Horsesdaily News: Olivia Loiacono, Ranked #1 In The U.S. By United States Eventing Association, To Compete At 2007 North American Young Rider Championships

Olivia Loiacono, Ranked #1 In The U.S. By United States Eventing Association, To Compete At 2007 North American Young Rider’ Championships

Lexington, VA – Olivia Loiacono won the top Young Rider honors in the CCI** division at prestigious Jersey Fresh 3-day event, and was named to the North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) Area VI two-star team scheduled for July 31-August 5, 2007. As she goes for the "Gold" at the Championships, on her thoroughbred Subway, she is currently ranked #1 by the United States Equestrian Association (USEF) in the Young Rider Intermediate Division and #3 overall in all young rider divisions of the United States Eventing Association. Loiacono and teammate Jenny Brannigan are the only participating riders from California’s Area VI two-star division competing in this premier equestrian event for riders ages 18-21.

At this year’s event, she will be joining young equestrians from Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Islands and the United States for a chance to win team and individual championships in the Olympic equestrian eventing discipline. The NAJYRC operates under the rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.

“Olivia certainly has the talent and work ethic to excel on the International stage, and if she keeps the right horse under her, she is going to continue to be atop the leaderboard” said Bruce “Buck” Davidson Jr., renowned International coach and currently ranked #4 by the USEF, Davidson Jr., adds “plus she's just a great person.”

Since winning the “Horse of the Year” honors in USEF Area VI (California & Hawaii) Preliminary Division with Subway in 2006 under Olympian Hawley Bennett, Loiacono has been competing under the guidance of Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr. on the East Coast from Florida to New Jersey. Since moving to the East coast, she has won 2 Intermediate and 2 Preliminary events with Subway and came in 10th at the notorious Jersey Fresh Event CCI** division against US and International competitors, where she was also named the Top Young Rider.

“I am thrilled to be able to contend for the Young Rider North American Championships this year,” said Olivia Loiacono, she adds “It’s very gratifying for me to compete with and against the very best young riders in North America at the two-star level and under FEI rules.”

Eventing combines dressage, show jumping and cross-country to give each horse-and-rider combination a cumulative score over the course of three days. Eventing begins with the dressage test, with cross-country following, and then ends with show jumping, testing the endurance and ability of both horse and rider. The cross-country element consists of a timed ride over an outdoor course, jumping over natural or natural looking obstacles. The rider must ride the same horse for all three phases of the competition.

The NAJYRC is the continuation of an annual competition that began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Canada and the United States. In the years since its inception, it has grown considerably with the addition of a Dressage Championship in 1981 and the Show Jumping Championship in 1982.

The first complete Championships with all three Olympic disciplines were held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982. For more information on the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, please call (540) 348-1152, or visit www.youngriders.org.

About Olivia Loiacono

Olivia is an “A” United States Pony Club Member, honored with the highest achievement award given by San Diego County in 2006 “Don Diego Scholarship Winner”, was saledictorian of her high school graduation class and now a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. With her in the irons, Subway her thoroughbred won “horse of the year” in Preliminary Area VI of the USEF and currently is ranked #1 in the US in the Intermediate Division and #3 overall as a young rider. Currently, trains under an International Eventing coach Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr. son of multiple Olympic Medallist Bruce Davidson Sr.