2002 Northeast Junior/Young Riders Championships

International Flavor

In addition to the United States, three other countries are represented at the show. During the noon break today, Lendon led a ceremony that introduced the foreign riders individually and played their country's national anthem while they displayed their flag. Two riders from Argentina participated - Natalia Pena and Augustina Comignaghi; five riders from Brazil - Yolanda Eisenbach, Giuliana Lucchesi, Sara Waddell and Marcel Zelazny; and two sisters from the Czech Republic - Ema and Ida Jancar. Four riders that Gray selected at random represented the United States in the ceremony. "We've got two girls from Sweden here too, but they've been in the U.S. for a couple of years," Lendon noted.

Lendon's clients and friends donated horses for the foreign riders to compete on. Most of the riders had only a few days to get to know their new mounts.

The Jancar sisters from the Czech Republic arrived in July and have been riding at Beth and Jennifer Baumert's Cloverlea Farm in Connecticut. Ema Jancar, 18, rode a Second Level test today aboard Kathy Crosby's horse Mutineer and scored 66%. She has been riding the horse for just two weeks. Ema did some trail riding and pleasure riding as a youngster when she lived in the U.S., but said she only began riding seriously six years ago. This year she qualified for the national championship in Prix St. Georges with her horse, "but I decided to go here instead. My goal is to move up to Intermediaire I with him next year and possibly come back here again!"

Ida Jancur, who will be 16 next month, has been riding for eight years. She was scheduled to ride Katmandu in an Equitation Class today, but was temporarily rained out when thunder and lightning late in the afternoon put a hold on her class. She appreciates the opportunity to be in the Championships and said, "It doesn't happen to all the kids in the Czech Republic. It's really important to be here."

Jennifer Baumert is currently the trainer for the two sisters. "They've been a total blast to have. They've been so much fun," said Jennifer. "They're good riders, they're hard workers. We've had a great time."

Natalia Pena, 17, from Argentina, rode one of Lendon's horses named Papilotte. This is her second trip to the Championships. "It's the best experience I could have," she said, adding that all the places, horses and programs here are not available in her country. "It's wonderful!" Natalia said she was nervous in her ride today because she had such a short time to get to know her horse, but that she was happy with him and had fun. Describing her dressage score today, she said it was not her best, but added with a smile, "It could be worse. Tomorrow could be better."

Thirteen-year-old Augustina Comignaghi from Argentina also participated in the Championships two years ago, and returned this year to compete at First Level. "It's fantastic," she said. "There is nothing similar in my country. It's very important to me to be here." As far as her score today, Augustina said, "I can do better." She added that the best part of her ride today was the warm-up. "It was excellent!"

Yolanda Eisenbach, 13, from Brazil was in the Championships for the first time. She had only two days to practice with her horse before the show. She rode a First Level Dressage Test and said the show is, "wonderful! It's different. I like it." Though her horse spooked, she still called her performance, "Good!"

One of the youngest riders from outside the U.S. was Giuliana Lucchesi, 12, from Brazil. Though this was her fourth trip to the United States, it was her first time in the Championships. Guiliana rode a First Level test today. She said the show was "very good, very different. I had a very good horse." She had only one week to practice with him, but she managed to take third place in her class.

And one young man came from Brazil to compete, Marcel Zelazny, 12, who rode one of the larger horses in the competition, a big gray loaned to him by Katja Eilers. Marcel rode him for the first time just yesterday, but he scored 63% today. "He was big and beautiful and very strong," said Marcel. "Very obedient." Marcel has been riding since he was six years old. He has been to the United States three times, but this is his first Championships show. He said he liked it all - the test, the place and the people are all "very nice."

Adriana Zonari is the Brazil team's coach and came to the Championships for the first time this year. "It's brilliant for us. It's very nice for the children and a good experience." She noted that it was especially good for the Brazilian kids to learn about horse care, which was very different for them. In Brazil they have grooms who do all the work but as part of Lendon's concept, they had to learn to take care of their own horses. "They're not used to that," said Adriana. "It's also good experience for them to ride other horses, meet other people, and be in another country."

Claudia Mesquita, the Director of Dressage for Brazil also accompanied the team.

Argentinean Coach Mara Osacar is here for the second time at the Championships. She also coached the team in 2000. Lendon extended a personal invitation to them "because they did so well in 2000. Last time they were here, people were very happy with them, how they worked, so that's why we came again." Mara added that it is very important for the children to be here because of the experience they get with the different tests and horses - exposure they don't have in South America.

Elvira Michelich, a long-time student of Lendon's who is from South America, but lives in Connecticut, initiated the invitations to the teams from Argentina and Brazil. The Argentinean team is staying at her home during the competition.