January 23, 192010 at 12:44:46
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In the Dunkirk Observer photo above are, left to right, team members Katie Hinman and Kaitlyn Nickerson, parent Shannon Heald.
Copied below is the text of an article that was published in the Dunkirk Observer on Sunday, 17 January 2010. NO HORSING AROUND Team attracts participants of a different breed By JACKI COMELLO OBSERVER Correspondent PERRYSBURG - A new interscholastic sport has emerged in our area - and there's no ball, bat or glove. The main piece of "equipment" can weigh up to 1,200 pounds, but participants don't have to put it in a net or goal. They have to ride it. The "equipment" is a horse, and the sport takes place at what are called Interscholastic Equestrian Horse Shows. A local interscholastic riding team was started in October by Jean Flagler, owner of North Star Farm and Riding Academy in Perrysburg. Currently, there are five high school students on the team, and they call themselves the North Star Equestrian Team. The team is part of a larger organization called the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, which was established in 2002. Today, membership in the association has grown to more than 2,000 members and more than 300 teams from across the nation. Though this team is new, working with horses and kids is old hat to Flagler. She has been a 4-H leader for 25 years. One of the main reasons she chose to build this team was so she could offer something during the school year to children with a passion for all things equestrian, including her daughter, Karen. Schools involved After an unsuccessful attempt at starting the program through her school district, Flagler learned she could build a team with students from several districts. The North Star Equestrian team is comprised of high schoolers from Forestville, Cattaraugus, Randolph and even Bradford, Pa. Flagler was not discouraged to have a small team for her first year coaching the sport. "This is a learning year for us," she said. She hopes to have a larger team next year. "People have expressed interest from other towns. We're the only team in this area," she said. Depending on the age and desires of those who want to take part in the program, Flagler is thinking about adding a western team and a middle school team next year. She stressed how much she appreciates both the high level of parental involvement and the great attitude and dedication of her team members. "They have to be responsible. These kids are good. I love them to pieces. They work hard and they're just good kids." Flagler said she understands the apprehension that schools and some parents may have about the sport. "There's certainly a little bit more risk with horses because they have their own brain," she said. "One of my sayings is if it's got teeth it'll bite, and if it's got feet, it'll kick but they're so much fun." Down the stretch The first competition for the North Star Equestrian team was in Alfred, and two girls placed in the event, Riley Brumagin and Karen Flagler. According to assistant coach Danielle Hinman, whose 15-year old daughter Katie is a rider, the size of the team put them at a disadvantage since scoring is based on points. "Other teams have up to 30 members," she said. The group will travel to Pennsylvania for their next competition Jan. 30. The season runs from October through March with a national competition held in April. Teams can participate in five out of about 10 to 15 competitions each season. The association is divided into zones with North Star's team assigned to zone 2. This allows them to compete in shows in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. "We chose to go all over different places to expose the girls to lots of different barns and colleges and schools, so we're competing once every month," Hinman explained. 'A challenge' The horse shows have a unique characteristic that can be viewed as both a benefit and a challenge. Participants ride a horse provided by the organization or school hosting the competition. The benefit is that even students who do not own or have access to a horse of their own can compete. On the flip side, riders are evaluated on their performance riding a horse they've never been on before. Shannon Heald, whose 15-year old daughter Kaitlyn Nickerson is on the team, explained once the team arrives at the competition, names are drawn and the coaches are given the horse and rider assignments. "It is a challenge. A lot of these kids have personal mounts at home and have been riding for quite some time, but it's a little different to get on a horse that you've never worked with before in order to compete," Heald explained. With the assignments, the coach and assistant coach are given a list summarizing the horse's likes and dislikes and instructions about whether or not the rider can wear spurs or carry a whip. According to Heald, "If you're lucky, you get to watch that horse go with another rider before you do, and that kind of gives you a clue as to how the horse goes." To prepare her team for this challenge, Flagler holds what she calls "swaps." The team members ride for a little while on one horse and then swap with a teammate and ride another one. At the competitions, riders are rated on their equitation, which Heald explained is "their position and effectiveness on the horse while they're riding." Depending on their ability, they can choose to jump at various levels and heights. Newcomers welcome The parents all agreed the sport provides some valuable experience for the participants. "Not only is it a confidence booster, but it just shows them their strengths and weaknesses. They become very apparent," Hinman said. Just like more commonly known sports, there are junior varsity and varsity teams. Though most of the girls on Flagler's team have been riding for many years, all experience levels, including beginners are welcome. Though this program is offered only for middle and high school students, there is also an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Karen Flagler cited this as just one of the many reasons why she's thrilled to be a member of the North Star Equestrian Team. "Competing in horse shows is not new to me. What is new, and what I like about the high school riding team is that I am meeting new friends and it is a sport I enjoy a lot and can now do during the school year. When I go on to college I plan to go out for the college team and this is also a great way to get used to how they do their competitions." Individuals interested in learning more about the program or who want to join the North Star Equestrian Team can contact Jean Flagler at 532-3390. |