Learning Life Lessons Through Equestrian
By Hayley Picard
While Lexus Evans started to ride at the age of five, Zone 2 (Thompson-Okanagan) teammate Niah Prowal shares that she began a little later at age 9. “I’ve been riding dressage for about a year,” says Lexus. “Dressage is the basics for all riding disciplines, so I can use these skills in jumping as well.”
Today’s time in the arena at Cowichan Exhibition Park provided an important lesson for Niah. Focus. “My horse was spooked by something outside the ring,” she sighs. “Tomorrow we are going to work on Demi focusing on me!”
Both girls used the BC Summer Games journey from Merritt to expand their dressage learning with a pit stop in Delta for one-on-one tips from dressage legend Wendy Christoff. Both riders and horses found the experience valuable in building their skills.
What is it about dressage that Lexus loves? “I like what it teaches our horses,” she says. “I would like this sport to be my main pursuit. Tomorrow I’m focusing on being calm in the arena.”
Owen Blackwell from Zone 4 (Fraser River) and his horse Woody are taking today’s experience at the Cowichan 2018 BC Summer Games and focusing on how it will improve his performance tomorrow. “You always have a bit of the jitters,” he explains. “Tomorrow I hope to be calmer and work better with my horse rather than against him.”
After competing in the hunter jumper discipline for years, Owen loved the challenge of moving into dressage four years ago. “I’ve loved my games experience so far!”