Dressage Canada is pleased to honour the team of volunteers behind the Rising Stars Youth Dressage Competition in Chilliwack, BC with the Dressage Canada Volunteer of the Month Award for September.
Held annually at Heritage Park in Chilliwack, BC, the Rising Stars Youth Dressage Competition celebrated its twelfth year in 2015.
The competition started as the brainchild of forward-thinking horsewomen, Sue Holtby, Wendy Christoff, Nancy Olson-Beaulieu and Cat Armitage. Their idea was to create an event especially for youth riders that would act as a stepping-stone on a lifelong journey as responsible horsemen and horsewomen-whether in the dressage competition arena, or in an equine related career.
This dream has become more than a reality. The Rising Stars competition is now a premiere competition for all young dressage riders in Western Canada to aspire to. Furthermore, it has become an annual family gathering of like-minded horse families, many camping on the grounds and forging lifelong friendships in an amicable competitive atmosphere. Everyone joins in the fun and most volunteer their time freely.
One of the original aims of the competition was to encourage responsibility and volunteerism. The success of this goal is clearly displayed through the growing group of Rising Stars alumni who are most visible as volunteers or as coaches to up and coming riders.
The competition is comprised of both EC Bronze and Gold classes, as well as a Hack Challenge. At the close of the second day, the Parade of Champions showcases the talented young riders, and is a ceremony that rivals any international event. Horses and riders are presented beautifully, with the whole atmosphere giving our youth riders a taste of what they may anticipate in future competitive years. This year an RCMP officer and her four-year-old daughter (both dressed in full ceremonial gear) led the procession.
All the volunteers involved with the Rising Stars Youth Dressage Competition deserve recognition, but it is the vision of the original Rising Stars team that proved what a huge impact a small dedicated group can make.
In tribute to the volunteerism of this team, Dressage Canada is honoured to shed light on these passionate individuals and their amazing accomplishments.
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