Country Ridge Stables hosts national competition

The United States Hunter Jumper Association has selected Country Ridge Stables as the host site for the national finals of the Emerging Athletes Program.

The event is set for Nov. 17-20.

Of particular local interest is Lauren DiTallo who has been selected for the second year as a national finalist — a select group of only 12 riders each year attain this level.

Each year hundreds of young riders apply to the Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) in hopes of furthering their education as riders and complete horsemen.

The EAP was created specifically to provide opportunities to those young riders to advance their education to become knowledgeable horsemen within the hunter/jumper community, which may or may not include a career in the horse industry.

The competition begins with hundreds of applications and the finals are limited to the top 12 riders in the program in the nation.

Olympic gold medal winners Peter Wylde and Melanie Smith-Taylor, along with Mindy Bower and Jennifer Alfano, will work with riders during the exciting three and a half days of training. It will result in one overall winner receiving a $3,000 grant to be applied toward the cost of advanced training with an approved trainer.

Two lucky riders will also be invited to attend the 2012 George Morris Horsemastership Clinic presented by USEF Jan. 3-7 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.

Information on the event and scheduling can be found on the farm website, www.countryridgestables.com.