Three junior riders from Trinidad and Tobago just returned from a successful riding sojourn jumping in a variety of competitions in Florida. Hadley Rahael, Sydney Navarro and Jordanne Brown all trained and competed with Shawn & Natalie Russell of Oakmore Farm, a top Hunter/Jumper/Equitation barn in Central Florida.
First to travel in June was 14 year old Rahael who showed at the Tryon show on Bilboa, a 14 year old warmblood. Success for Hadley was immediate with this horse, getting Blue Ribbons for clear rounds at heights of .95m and at 1.0m. She also placed 2nd in the Low Child Jumper class and 3rd in the Low Child Jumper Stakes with two lovely clear rounds. At another competition, Camp Fox Lea in Venice, Florida, Rahael rode another warmblood, a grey called Reflex Z. Again she was successful with clear rounds in the Training Classes.? Rahael had to switch horses at the Plain Brown Wrapper show, this time riding Pandora Z on whom she received a 5th place in the Speed class.
Hadley also competed in 2’6″ Adult Equitation class on a 9 year old chestnut called Istanbul.?She was the Champion Low Adult Equitation rider at one competition and the Champion Equitation rider and reserve Champion in the Low Adult/ Children’s Hunters at two others.? She received a lovely silver tray for becoming the Overall Circuit Champion in Equitation over fences and under saddle.? Rahael’s horse went lame when Hadley first went to compete and as a result, she had to switch horses often. But Hadley enjoys learning and showed true commitment to her sport, great desire to improve and emotional maturity in not letting this set back have an impact on her.
15 year old Jordanne Brown went to the Fox Lea show in Venice for 4 days, from 28th to 31st July, after spending 3 days training with the Russells, to getting to know her leased horse, Pandora Z, and preparing for the show.? She did very well, getting Blue Ribbons in the .95 & 1.0m Clear Round classes. She also got a 3rd in the Mini Prix Classic at 1.0m and 4th in the 1.0m Child/Adult Classic. ?This was Brown’s first US competition and her results against more seasoned adult riders demonstrated her proficiency as a young rider. This has given her a tremendous boost of confidence and reinforced her passion for her sport and her desire to learn and improve.
Also gaining tremendous experience and confidence from the experience was 16 year old,? Sydney Navarro. Riding Sail Away in the .75 and .85m classes, Navarro got Blue Ribbons in each of these Clear Round Classes.? The young riders now look forward to competing in the Jamaican and Trinidadian legs of the Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Junior Jumping Competition which will be held later this year.?Trinidad & Tobago is presently tied for the lead with Barbados after the first two legs of the competition which were held in Barbados and the Cayman Islands.
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