A monthly update from the YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE chair – Kasey Riddle
I hope everyone is having a summer that is full of pony fun and decent weather. I am currently at the Kentucky Horse Park where myself and a group of volunteers are spending time promoting USA Working Equitation on an International Scale. We just finished a 5 day promotion of the sport at BreyerFest. What an incredible experience we had! A group of riders from zones 6 and 7 put on an excellent showcase of our sport. (Immeasurable gratitude to riders Jody Fontanetta, Stephanie Jennings, Jane Renner, Landyn Riddle and Laurie Wilson).
So many inquiries about Working Equitation and enthusiasm about getting involved in the sport. The daily demonstrations were viewed in person as well as live-streamed in over 13 countries from around the world! A diverse group of riders and equines were chosen for this demonstration to highlight the variety accepted into our sport. (We have several volunteers that deserve recognition too; Our announcer Jim Renner, Script writer Jane Renner, obstacle and barn help Joann DeGiosafatto, Duffie Yarbrough, AJ & Aria Fontanatta, Anthony Fontanetta, Ellie Riddle, Kendall Kimble, Emerson and Eleanor Kimble, JennyMarie Greenough and her students.) THANK YOU USAWE Board members and Committee members for your support and assistance as well!
In addition to our daily demonstration WE also had a marvelous booth with 4 volunteers from region 7 (Many thanks to Region 7 Director Pat Melton, and members Karen Heist, Betty Jumper and Toni Corn).After our demonstration, our booth was flooded with interested enthusiasts and questions. Some people even live-streamed our demonstration and drove to The Kentucky Horse Park to just come to our booth! Over the three days of BreyerFest, our booth volunteers tallied inquiries from over 27 states! There are countless pictures and videos being shared from fans on social media platforms of USA Working Equitation at BreyerFest.
Our booth featured a Breyer horse scaled Working Equitation obstacle course that was used to attract and teach people of ALL ages about working equitation. Thank you to Mares and Minis http://www.facebook.com/MaresAndMinis for this interactive obstacle course!
Lastly, a very special thank you to Morgan Osbaldeston for making all of the Breyer connections, materials and dreams come true. It could not have been possible without you!
United States Pony Club Festival Demo 2024
For our demonstrations, two dedicated USAWE members drove from Maryland to bring EOH to life at the Educational festival. I am so grateful that Holly Linz and Cera Olson volunteered and drove all this way with their equines to show the sport. We planted MANY seeds! We are already brainstorming and listing all of the ideas we have for Champs and Festival for 2026. We have many opportunities opening up and this was Step 1 to begin reaching Pony Clubbers. Giving the sport visibility has been a great experience. There is lots of interest and people are excited to know that WE is here in the USA! USAWE also had 6 youth members here competing at Championships. Congratulations to them! Lots of opportunities opening up for USAWE; it’s exciting to see.
