THE RISE OF THE YOUTH DRESSAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN ALBERTA

AJYR youth clinics have become a huge success, with a growing demand for more learning opportunities.

Learning opportunities through AYDDP are designed for all levels of young riders and their personal goals, with the intention of creating a lifelong love of dressage. The program has three components: Division 1 aimed at youth from six to 15 years of age, Division 2 aimed at youth from 12 to 25 years of age and in 2023 an online education and social interaction component for all participants will be added.

The dressage community, like many other sport organizations in Canada, has struggled to attract and keep young riders active. Members of one organization, the Edmonton Area Alberta Dressage Association (EAADA), a chapter of the Alberta Dressage Association (ADA), took steps to combat this and ensure Alberta youth have access to the education and resources to explore this foundational and Olympic equestrian sport.

Four years ago the Alberta Youth Dressage Development Program (AYDDP) was formed by a small group of dressage riders and coaches specifically to encourage participation from youth in dressage. The program was created based on Equestrian Canada’s (EC) Long-Term Equestrian Development program and with the guidance of a philosophy taken from Canada’s True Sport initiative. True Sport is a series of programs designed to give people, communities, and organizations a platform of shared values and principles. It focuses on creating a fun, safe, and supportive learning environment.

Deb Meraw is a past president of EAADA and a driving force behind encouraging AYDDP to participate in the True Sport initiative.

“Joining forces with True Sport offered us the opportunity and resources to encourage our youth ages six to 25 to have positive experiences while participating in clinics with certified coaches,” says Meraw. “We found the True Sport principles provided a framework for youth, parents and coaches to grow and learn – not only in the sport, but also personally.”

The success of the AYDDP captured the interest of another chapter of the ADA – the Alberta Junior Young Riders Association (AJYR). With membership dwindling to only a few riders, the AJYR was in danger of dissolution. Since joining forces with the AYDDP,

“Fortunately we have been able to offer AYDDP clinics throughout Alberta at a reduced cost to our riders, due to the generous support of sponsors and qualified coaches who believe wholeheartedly in the program and the True Sport principles,” says Meraw.

During clinics, AYDDP incorporates some out-of-the-box ideas to encourage participation and learning. For example, each rider is given a stall card to decorate and hang on their horse’s stall door. An icebreaker activity for Division 1 participants helps the riders meet each other in a “speed dating” style to answer some introspective questions. In this activity the riders may talk about their favorite movie, or describe what True Sport means to them. The answers are written on sticky notes and placed on a board for the entire weekend. There are different activities for each division to accommodate for differing age groups.

In addition to big-name dressage clinicians giving riding instruction, past clinics and symposiums have included sessions on Pilates (corestrengthening exercises) and physical therapy for riders as well as lectures on how rider biomechanics influence horse biomechanics, impacts of saddle fit on the horse and dressage from the judge’s eye. Riders from all backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the program. To encourage youth simply checking out the program, there are no audit fees and lectures are open for all AJYR members, even if they are not participating in the riding portion of the clinic. After the clinic, each rider completes an evaluation form so the organizers can improve on future clinics. Riders also receive a certificate of completion at the end of each clinic.

Once a young rider has participated in a clinic, they automatically become Youth Ambassadors for the program. As ambassadors, they are encouraged to give back to the sport they are so passionate about. This gives them an opportunity to take a leadership role and share their valuable experiences and education with coaches, friends, and families.

“We have found that, after these clinics, the riders continue to support one another and stay in touch,” says Meraw. “We are seeing that, because of the AYDDP, youth membership in the ADA has started to grow and AJYR is now thriving. One rider even suggested booking an entire barn area at dressage shows for young riders only, so that they could meet and stay connected during competitions!”

To learn more about AYDDP, contact Donna Tribe at donnatribe@shaw.ca, or follow the AJYR on Instagram or Facebook. To learn more about dressage in Alberta, visit albertadressage.com. AB you are unable to make it.

This year, after a three-year hiatus, we are grateful to be able to host Stride With Us in person on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Holiday Inn and Suites on Blackfoot Trail in Calgary. The evening will start around 4 pm and celebrate our member-nominated provincial Annual Award winners and allow us time to network together, celebrate our members, and enjoy some much-needed HUMOUR with our keynote speaker (Outlandishly Fun Program for Getting the Most Out of Life) and emcee, Paul Huschilt. This is a family-friendly event, and all members will be invited to attend and register via an email invitation.

Here at the AEF, we feel renewed and grateful with the sense of spring transformation and change. We look forward to continuing to support our members as they go into the fresh, lighter, and warmer season. AB