Haley Franc of Prince Albert, SK, won the gold medal in the Junior Riders Individual Final in Reining on July 21 at the 2012 Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships. The Championships, presented by Gotham North, were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
Franc, riding Jacs Shy Boy, her own eight-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, posted a score of 212.00 for her run, which was five marks higher than the silver medalist, American Stephen Timberlake.
“My horse was just so great, and I am still processing the fact that we won,” said 14-year-old Franc. “There are no words to explain the feeling of winning. It is like nothing I have ever experienced.”
“It was also so nice to be able to see all the other disciplines competing,” added Franc. “The experience here at the Championships has been amazing.”
“To have met such a great young adult with the willingness to listen, try and learn from a stranger was a once in a lifetime experience from a coach’s perspective,” said Harvey Stevens, who coached Franc for a couple of days at the Championships. “It was great to have had a chance to work with Haley and to have it turn out the way it did.”
Chef d’équipe, Wendy Dyer also added, “Haley has been a very poised and focused young lady all week, and I had a feeling she was more than capable of winning the gold medal, but then all the young athletes were as equally as qualified to be on top of the podium. I am extremely proud of the whole team-all great ambassadors for Canada”
In addition to Franc winning gold in the Junior Riders Individual Final, Emily Birch of La Salle, MB, riding Sunup Dun It, her 12-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, were fourth, posting a score of 204.00. Fifth place was awarded to Micaela Maharaj of Oak Bluff, MB, who earned a score of 200.50 riding her 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, Fancy Footprint.
In the Young Rider Individual Final, Megan Robinson of Dufresne, MB, finished in fourth place riding Sheza Smart Cookie, her six-year-old Quarter Horse mare, with a score of 209.00.
Complete results are available at http://www.youngriders.org/.
For additional information on the Canadian Reining Committee and its programs, including selection criteria, please visit the Reining section of the Equine Canada website at www.equinecanada.ca/reining or e-mail reining@equinecanada.ca.
More from Horse Sport:
