NEWS RELEASE
RUSHMOUNT STABLES
*************************
A pair of young riders from the Rushmount Show Team out of Rushmount in Orillia have made a major accomplishment to qualify to compete at the prestigious Royal Winter Fair in Toronto next month.
Sydney Freeman and her mount No Ryhme No Reason and Hayden McCahon on her mount Silver Rush, competed on the A Circuit Pony Jumpers. They needed to be in the top six to qualify to compete in the Royal. Freeman managed to end up fifth overall and qualifying.
McCahon, however, had a sick pony that needed to go to Guelph during the last horse show. She was possibly going to be put down as she had quit eating for 10 days. After a scary few days at Guelph Equine Hospital and a solid month off she is doing amazing and back into work. However she did not compete in the last horse show and didn't have enough points to go.
McCahon applied for a wildcard position in light of her situation. A wildcard is a rider who deserves to compete at the Royal but maybe didn't qualify for one reason or another. On Oct. 18, her dream came true when she received an email from the Royal inviting her to compete with her friend and teammate Sydney.
Both girls are fierce competitors and by far the youngest riders in their division. "I want to say how proud I am of both of these girls," said Heidi Mueller, coach, trainer and mother of Hayden. The girls will compete Nov. 3-4.
On another positive note, McCahon and Freeman had worked with Rush Bak Atcha, our three-year-old Canadian Sport Horse. Rush Bak Atacha AKA as Gaia was ridden by Hayden McCahon in the LG and GG Classes in the qualifiers. To our shock, Hayden, only 10 years old, qualified this three-year-old horse to show in the Lieutenant Governor General and Governor General Cup classes at the Royal on Nov 9 and 10.
Lots of family, friends and barn family will be there to cheer both girls on. We hope to see other Orillia riders come and cheer these two on.
*************************