New Canaan Mounted Troop Riders Qualify for CHJA Finals
Equestrian News Release

New Canaan, CT – August 16, 2006 – New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc. (NCMT) is pleased to congratulate seven NCMT students who have qualified for the Connecticut Hunter and Jumper Association Finals. NCMT is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational and charitable youth organization based in New Canaan, CT. The program is devoted to building leadership, responsibility, and confidence in youth through sound horsemanship. Over 30 horses have been either donated or lent to the program, and students gain riding skills, practical knowledge and hands-on experience.

For the Children’s Equitation division, the CHJA finalists from NCMT include: Julia Ozzano, Helen Robinson, Katie Sharrard, Ali Sullivan, and Olivia Smith. Natasha Cooper and Erin Polatsek are also finalists who have qualified for the Adult Equitation Finals. To qualify, these riders competed throughout the year with NCMT horses at New Canaan Mounted Troop shows, as well as shows in the local area. Two of these competitors will be attending the finals for the second time. In 2005, Smith placed 6th out of 82 in the Children’s Equitation at the CHJA Finals, and Erin Polatsek also competed in the Adult Equitation Finals.

“Through years of hard work, I have learned to become a better horseperson according to the values of the troop,” reported NCMT student Ali Sullivan. “My trainers and I have spent countless hours to perfect my riding, and I feel like all this work has finally paid off!”

The trainers at NCMT are Kristen Abbatiello-Neff, Jillian Brown, and Lori Rakoczy. “As a trainer, my main objective is to teach our students to be good horsemen,” commented Abbatiello-Neff. “We teach them to respect their horses and be supportive of their peers. As a result of hard work and dedication, these students have achieved a great deal of success despite having very limited horse show experience. I am so proud of our riders and our wonderful horses who are the true teachers in our program.”

“Going to the CHJA Finals means a lot to me because it shows that I really accomplished something in my riding,” related rider Julia Ozzano. “I am extremely proud to have qualified because most of the other competitors have their own horses that they have been riding for years. We compete at the same level even though we ride horses owned by NCMT.”

Qualified rider Helen Robinson added, “The CHJA finals are special to me because I feel lucky to be able to go to such a nice show without even owning a horse. My trainers have taught me to ride well, and I am extremely proud to represent New Canaan Mounted Troop!”

The CHJA Finals will be held at Fairfield Hunt Club in Westport, CT, on August 19-20, 2006.

For more information on the New Canaan Mounted Troop, please visit their official website at http://www.newcanaanmountedtroop.org.

Photo Credit: NCMT students prepare for CHJA Finals. Photo: Courtesy of New Canaan Mounted Troop.