Ottawa, Ontario — Dressage Canada is pleased to announce the riders that will contest the 2007 Dressage Canada National Youth Championships, to be held September 15-16 in Red Deer, AB.

The following is the list of rider/horse combinations that will compete for the national championship:

FEI JUNIOR DIVISION

Region            Rider                           Hometown                  Horse                          Owner

Pacific             Sara Regehr                Vernon, BC                Danika                         Beth Regehr

Pacific              Jennifer Wood              Nanoose Bay, BC        Tia Maria                   Jennifer Wood

Pacific              Sydney Holme              North Saanich, BC       Bariton                     Barbara Holme

West                Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar     Bluffton, AB         Oslo                        Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar

FEI PONY DIVISION

Region            Rider                           Hometown                  Horse                          Owner

West                Emily Anderson            Bentley, AB                  Razzle Dazzle               Emily Anderson

FEI YOUNG RIDER DIVISION

Region            Rider                           Hometown                  Horse                          Owner

Pacific              Claire Austring              Surrey, BC              Springtree Legacy       Claire Austring

Pacific              Brittney Eastgate           Victoria, BC           Azaria                          Brittney Eastgate

Pacific              Jessica York                 Delta, BC                 Paris Consul                 Jessica York

FEI CHILDREN DIVISION

Region            Rider                           Hometown                  Horse                          Owner

Pacific             Monica Houweling      Delta, BC                    S tentano                    Linda Houweling

West               Carlie Ringland           Sundre, AB                 Lefty                            Carlie Ringland

West                Alyssa Brewer            Blackfalds, AB            Bits and Pieces           Annette Brewer

Started in 2005, the Dressage Canada National Youth Championships provide a terrific platform for Canada’s emerging talent. The head-to-head format proves to be an exciting competition as riders sharpen their skills over the competition season, collecting valuable qualifying scores in order to represent their region. The Championships provide excellent training for the future as the qualifying system is structured in a similar fashion to that used for high performance senior athletes.

In the four regions of Pacific (British Columbia and Yukon), West (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North West Territories and Nunavut), East (Ontario and Quebec) and Atlantic (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland/Labrador), the Rider/Horse combinations must achieve a minimum qualifying score of 60% in the Team, Individual and Freestyle tests in order to compete at the Championships.  Twenty five percent of the available spaces are then allotted to each of the four regions.

Successfully qualified competitors make the journey to compete against one another in what proves to be a very competitive environment. Past National Youth Championships competitors could be seen on the international stage representing Canada this year at the 2007 North American Junior & Young Rider Championships including Jade Deter (Individual & Team Gold – FEI Junior),  Sarah Regher (Team Gold – FEI Junior), Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar  (Team Gold – FEI Junior), Alexandra Duncan (Individual Gold – Young Rider), Leah Wilson (Individual Silver – Young Rider) and Julie Watchorn (Individual Bronze – Young Rider).