Knowing that youth are the future of our sport, Equestrian Canada (EC), with the generous support of Mark Samuel, Kevin Samuel-Sanford and the Sanford family, is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Jumping Youth Bursary.
The bursary was developed to support young athletes competing in hunter, jumper and equitation divisions striving to continue their education while competing at high levels of equestrian sport. Riders are selected by the Youth Bursary Committee based on academic achievement; equestrian-related results and goals; commitment and dedication to jumping sport; and demonstrated financial need.
The following athletes have each been awarded $2,000 through the Jumping Youth Bursary in recognition of their hard work and dedication:
Rayne Dubois, 21, of Ottawa, ON, started riding at the age of 12, when family friend Elizabeth White gave her a chance to attend a weeklong overnight horseback riding camp. The love she found for horses there, led her to start taking lessons. She danced competitively for eight years but then made the decision to give her full commitment to show jumping. She now trains with Amy and Ian Millar and was able to compete in her first Grand Prix in 2021. On top of show jumping, Dubois recently started teaching at Wesley Clover Park as a beginner instructor. The third-year Psychology student at Carleton University has a keen interest in learning how psychological factors affect elite performance. Dubois rides Dublin, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Millar Brooke Farm, who is fierce, competitive and takes care of her in the saddle. The duo is excited to be able to compete in the 2022 season.
Jade Lalonde, 21, of Candiac, QC, had an early interest in horses; always wanting to be around, pet, and brush them. She never missed a chance to ask to ride. At the age of four, her wish came true when she started lessons. Growing up, in an attempt to follow in the footsteps of her figure skating parents – former Canadian champions – Lalonde tried skating but found that being on the ice just wasn’t the same as riding. She is currently in her first year of medical school, focused on radiology at the University of Montreal. When Lalonde isn’t learning physiology, she is riding with her kind, loving horse Kapital Creation Z who she’s been with for over a year since being connected with him through Anne-Claire Breton. The duo plans to be more competitive in Grand Prix’s this year.
Tatyana Soldera, 18, of Montreal, QC, has attempted many sports in her life, including skiing, ballet, figure skating, and soccer but she made the decision some time ago that her love for animals was most important to her and took up riding. Soldera started competing in provincial shows in 2017 with her coach Josée Turcotte, attending the barn five, and lessons three times a week. In 2021, she won the CET during the first week in Ottawa with Arezzo Z and qualified for the Royal West CET Medal Finals. Soldera is part of Alliance Sport-Étude in Quebec, allowing her to concentrate in both equestrian and her school. She is thinking about attending McGill University to study architecture then achieving her MBA. With her coach by her side, Soldera and her newly purchased mare Chanel aim to begin their season attending the Winter Equestrian Festival, they hope to win the CET Medal National Finals, participate in the Youth Championships and U25 in 2022.
Ellah Dubeau-Kielty, 18, of Burlington, ON, gained a love for horses at a very young age. Her parents enrolled her in riding lessons at four-years-old and she entered competition at the age of eight in the small pony division. Although Dubeau-Kielty also participated in dance, gymnastics and soccer – riding has always been an unwavering passion. Her educational goal is to attend a post-secondary school in the field of Psychology. When she is not studying, Dubeau-Kielty is a working student for Mark Hayes, assisting in mentoring young pony riders. She has also been fortunate to build special partnerships and compete on many different privately owned horses in the hunter, jumper, equitation and derby rings.
Emma Woo, 18, of Surrey, BC, first rode a pony at a country fair at age five. Later that summer, Woo and her family visited a resort in Whistler, BC., where she went on a short trail ride, and she was hooked. When she was seven years old, she started riding lessons, showing at local schooling shows on a leased pony. At nine years old, she won her first red ribbon at Thunderbird Show Park, which offered up the thrill of winning and motivated her to continue competing. She has worked at a local supermarket for over two years and spends long hours at Jump Start Stables doing barn chores, feeding and turning horses in and out. Woo rides Adriana 56 (Addy), a 13-year-old Holsteiner mare for her equitation and jumps with Hello Harry Z (Harry), a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding. Woo aims to continue her equestrian and academic balancing act while studying Psychology at the University of British Columbia as she pursues her career aspirations of becoming a Sports Psychologist.
About the Jumping Youth Bursary
Each year, the Youth Bursary Committee selects recipients of the Jumping Youth Bursary program based on the strength of applications received. Elements considered in the application process include a transcript of grades and outline of academic curriculum; future educational plans; equestrian experience; commitment and dedication to their sport; a positive image within the sport; achievement of notable competition results, whether at the local, regional or national level; goals within the equestrian industry; and financial need.
For additional details regarding the Jumping Youth Bursary Program, please visit here.
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