Betty Bolté
Local equestrian selected for competition Danielle Bolte and her Quarter Horse Daybright take a cross-country log fence at the Pine Top Farm Thanksgiving Horse Trials held in Thomson, Ga. The U.S. Eventing Association’s Young Riders program (Area III) has chosen a Lincoln County equestrian to represent them at the annual Midsouth Team Challenge Horse Trials. Held each October at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, the annual Eventing competition attracts riders of all ages and levels for a fun and challenging weekend. Danielle Bolté, 15 of Taft, and her 11-year-old bay Quarter Horse Daybright, have been selected to represent the Area III Young Riders on their Novice Team. “Team Challenge is probably the major team event in this country for the Novice and Training levels,” Bolté said. To prepare for the tryouts and for monthly competitions, she rides one or both of her horses every day. She has set her sights on being on the U.S. Equestrian Team and hopefully on the U.S. Olympic Eventing team someday. Area III covers the 7 southeastern states: South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, parts of Louisiana, and of course, Tennessee. The Novice team this year consists of four riders and two alternates, representing five of the seven states in the Area. “I’m ecstatic that I got selected to the team,” Bolté said. “I’m pretty sure my horse and I are going to do well.” Area III Young Riders will also send a Training level team, and one Preliminary level rider to the competition. The combined teams represent six of the seven states in the Area. Eventing is essentially a triathalon for horses and riders. The sport originated as a test for Cavalry officers and their mounts. Each horse and rider combination competes in three phases, or tests: Dressage, Cross-Country jumping, and Stadium jumping. Dressage tests the communication between horse and rider, looking for harmony in their ride. Cross-country tests the endurance and athleticism of the pair over a galloping course of 18-34 solid obstacles. Stadium jumping tests the horse’s ability to negotiate a stadium jumping course after the exhilaration of the cross-country test. “It’s such an honor to be selected to the team,” Bolté said. “I can’t wait to go!” For more information about Eventing and the Young Rider program, visit www.useventing.com. (The Elk Valley Times, Wed., 9/ |
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