Janine Little, an Okanagan equestrian athlete specializing in the sport of dressage, has earned increasingly competitive provincial, national, and international honours 乌鸦传媒� and capped off the 2017 season with multiple victories at North America乌鸦传媒檚 top competitions.

Little乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淭hese wins are exciting,乌鸦传媒� says Little, who was raised in Vernon. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e been bringing along a number of young horses from the basics upwards. It乌鸦传媒檚 thrilling to see them demonstrating so much potential towards the highest levels.乌鸦传媒�

Little, who was listed to the Canadian Equestrian team in 2010 and 2011, is no stranger to winning 乌鸦传媒� as well as the hard work it takes to get there.

Raised in a 乌鸦传媒渘on-horsey乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒� and driven by willpower and diligence 乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 Rider Development Squad for the 2017 season.

乌鸦传媒淐oming from a background where I had to work my way up the ranks, I乌鸦传媒檝e always had to train my mounts from the ground up,乌鸦传媒� Little explains. Although some people mistakenly think of horse sport as the domain of the wealthy, this is far from the case for Little 乌鸦传媒� who is an inspiration to riders from all backgrounds.

乌鸦传媒淵ou have to be patient and you have to make the most of every opportunity. It乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of hard work, long hours, and acceptance that it乌鸦传媒檚 never going to be easy. But if you want to reach your goals you have to do everything it takes.乌鸦传媒�

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. 乌鸦传媒淏ringing the horses along from the beginning enables me to really know each horse. It leads to a partnership like no other.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淭o develop a top horse takes a village,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 Shawneen Jacobs乌鸦传媒� Friesian mare, Ebony, won the Fourth Level Championship at Bromont, ridden by Little. The pair went on to victory at Devon 乌鸦传媒� an unusual and remarkable feat for Ebony乌鸦传媒檚 breed. Their success earned Ebony a substantial fan following along with the nickname of 乌鸦传媒渢he little mare that can乌鸦传媒�. 乌鸦传媒淭his mare continues to exceed our expectations,乌鸦传媒� Little says. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 great to see diversity in the international ring.乌鸦传媒�

Up-and-coming talent Demitra also won her division乌鸦传媒檚 championship at Bromont and achieved success at Devon with Little.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e extremely excited about Demitra乌鸦传媒檚 potential for the upper levels,乌鸦传媒� Little enthuses. 乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 got what it takes to be a top international horse.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 incredible to see how far Janine has brought Demitra,乌鸦传媒� the mare乌鸦传媒檚 owner, Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Joanna Cockerline, agrees. 乌鸦传媒淛anine puts 200 per cent into everything she does. Her dedication is second to none 乌鸦传媒� and is making for incredible results.乌鸦传媒�

Ever since she was a child, Janine Little has always had the goal of representing Canada at the highest international levels of the sport 乌鸦传媒� and with results such as these, she is becoming ever closer. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 tremendously excited to see what 2018 乌鸦传媒� and beyond 乌鸦传媒� brings.乌鸦传媒�

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