Oklahoma State University Athletics
Freshman Rider to Compete at USEF Finals
October 05, 2006 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Oklahoma State freshman Ally Blais will be competing this Saturday and Sunday in the USEF Show Jumping East Coast Talent Search Finals. The events will take place at the USET Foundation complex. The competition will include four phases- flat will be phase one, phase two is gymnastics, phase three will be show jumping over grand prix style fences and phase four will be the final ride off for the top four riders in the competition.
From December to August, Ally has earned enough points to qualify for the finals. In order to qualify, riders must earn 30 points at designated shows in order to make it to the finals. Riders accumulate points by placing first or second in the class. By winning the class, riders get ten points and second place earns the rider five points.
Ally will be competing against 100 other top riders from the East Coast. This will be her third time at the USEF finals. The first and second year she had great scores until it came time for the show jumping and she had some problem areas with the open water jump. This year she feels confident about all aspect of the competition even though she has never ridden the horse she is going to compete on in the four events. The horse is named Wellington II. He is a veteran to this competition and Ally feels she will get along him just fine.
“With all the practice I have riding different horses at OSU, I feel I am ready to ride another new horse this weekend” Blais said.
On Saturday, during phase one of the competition, Ally and her trainer, Alan Korotkin of five years, will design a flat pattern that will include a working walk, trot, canter, extended trot, canter, and a counter canter. As soon as she finishes she will move straight into the gymnastics phase of the competition. This is composed of anything from in-and-outs, bounce lines, triple combination lines or a combination of these.
Sunday will start with the show jumping. Ally's score from the previous day determines the order of go for day two. The show jumping will be fence made up of jumps at heights of 3'9” and will include jumps such as an open water jump. Each rider has a set time in which they need to complete the course.
Ally hopes to finish in the top 12.
“I feel very confident about my flat phase with all the preparation Coach Flaig and I have done with the dressage patterns,” Blais said. “It has been mostly a mental preparation for this show being so far away and not knowing the horse I am going to ride.”
Ally leaves tomorrow morning for New Jersey. When she schools tomorrow it will be her first time to learn and understand how her horse is to ride.
The OSU team wishes her well at the finals!
From December to August, Ally has earned enough points to qualify for the finals. In order to qualify, riders must earn 30 points at designated shows in order to make it to the finals. Riders accumulate points by placing first or second in the class. By winning the class, riders get ten points and second place earns the rider five points.
Ally will be competing against 100 other top riders from the East Coast. This will be her third time at the USEF finals. The first and second year she had great scores until it came time for the show jumping and she had some problem areas with the open water jump. This year she feels confident about all aspect of the competition even though she has never ridden the horse she is going to compete on in the four events. The horse is named Wellington II. He is a veteran to this competition and Ally feels she will get along him just fine.
“With all the practice I have riding different horses at OSU, I feel I am ready to ride another new horse this weekend” Blais said.
On Saturday, during phase one of the competition, Ally and her trainer, Alan Korotkin of five years, will design a flat pattern that will include a working walk, trot, canter, extended trot, canter, and a counter canter. As soon as she finishes she will move straight into the gymnastics phase of the competition. This is composed of anything from in-and-outs, bounce lines, triple combination lines or a combination of these.
Sunday will start with the show jumping. Ally's score from the previous day determines the order of go for day two. The show jumping will be fence made up of jumps at heights of 3'9” and will include jumps such as an open water jump. Each rider has a set time in which they need to complete the course.
Ally hopes to finish in the top 12.
“I feel very confident about my flat phase with all the preparation Coach Flaig and I have done with the dressage patterns,” Blais said. “It has been mostly a mental preparation for this show being so far away and not knowing the horse I am going to ride.”
Ally leaves tomorrow morning for New Jersey. When she schools tomorrow it will be her first time to learn and understand how her horse is to ride.
The OSU team wishes her well at the finals!
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
