Fox River Valley Pony Club Hosts Horse Trials, Including Qualifying Trial for International Competition

Lauren Foos spend Thursday afternoon with other Fox River Valley Pony Club (FRVPC) parents preparing the grounds, welcoming competitors and handling last minute details for the club’s Horse Trials this weekend.

“It’s lots and lots of planning, organizing and communication,” Foos said. “It takes a village. The key words are cooperation and teamwork.”

FRVPC is welcoming 280 horses and competitors from far and wide, including Canada, for the three day event being held at the Barrington Hills Park District’s Riding Center, 361 Bateman Road, Barrington Hills. The trials are open to the public.

The Horse Trials serves as the last qualifying event for the National
North American Junior/Young Rider Championships. The championship will be held in July at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. It draws young riders from around the world.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) granted a request to make the
FRVPC’s event a qualifying trial for the North American Junior/Young Rider Championship.  For FRVPC, it’s “a really big deal,” Foos said.

Her daughter, Elizabeth, qualified last year to the championship. This year, there are two Barrington area equestrians, Melanie Rousseau and Sasha Scott, are hoping to qualify. Deer Park resident Patrick Zinck has already qualified, Foos said.

The FRVPC’s Horse Trials are set up much like the Olympics, including Dressage and Jumping, she said. Dressage is like figure skating or ballet on horseback, according to www.equine.unh.edu.

Pauline Igochine is one of the young riders hoping to qualify for the championship. Her horse is Orlean, a 12-year-old Polish Warmblood, who is a ham when it comes to one part of the competition, the Dressage.

“He likes to show off during Dressage,” said Igochine, who traveled from Canada for the trials. “He’s like ‘I know what to do.’”

FRVPC’s has several other events coming up include a 50th anniversary celebration on June 29.