Three young Maine equestrians heading to Dressage Nationals

ETNA, Maine — A couple of younger Mainers who’re a part of the Regular Strides Equestrian Workforce based mostly in Etna are gearing up for the most important competitors of their lives subsequent week. They will be competing within the Interscholastic Equestrian Affiliation Dressage Nationwide Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from  Apr. 28 to Could 1. 

16-year-old Caleb Schobel, 15-year-old Gwen Monsees, and 13-year-old Addison Clukey all certified for nationals on the regional competitors in Millis, Massachusetts, in March.

Schobel will compete within the Intermediate Equitation division, Monsees will compete in Novice Equitation and Novice Take a look at, and Clukey will compete in Intermediate Equitation for center faculty.

Schobel stated the equitation division focuses extra on the rider than the horse, like “being regular along with your fingers, not being far and wide.”

Monsees stated the check division measures the abilities of each the rider and the horse.

“You’d go up the center of the sector, you’d salute to the choose and then you definitely do a collection of circles and diagonal strains throughout the sector,” Monsees stated.

The group practices at Tykenbay Acres in Etna. Each Monsees and Schobel agreed the most important problem of those competitions is driving a horse they’re unfamiliar with and having solely seconds to get acquainted earlier than competing. 

“You can get fortunate and have a very nice horse that is fairly simple to trip or you might have a harder horse that is not really easy to trip,” Schobel stated.

Tyra Payne is the coach of the Regular Strides group. Payne stated not needing your personal horse for these competitions could be a perk for some. 

“Horses are costly and never each rider has a chance to personal a horse,” Payne stated.

Dressage competitions are one thing that has taught these younger riders abilities they’ll use past the sector.

“It is an incredible life talent for them to have the ability to get on a unique horse and determine them out,” Payne stated.

Schobel stated the most important life lesson driving has taught him is perseverance.

“Generally [the horse will] be having a foul day otherwise you’ll be having a foul day and your trip may not go the best way you need it to, then you definitely get on the following day and you’ve got an incredible trip,” Schobel stated.

Monsees stated the youthful horses, or those that may be just a little too energized, have taught her endurance.

“It’s important to have lots of endurance to have the ability to work with that horse and get it to be relaxed,” Monsees stated.

She added her mentality going into nationals is that no matter occurs, occurs.