Congratulations to 16-year-old Roberts Creek equestrian Sierra Hincks on being selected to represent Canada at the North American Youth Championships in Montana later this month.
Sierra and her 13-year-old Gelderlander Thoroughbred cross Velocity compete in Eventing, which has three phases including dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
She is coached by Equestrian Canada’s 2018 Competitive Coach of the Year Maeve Drew from Duncan, B.C.
Eventing, also called Horse Trials, is similar to a triathlon but phases are spread out over two or three days. The dressage phase is always first. The horse and rider are judged on a routine that demonstrates the horse’s balance, rhythm, suppleness and obedience.
Second is the exciting cross-country phase, which showcases the horse’s endurance and speed. At a gallop, the pair jump a course of solid fences and natural obstacles such as logs, ditches, banks and water. Both horse and rider need to be fit and brave to navigate the course in the optimal time with the fewest penalties.
The final phase is show jumping where more delicate rails are easily knocked down if the horse and rider are unable to recover from the fatiguing cross-country portion.
Sierra is on team BC/Ontario and will be competing against Team Alberta and others from the U.S. and Mexico. The event is set for July 24 to 28 and can be live streamed through USEF Network and FEITV.
Good luck, Sierra!
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