Vero Beach, FL:— The Professional Riders Organization is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Triple Crown Junior Young Rider PRO Scholarship Award after the conclusion of this year’s competitions. Patience O’Neal, 16, Deer Park, WA is the Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard Champion, followed closely by Mikayla Howitz, 17, Salt Lake City, Utah. East Coast winners are Alexandra Peterson, 18, Annapolis, MD and Mia Colman, 14, Millbrook, NY.
“It’s been such a pleasure to be involved with the outstanding young riders participating in the Triple Crown JYR PRO Scholarship Program the past three years,” said Michelle Mulcahy of Triple Crown Nutrition. “They are smart, talented and committed to their sport. While Triple Crown Nutrition products are fed to horses competing in all disciplines, we feel a special connection to the eventing community and are proud so many talented riders choose our feeds to keep their horses healthy and performing at their best. Providing the next generation of event riders with the opportunity to learn more about the care and management of their horses benefits all of us who have an interest in a successful and vibrant equine industry.”
Patience O’Neal is a two- time scholarship winner having first won the award in 2011. “I am so excited and honored to have been able to win the Triple Crown JYR PRO Scholarship Award again,” said O’Neal. “I want to thank my mom and trainer, Karen O'Neal, who has supported me and made all my riding possible, and all my supporters here in Area VII and the Young Rider program. Thank you Triple Crown, World Equestrian Brands, and all the sponsors of PRO. Thank you for your support. I am so grateful and honored to have such great horses and people to help and support my goals and me.”
"PRO and its Junior and Young Rider programs have simply exploded to a new level. The number of young riders involved and the enormous benefits they receive has far exceeded our expectations,” said Marcia Kulak, founder of PRO Junior Programs. “Title sponsor, Triple Crown Nutrition and Prize Sponsor, World Equestrian Brands, have recognized the importance of supporting the next generation of top riders, and has encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities PRO offers. Everyone involved has worked incredibly hard and the success is very gratifying!"
Alexandra Peterson, who trains with Valerie Vizcarrondo of Blue Clover Eventing, finished the season as the highest ranked East Coast rider with her 10-year-old off the track Thoroughbred, Willie Wiggins, earning a scholarship week with Jennie Brannigan. Peterson impressed the East Coast judges with her technique and maturity. Peterson credits Vizcarrondo and her family for their assistance and support in helping her to achieve her goal.
“The scholarship is an unbelievable opportunity for me to strengthen my riding skills, improve my horsemanship skills and support my relationship with my horse,” said Peterson. “I appreciate the fact that the scholarship applicants are not only judged on riding skills, but on many aspects of horsemanship and sportsmanship, as well. The detailed feedback on the scoring sheet was an incredible learning experience in itself. I now have a better understanding of the details that I should focus on in order to reach my fullest potential as an eventing competitor. I am grateful for the privilege to work with an advanced level professional rider to mentor me in accomplishing these goals. Thank you to Triple Crown, the supporting sponsors, and the Professional Riders Organization for this scholarship award. I look forward to sharing my experiences during the training scholarship week, and I encourage other serious young riders to strive for this very attainable goal.”
Jennie Brannigan is an enthusiastic supporter of the program. “I am thrilled to be hosting a winner of the Triple Crown JYR PRO Scholarship! Being a part of giving a leg up to the future of our sport is one of most important things to do and I love that PRO is giving back to the grass roots of our sport.”
“It is very encouraging to watch these young riders develop in their riding, as well as in teamwork, camaraderie, horsemanship and professionalism,” said Robin Moore of World Equestrian Brands, LLC. “We are very grateful to be able to partner with PRO and Triple Crown as this next generation of riders comes along.”
Utah native, Mikayla Howitz, ranked second overall on the Triple Crown Junior Leaderboard also earned a scholarship week while riding her horse, Black Gold, using both Galway Downs and the Event at Rebecca Farm as qualifiers. “I am so honored to receive this scholarship. I couldn't have done it without love and support from my family and Lynnleigh Farm! We have worked so hard for this! I love my super pony!"
Mia Colman, from Millbrook, NY heard about the program from her mother and competed at both Carolina International and the Millbrook Horse Trials with her 14-year-old Trakehner gelding, Downtown Getdown, as qualifiers for the program. Colman finished second amongst East Coast competitors to earn a scholarship week with PRO Junior Program Founder Marcia Kulak. “I could not be happier with how we finished off the 2015 season, completing our first preliminary together and being awarded the amazing opportunity to ride with one of the PRO’s,” said Colman. “Mikey and (I) had our debut together last October at Kent Fall Horse Trials at the novice level and did not compete again until that winter in Aiken, South Carolina where we made our training level debut. After five trips around training level events, including Carolina International and Millbrook Horse Trials, my qualifying rides, we moved up to the preliminary level in August. It has always been my dream to attend young riders, NAJYRC, and I believe that the awarded scholarship week will assist me achieving that goal.”
“We have a great team of PRO professional members that are part of the program,” said Samantha Lendl, Executive Director of PRO. “Ashley Johnson of Ocala, Florida stepped up to become the PRO Junior Program Coordinator, which due to their enormous growth has been a huge asset. Ashley coordinates the mentors, juniors and all the judges that donate their time to this program. We are so grateful to Tamie Smith and Marcia Kulak who have been devoted to hosting scholarship winners and promoting the program, and Karen O’Neal and Jordan Linstedt who have helped us invaluably in the Pacific Northwest region.
To learn more about the Triple Crown JYR PRO Scholarship Program, please visit: professionalriders.org/tlsa-scholarship-program or for the Prelim to PRO Team Series presented by Triple Crown Nutrition, please visit: http://professionalriders.org/prelim-to-pro
