BCQHA/LMQHA Congratulates Two Youth Riders from BC Selected to Represent Canada

Yelaina May

Sarah Hill

Canada is set to host the 2008 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup, a prestigious biennial event that will be attended by teams from at least 16 countries around the world. Canada is honored to be host of the Youth World Cup for the second time in the event’s 20+ year history.  Other host countries have included the USA, Australia, Germany and others.  Each team will consist of up to ten members, showcasing talented riders competing on horses they haven’t ever previously ridden.

Dates for this year’s event, proudly co-hosted by the Canadian Quarter Horse Association and provincial/regional AQHA affiliates, are July 6th to 13th, 2008, in London Ontario. The Youth World Cup competition is an educational, leadership-based event for AQHA youth members from around the world, culminating in showcasing skills learned in an atmosphere of friendly competition.  Several Sponsorship opportunities exist for those who would like to support youth riders and gain worldwide exposure for their companies on this global stage.

Congratulations are in order for two youth riders from BC, Yelaina May and Sarah Hill, who have been appointed to Team Canada!  Both are members of the Lower Mainland QH Association and the BC Quarter Horse Association,

Yelaina is a 17-year-old from Roberts Creek, British Columbia who has been riding and showing horses for years, earning many circuit championships and year-end high point awards. She has qualified for the AQHYA World Show and has won multiple Canadian National Championship titles with her horses. Yelaina has been an active volunteer for the Lower Mainland Quarter Horse Association and the BCQHA. She is presently the Treasurer of the British Columbia Youth Quarter horse Association.

Sarah is a 14-year-old from Langley, British Columbia and has been showing American Quarter Horses in the all-around events for the past four years, having been awarded numerous circuit championships and year-end high point awards. She is the Vice-President of the British Columbia Quarter Horse Youth Association.  Sarah is bilingual in both French and English, which will be a great asset as she connects with competitors from around the world.

Meet both Yelaina and Sarah at the Lower Mainland QH Bazaar, being held at Thunderbird Show Park, Langley, on March 15th and 16th.  The Youth members from the BC Quarter Horse Association will be on hand to talk about the great opportunities that exist for kids and horses via membership in the BCQHA/LMQHA.  Please visit our booth to learn more about the Youth World Cup, Sponsorship opportunities and all the fun activities we have planned for the weekend!

For more information, please contact Denise Hill denisehill@shaw.ca

BCQHYA held its 2007 Annual General Meeting & Elections at the LMQHA July Rodeo Circuit. Officers were elected and ideas for the upcoming year were discussed.  Our meeting was well attended by both BCQHYA members and WSQHYA members.  Attending members received a complimentary BCQHYA embroidered t-shirt.

Election Results are as follows:

Ideas we talked about for Youth Activities included:

• Fundraising through Silent Auctions, Bake Sales, and Tack Box Raffle. 
• Youth members were interested in learning more about Judging.  This opportunity presented itself the next day when we arranged for two of our Judges to give some instruction on judging a Trail Class.  Youth members then were given score cards and were able to judge trail horses.
• Clinics.  There was interest in clinics if we were to bring in a well-known trainer/clinician.
• Youth World Cup 2008 – Gayle Pawley-Wilson gave a presentation to the Youth Members about the 2008 Youth World Cup to be held in London, Ontario.  Gayle gave the members information about criteria for applying for the Canadian Team as well as a great overall view of what the show is all about.  There was a great deal of interest in this from all of our members.  We will talk further about the possibility of attending in 2008.

Fun Stuff!!!  During the four-day July Rodeo Circuit, our Youth Members had some extra fun playing the BCQHYA Amazing Youth Race – specially designed by BCQHYA Vice President, Sarah Hill.  Youth Members signed up and were placed in teams to complete fun tasks all throughout the weekend.  The Amazing Youth Race finished on Saturday afternoon with all participants winning prizes!  What a great way to meet new friends!

1st Place – Purple Team – Tessa May & Casey Rohrbacher
2nd Place – Pink Team – Sarah Hill & Brandi Chambers
3rd Place – Yellow Team – Devon May & Heidi Chambers
4th Place – Blue Team – Kristi Collins & Tara Chambers
5th Place - Green Team – Trevor Hill & Connor Collins

Friday Night – Off to the Movies!  Youth members also gathered together Friday night for some “off the show grounds” fun, driving over to the huge Colossus Movie theatre and watching the new Harry Potter movie.

***BCQHYA is always looking for new Youth Members to join in the fun!  Please email us!!!

Denise Hill – denisehill@shaw.ca
Lilieth Lorenzen – lilieth@dccnet.com