A couple of months ago Annie Lever, Jan Heine and Maggs Jacob had a brainwave - and it involved Australian Young Showjumpers and how to progressively get more of them to experience competition in the Northern Hemisphere - which is so far from Australia.

The idea was formed - and this Young Rider Challenge series is the result!

Four classes will be held at Treehaven Equestrian Club from November through till May with the winner of the series taking the airline ticket to Dublin to compete at Kill International Equestrian Centre's premier show, Champions of The Year in the Young Rider classes. It is Jan Heine's job to find the appropriate horse for the eventual winner of the series. Obviously we can't even begin to find a horse until we know who the rider is for size etc.

This is a very exciting "plan for the future" and we hope that all the Young Riders will support this series in the spirit in which it has begun - to promote Australian Young Riders and show them off to the rest of the world!

The series allows for riders to ride as many horses as they like in the nominated classes but they must nominate which horse is for the Challenge points and this horse must be ridden first in the class. Riders do not have to nominate the same horse each class as this is a Rider Challenge and so the horse is not relevant.

The courses will be built to a high technical standard and will include a treble, a double and water and it must be realised by all riders that this Challenge is in preparation for competing in Ireland where the tracks are tough - you only have to read the jumpingaround.com report on the Cavan Young Rider International - the classes saw all fences built to maximum height (and more) and maximum width - so be prepared to ride a 1.20m course which sees ALL fences at that height, although possibly the first fence might be an "ease you into it" fence!

We also would like to thank Kill International Equestrian Centre for their support of this Challenge.

Riders - take the challenge and raise the yard stick - you are good enough and this is your chance to prove it!