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Para-equestrian makes top ten in Canada

Sarah Cummings advanced to Team Canada’s long list of Para-Equestrian Riders
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Sarah and Spirit

Sixteen months ago Sarah’s focus was to improve her dressage scores via professional video competition through Equine Canada. But, Equine Canada’s Development Coach Lynn Marshall took an interest in Sarah’s demonstrated ability and suggested something more. She encouraged Sarah to enter live competitions. And that’s what she did.

2014 saw Sarah compete at four Nationally Recognized Competitions in Canada and the USA, yielding results that placed her at the top in each competition. She is now in the top 10 Para-Equestrian riders in Canada.  Next trial: the short list and Canada’s Olympic Team.

The Olympic stretch for excellence takes devotion and precision training to up the ante and secure a win. Someone like Jessica Wisdom, recent USA National Grand Prix Champion (http://www.eqequestrian.com/) is just the right person to have on Sarah’s team.

Jessica Wisdom is coming to town December 6 and 7. She will conduct a dressage clinic hosted by Riverbend Equestrian Centre at Wycliffe.  To secure a spot on the short list, Sarah will be riding against some pretty stiff competition and there’s not much funding at this stage. Sarah has to finance everything on her own. She’s a hard worker, helping out at Riverbend Equestrian Centre in exchange for lessons and the use of Spirit Keeper, the Medicine Hat Paint she competes on.  Expenses for shows stack up pretty quick and she pays those out of her earnings at a part time job. The clinic is a cost recovery program that depends on registrations to pay for it. In parallel, Riverbend Equestrian Centre will offer the opportunity to audit the clinic, make purchases, bid in a silent auction and enjoy a snack at a modest concession stand. Proceeds will help to fund Sarah’s journey. For information contact riverbendstable@gmail.com.