Prince George horseback rider Azlyn Ryan, 16, reached dressage greatness last season.
Coached by Susie Palley, Azlyn won the BC Rising Stars Youth Dressage competition riding Hey Mickey. The duo was also the overall gold medalists in dressage at the 2024 BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge.
According to Equestrian Canada, dressage is often considered the highest expression of horse training. During competition dressage sees horse and rider perform a series of compulsory movements at the walk, trot and canter in a pre-set pattern, except in the freestyle category in which a special program can be used where the rider can exhibit their personal style and artistry by choreographing required elements to music.
Azlyn started riding horses when she was five years old and found her way to Palley when she was nine. Azlyn said she first tried show jumping but eventually realized that dressage was more her thing.
“There’s a lot of competition down south so it was quite surprising and exciting when I found out I was named Rising Star,” the Prince George Secondary School student said about earning top spot.
The Rising Star is determined by a riding test. Highest score wins. She won with 88.2 per cent.
“I chose dressage because it’s about training and riding and really showing your skills,” Azlyn said.
Azlyn said as her coach Palley is very supportive.
“Susie is really amazing,” Azlyn said.
Part of dressage is the freestyle program and Azlyn said Jodie Kennedy helped her with a routine.
“It shows very specific skills and you put the routine to music and Jodie loves to do that stuff and so we put together a really fun test,” Azlyn said.
Eleonore Elstone is also a coach who Azlyn works with.
“She is so great and I ride with her when I am at the shows down south,” Azlyn said.
Heather Sanford, Azlyn’s mom, said that Jodie and her mom Bonnie Kennedy do a lot of volunteer work through the Northern BC CADORA Dressage Club.
“They are the ones that put on the shows and clinics here in Prince George and that’s how the kids get an opportunity to compete locally,” Sanford said.
“It’s only because of Jodie and Bonnie’s efforts that we get proper formal shows where the judges are brought in that kids get a chance to compete, learn and develop skills needed to show so well provincially.”
Sanford also wanted to point out that the Agriplex, a city-owned facility, offers residents a rare opportunity to try horseback riding indoors in the middle of town through the Prince George Horse Society and Susie’s schooling horse program that has seen hundreds of people learn to ride without ever having to own a horse.
“Because of Susie’s lesson plans here at the Agriplex we didn’t buy a horse until two years ago. You don’t have to own a horse to learn to ride. Azlyn got to ride a lot of different horses and train for years and this facility is so important for that.”
Soon it will be time for the family to bid farewell to Prince George and Azlyn’s beloved horse Hey Mickey who was bred and raised by Elly Foote of Southbank Francois Lake.
There’s a big move happening at the end of the school year for Azlyn’s family. They are moving back to P.E.I.
After settling into their home province, Azlyn is looking forward to resuming her dressage excellence.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Azlyn said.
