Sunday, May 28, 2006

On the Scene at Dressage at Flintridge 2006
Photos and Text By Charlene Strickland for DressageDaily

Jaclyn Meinen Rivaal Shines in Young Rider Freestyle

Riding the youngest horse, Jaclyn Meinen tied for first place in the Young Rider Prix St. Georges Freestyle. On her eight-year-old Rivaal, she scored 67.31—the same score as Ashley Schempp. The judges broke the tie to give the blue to Schempp, and Meinen second place.“Today we were a team,” said Meinen, of Dana Point, California. “He gave it his all.”

She's owned the bay Dutch gelding since October 2005, training with Raine and Wightman. “David and Kathleen took time with me, and they've helped us both.”

Wightman found the gelding, originally imported from Holland, at a barn in Kansas. “He was sent to our stable to be sold. We matched Jaclyn with the horse, to try for Young Riders.”Raine added, “Jaclyn is one of the hardest-working students I've known. She drives one hour each way to our barn, every day.”

She admitted that both she and her horse are “very green.” Rivaal hadn't shown above First Level, and Meinen said, “I had never done the fours or threes [tempi changes] till last summer.”

Her commitment to training has made them contenders for the Region 7 Young Riders team, although the championship isn't her main goal this year. “The first priority is I am so happy with the progress I've made. My challenge is keeping the horse relaxed and me listening to the horse—just letting it flow.

“He's a hot horse, and you have to convince him it's okay. We've become such partners, and he's learned to trust me.” Meinen, 18, is in her first year at Saddleback Junior College. She plans to major in international business.