TEAM GERMANY FIRST
To present the trail awards, the teams gathered in the AgriPlex foyer so the volunteer crew could prepare the main arena for the cutting competition on July 11. And Team Germany’s cheers deafened the room when Carolin Lenz’s name was called – it’s the first win for the Germans thus far. Carolin rode Stay Bay Lucy, owned by Linda Lisbon of Provincetown, Massachusetts, for the win.
Tell me about the trail course, what was most difficult about it?
Nothing. She’s a great horse – she was in the (AQHA) World (Championship) Show finals and the (All American Quarter Horse) Congress finals. She’s amazing; she does all that I want. A really great horse, no problem at all.
What did you do to get to know her?
I just rode her in the trail clinic, and the pleasure clinic, too, and she’s not really difficult to ride. I didn’t have any problems with her.
Were the clinics helpful?
Yeah, in showmanship, mostly. And the western riding, too. (We paused the interview when Steffi Young of Team New Zealand stopped to congratulate Carolin – Steffi placed fifth in the class.)
What have you enjoyed the most about Canada so far?
The people. The people are really, really cute, and they are all helpful and really nice to us.
Who would you like to thank?
My team members, most of all, because they help me so much. And all the organization here – it has been really good. And my trainer.
Did you have any challenges coming here?
We have got a lot of baggage! Stuff!
Fun Fact: Talk about team spirit! Because the trail ran late, the presentations were made in the AgriPlex foyer. As Carolin stood proudly with the German national flag, her teammates sang a robust rendition of “Das Lied der Deutschen,” the German national anthem. And every other team clapped time, honoring their competitors’ win.
TEAM CANADA SECOND
Sarah Clasen-Byce of Team Canada earned second place in the first day of trail. From Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, the 17-year-old is a successful AQHYA competitor and very involved with the Thunder Bay Youth Quarter Horse Club. She rode Docs Daring Me, owned by Paige Carter-Fleetwood of St. George, Ontario.
Tell me about your go.
It went really well. Actually, I was on a really steady, solid horse. He’s very broke; he knows his job. We ticked a couple of logs but I’m pretty sure we plused on other things. In the end it evened out. It was fun – he’s a fun horse to show.
What did you do to get to know him?
I just tried to figure out things like how long his body is, if you put your foot on him how far he’ll swing his hip over, so when you do the back-throughs you know where the horse’s feet are. Then do a couple of quick turns just to see how he steers. Stuff like that.
What have you enjoyed the most about Canada so far?
I really liked riding in the clinics; I like getting input from other trainers. It’s always good to have a fresh set of eyes on you.
Was there any one tip that stands out to you about what a clinician said?
A lot of the clinicians are saying the best thing is to be precise about (your riding). Don’t try to be a superstar and make it speedy or perfect. Just take your pattern step-by-step and make it very precise, because that’s what you need to do when you are riding horses that you don’t know very well.
Did you have any challenges you had to overcome to get here?
Not really. It was basically just a lot of hard work – going to the barn every day and ride as many horses as you could. It wasn’t too difficult getting here, besides the 15-hour drive.
Who would you like to thank?
The team coach, Della, she’s pretty awesome. She’s very steady and reassuring. Whenever you’re feeling nervous about going into a class, she’s a very solid person.
Fun Fact: Sarah just graduated from high school and is headed to the University of Ottawa to study biomedical sciences. “We’re keeping my horse!” she said; his name is Dee Graduate. “The horse is staying at home and I’m going to come back in the summer and show him."
