country. 

Also earning All-American status and the opportunity to compete at the Prince Philip Cup were the Glamour Girls Games Team - Kelsey Crowley, Jen Cornish, Joanna Arleo, Alyssa Carchietta, Lindsay Worker.  The Glamour Girls Games Team placed 4^th place in the Junior Games Division. 

Heather Dunn and Caitlin Ward, members of Pete’s Angles Games Team, finished 12^th in Senior Games Division. 

Ashley Jackson is Ridge Rider’s other National Champion. Representing the club on the regional New York/Upper Connecticut - Junior D Quiz Team, Jackson and her team members competed against 28 teams from around the country to earn top honors in Quiz. 

A non-riding team competition, Quiz tests Pony Club members knowledge and skills in Equestrian Health, Horse Management, Equestrian Training, Foxhunting, Polo, Vaulting, Distance Riding, and Polocrosse, Safety, Equestrian Sport Rules and United States Pony Club Policies/history.  The three-day competition includes hands-on evaluations, a written test, and oral evaluations.  In the classroom phases, the competitors are required to answer all disciplines of horses training and care at two levels above their rated level.

Bonnie Korn, the Ridge Riders District Commissioner, said “We are all very proud of our club members.  Many have reached the highest achievement levels in this most demanding equestrian event. Their achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication and love of horses.”   

Most importantly, she noted that the greatest attribute of the National Pony Club Championship is “the wonderful journey each competitor takes to get to the championship and the valuable experiences they learn during the competition.”