Horsesdaily News: North American Young Riders' Championships

CN 2007 North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships
Presented by Gotham North and UlcerGard

July 31 – August 5, 2007
Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA

September 12, 2007

Dressage Junior Young Rider Holly Bergay Sees the Positive Side of Everything, Even Her Disability
By Lynndee Kemmet for DressageDaily.com

Holly Bergay always sees the bright side of life, even when it comes to her own disability. Born without a left hand, the 14-year-old believes that being hand-less gives her an edge over other dressage riders. Because while most struggle with the notion of riding with seat and leg and not hands, Holly does it naturally.

“I think I use more back and core strength and more leg and seat. Ideally, dressage should be ridden from your leg and seat. So in that way, I think maybe I have a little advantage because I’ve always used so much leg and seat anyway. Hands isn’t really an issue for me,” said the Tucson, Arizona resident. Her partner in competition is a 17-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare named Soliloquy, but with the barn name of Lilly. Together, this pair has been competing in the FEI Junior Tests, as well as in the USEF levels.

And despite her disability, the high school freshman has racked up numerous wins, including championships at the state and regional level. More recently, she not only qualified for and competed in the North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, held in Virginia in early August, but finished fifth overall individually. “I’ve always ridden with able-bodied riders and I kind of consider myself able because I can do everything so why limit myself.”