Dreamcatcher Meadows Offers International Young Breeders Training

A unique opportunity to learn from some of the world’s top equine experts will be available shortly to the general public at Pemberton, BC’s internationally renowned breeding and training center, Dreamcatcher Meadows.

Starting this summer, a series of formal and informal clinics will take place at the Hanoverian breeding and training center. The primary objective is to teach horse and pony enthusiasts (you don’t have to be an owner) how to identify the characteristics desirable in an equine athlete, explaining along the way how certain traits are important to individual disciplines such as jumping, trail riding, dressage, etc. Participants of all ages and experience are welcome.

Underlying this initiative is the exciting objective selecting a team of young horse enthusiasts to make up teams to participate in the International Young Breeders Championship, a competition held every two years in one of over 25 participating countries. In 2015, the team members will travel to the finals held in England.

The purpose of the International Young Breeders Competition (IYBC) is to bring young horse breeding enthusiasts together, spanning a variety of breed societies, countries and languages. The competition is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 25, with each team consisting of up to six members, split between two age groups (16-19, 20-25 years old).

The IYBC has four “heats” of competition, with three involving live interaction with a horse, judging of conformation and free jumping and presenting a horse in-hand as well as a written multiple choice exam.

The first formal Young Breeders Training Course is scheduled to take place at Dreamcatcher Meadows on September 17th. However, the course will also be open to interested equestrians of all ages.

Maren Schlender of the Hannoveraner Verband, Verden Germany will judge the annual Hanoverian inspection at Dreamcatcher Meadows and then stay on at the farm to offer a formal training seminar, duration of course depending on participant numbers. Schlender, a one-time IYBC youth competitor and current coach of the winning German youth team, is also a board member of the International Young Breeders Organization.

Further training courses will be taught by USDF licensed sport horse judges, including well-respected breeding expert, USDF Sporhorse Committee Chairperson and senior USDF Judge, Kristi Wysocki.

Dreamcatcher Meadows is also running residential and non-residential riding and non-riding training throughout the summer.

Email Jill Giese at equimat@telus.net or visit www.dreamcatchermeadows.com; www.equimats.com, www.young-breeders.com for more information.