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NAJYRC Inaugural Para-Dressage Competition Begins With a Reflection on the Past
By: Lindsay Y. McCall
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Jon Wentz and Sydney Collier. Tina Wentz noted, “What a wonderful friendship/mentorship that was formed and has remained. This picture of the two of them is one of my absolute favorites and may not have happened if there hadn’t been a scoring error placing him lower than he was that wasn’t caught & corrected till after the awards ceremony. I am so thankful for that error for it produced this wonderful picture that captured their friendship & joy.”
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Lexington, KY – July 12, 2015 – Before he was a Paralympian and before she was a U.S. Team athlete Jonathan Wentz and Sydney Collier shipped their horses and themselves to Lexington, Kentucky for the 2011 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). The purpose was to showcase the para-dressage discipline and make a bid for the opportunity to be included in the NAJYRC. Four years later, para-dressage will make its inaugural debut at the NAJYRC. Sydney Collier will once again be at the Kentucky Horse Park grounds, this time as an experienced international athlete. Wentz, who passed away in 2012, was Collier’s mentor and friend and a large proponent of growing the young rider para-dressage sport. In his memoriam Jonathan Rides On was established for the Jonathan Wentz Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Jonathan Wentz Memorial Trophy. They were created to continue the dream of Paralympian Jonathan Wentz; to advance High Performance Para-Dressage in the USA by supporting and encouraging USA Para Dressage Young Riders to set the goal of International competition. The NAJYR Para-Dressage Championship takes place July 14-19, 2015.
Jonathan worked closely with USPEA and USEF to create a demonstration/test event for Para-dressage in 2011. Wentz often campaigned around the United States with the goal of finding support for the para-dressage young rider program. He stated in 2011, “I have a tremendous desire to grow my sport and give younger para-dressage riders opportunities that I didn’t have. Para means parallel and it would be a tremendous step toward parallel levels of opportunity to have para-dressage added to NAJYRC.”
Wentz, a 2010 World Equestrian Games athlete, went on that year to top the ranks of the FEI Para-Dressage Rider List and then become a member of the 2012 Paralympic Equestrian Team that competed in London. Along the way Wentz continually made reference to his desire to find a place for young para-dressage riders to challenge themselves and connect with other young equestrians.
One of those young riders Wentz impacted along the way was Sydney Collier who landed in Lexington, KY in 2011 a wide-eyed girl with a dream. Although she was new to the sport that year she wanted more than anything to support her friend Wentz and the equestrian discipline she loved.
In the Chronicle of the Horse blog on July 8, 2015, she commented, “I wish beyond words that I would get off the trailer next week and find your stall card in the stables just like I did four years ago. I want you to know-you did it. You really really did it! The hard work you started many years ago-the path you blazed strong and true for riders like me, the endless hours in the saddle and countless sacrifices you made to live your dreams and develop it for others. You did it.”
She concluded, “Thank you for being a role model, a competitor, a teacher, a comedian and most importantly a friend. I am leaving for Kentucky soon, Jonathan Wentz, and you are coming with me. Ride on, my friend.”
Paralympian and USPEA President Hope Hand, responded, “I read Sydney’s blog  dedicated to Jonathan this morning and realized it was four years ago when they performed their freestyle demo at the NAJYRC. It was the start of a loving friendship between Sydney and Jonathan. Jonathan was a great mentor and ambassador of our sport, Para Dressage. Jonathan blazed a path for the Para Dressage Young Rider Program. He was committed and fully invested in his roll as a mentor and leader of our youth today. He set the bar high and in doing so, has coached Sydney from afar to succeed at the highest level in her sport. Jonathan will lead us again at our inaugural debut of the NAJYRC. Ride on U.S. Para Dressage Team.”
In 2015, the number of young riders and total number of para-equestrians has increased exponentially. The horses are of higher quality, there are coaches around the United States that are experts in para-dressage, and the equestrian community is well versed in the para-equestrian discipline.
On July 14-19, U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage riders Sydney Collier, Cambry Kaylor, and Kate Shoemaker will make their way to the Kentucky Horse Park for the history making 2015 North American Junior and Young Rider Para-Dressage Championships. A young riders dream being fulfilled.
View Sydney Collier’s blog here:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/my-friend-jonathan-wentz
About the Jonathan Wentz Memorial Scholarship Fund:
The Jonathan Wentz Scholarship Fund was established to continue the dream of Paralympian Jonathan Wentz; to advance High Performance Para Dressage in the USA by supporting and encouraging Para Dressage Young Riders to set the goal of International competition.
At age 13, Jonathan set the goal of riding for the USA in the Paralympics. At age 16, he established a plan and budget to achieve his dream. At the age of 21, Jonathan was able to achieve his dream of riding for Team USA in the 2012 London Paralympics earning the highest placing of all USA equestrians that competed in London. Another goal of Jonathan’s was to develop a Para Dressage Young Rider program to help grow and improve Para Dressage in the USA. His scholarship fund will be used to offset the cost of YR Championships and International competition for Para Dressage Young Rider’s and to encourage their participation enabling them to excel in their sport.
Scholarship funds will go toward assisting Para Dressage High Performance Young Riders (ages 16-25 within the competition year), who are actively competing in 3* and above International Para Dressage competitions, and have qualified for the YR Para Championships. Funds shall be awarded to help offset competition expenses up to $1,000.00 per competition to help cover entry and other fees including stabling and/or shipping (must be greater than 500 miles one way) costs for competition.
Guidelines for Application of Jonathan Wentz Scholarship fund:
Athletes must submit a Jonathan Wentz Memorial Scholarship Application with expenses itemized, along with a copy of completed entry forms, invoices and/or receipts for consideration of scholarship funds, along with a list of their competition highlights, competition goals and competition plan/schedule for the current and future 2 years. (Example; 2013- 2014, 2015 -2016)
Scholarship funds are intended for direct payment of specific competition expenditures, entry fees, stabling, and/or shipping only. Checks made out to athlete or immediate family for reimbursement will require a completed W-9, and will be subject to approval. Scholarship funds may be awarded for a maximum of two CPEDI3* events per competition year or the YR Para Championships & one CPEDI3* with a maximum of $1,000.00 awarded per competition. Grants are subject to the approval of the USPEA board. Funds will be awarded based on “own horse” (according to FEI Para definition), distance to competition, number of competitions athlete is planning to attend in 2-year competition period, competition record, number of applicants and/or funds available.
Jonathan Wentz Memorial Perpetual Trophy
This trophy is being established in memory of Paralympian Jonathan Wentz, and will be to recognize excellence in Para Equestrian sport both as an athlete and as an ambassador for the sport.
Paralympian Jonathan Wentz, at the age of sixteen, established a plan to achieve his goal of representing his country at the Paralympics. Toward that goal he tirelessly trained and competed as a high performance Para Dressage athlete. He tenaciously pursued his goal while working to improve his sport through serving on USEF committees, giving riding demonstrations, public speaking and mentoring new riders. Jonathan felt it was extremely important for the growth of the sport for Para Equestrian High Performance athletes, to be recognized as athletes without regard to their disability, to be viewed parallel to Olympians. To achieve this level a Para Equestrian must be committed to training & competing consistently at the highest level, like their Olympic counterparts. It also requires a commitment to improving the sport and educating the public on all Para Equestrian disciplines.
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