Canadian Jessica Rhinelander will be representing Canada at the 2008 FEI World Cup Finals for Young Riders held at the CDI Frankfurt, December 17-21, 2008. Rhinelander and her Danish warmblood gelding Allende
qualified by achieving the best average score of all Canadian Young Riders across sanctioned competitions throughout the year.
Rhinelander, who is based in St. John's, Newfoundland, last excelled at the 2008 CDI-Y Devon in September where she finished fourth twice and third once against American Young Riders.
Rhinelander has been riding since she was seven as a member of the Therapeutic Riding Association on Mount Scio road. She said fell in love with the ponies after a few experiences volunteering with the organization. It wasn’t until she was 12 that she started training for competition.
“Dressage Canada sent down a recruiter to Newfoundland just looking for potential talent. I was the only one selected out of the people of Newfoundland,” she said enthusiastically.
From there, Rhinelander traveled to Ottawa to meet her coach and went to Germany to buy Allende. “I’ve had him for six years. He was bought when he was seven,” she said. “There’s no coaches here … I went every month for the weekend, Christmas, Easter holidays.”
Commutting to her trainer was difficult and Rhinelander could not ride her horse as often as her peers. “I rode him once a month, when all my competitors were riding once a day.” While she was home, she did train regularly with her practice horse, but it made creating a bond a larger challenge.
This year, Rhinelander has been able train with her horse locally. “That’s helped me a lot riding him everyday [but] it’s a problem because my coach isn’t here.”
For the 19 year-old physical education student, this competition will be the biggest for her and her horse to date.
Partial Source: MUSE
Photo Source: Miaou Photo
Related Links
Laura Noyes to Represent the U.S.A at the 2008 FEI Young Rider World Cup
Scores of the 2007 FEI Young Rider World Cup