Janine Little, an Okanagan equestrian athlete specializing in the sport of dressage, has earned increasingly competitive provincial, national, and international honours 害羞草研究所� and capped off the 2017 season with multiple victories at North America害羞草研究所檚 top competitions.

Little害羞草研究所檚 victories include Grand Championships in each division in which she competed at in Bromont, Quebec, this September. These wins were preceded by numerous victories on a number of horses in Ontario and Florida. She then went on to victory at Dressage at Devon, in Pennsylvania, against some of the top names in North American equestrian sport.

害羞草研究所淭hese wins are exciting,害羞草研究所� says Little, who was raised in Vernon. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been bringing along a number of young horses from the basics upwards. It害羞草研究所檚 thrilling to see them demonstrating so much potential towards the highest levels.害羞草研究所�

Little, who was listed to the Canadian Equestrian team in 2010 and 2011, is no stranger to winning 害羞草研究所� as well as the hard work it takes to get there.

Raised in a 害羞草研究所渘on-horsey害羞草研究所� family, Little began riding in Pony Club. Like many teens, she earned her riding lessons by mucking stalls and performing barn chores. By age 16 she knew dressage was her passion. Partnered with an unconventional mount she trained herself 害羞草研究所� and driven by willpower and diligence 害羞草研究所� she was named Canadian National Junior Champion in 2000. That year she launched her own training and coaching business, Little Dressage. She went on to coach several Okanagan riders to major victories, including gold medals at the North American Junior/Young Riders Championships. Little was a declared rider for both the 2012 Olympics and the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games, and is named to Dressage Canada害羞草研究所檚 Rider Development Squad for the 2017 season.

害羞草研究所淐oming from a background where I had to work my way up the ranks, I害羞草研究所檝e always had to train my mounts from the ground up,害羞草研究所� Little explains. Although some people mistakenly think of horse sport as the domain of the wealthy, this is far from the case for Little 害羞草研究所� who is an inspiration to riders from all backgrounds.

害羞草研究所淵ou have to be patient and you have to make the most of every opportunity. It害羞草研究所檚 a lot of hard work, long hours, and acceptance that it害羞草研究所檚 never going to be easy. But if you want to reach your goals you have to do everything it takes.害羞草研究所�

Whether instilling confidence in a young horse or tailoring the horses in her care across the continent to competitions, Little has always been completely hands on. 害羞草研究所淏ringing the horses along from the beginning enables me to really know each horse. It leads to a partnership like no other.害羞草研究所�

And success is not just about the partnership between the horse and rider.

害羞草研究所淭o develop a top horse takes a village,害羞草研究所� Little acknowledges. She praises the team that enables the horses to succeed, from the veterinarians to the saddle fitters to the owners who entrust her with their horses. Several of the horses with whom Little has achieved top results are those of Kelowna-based supporters.

Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Shawneen Jacobs害羞草研究所� Friesian mare, Ebony, won the Fourth Level Championship at Bromont, ridden by Little. The pair went on to victory at Devon 害羞草研究所� an unusual and remarkable feat for Ebony害羞草研究所檚 breed. Their success earned Ebony a substantial fan following along with the nickname of 害羞草研究所渢he little mare that can害羞草研究所�. 害羞草研究所淭his mare continues to exceed our expectations,害羞草研究所� Little says. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 great to see diversity in the international ring.害羞草研究所�

Up-and-coming talent Demitra also won her division害羞草研究所檚 championship at Bromont and achieved success at Devon with Little.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e extremely excited about Demitra害羞草研究所檚 potential for the upper levels,害羞草研究所� Little enthuses. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 got what it takes to be a top international horse.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 incredible to see how far Janine has brought Demitra,害羞草研究所� the mare害羞草研究所檚 owner, Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Joanna Cockerline, agrees. 害羞草研究所淛anine puts 200 per cent into everything she does. Her dedication is second to none 害羞草研究所� and is making for incredible results.害羞草研究所�

Ever since she was a child, Janine Little has always had the goal of representing Canada at the highest international levels of the sport 害羞草研究所� and with results such as these, she is becoming ever closer. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 tremendously excited to see what 2018 害羞草研究所� and beyond 害羞草研究所� brings.害羞草研究所�

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