By Jeff D'Andrea

PA’s Franc receives national equestrian award

Feb 17, 2013 | 7:05 AM

At one point this summer, Haley Franc (pronounced ‘France’) was excited that she simply reached the 2012 Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Kentucky back in July.

“I was just happy that I qualified for there, and that I was even there just competing at that high calibre,” said Franc, competing in the 14-18 age group.

Little did Franc know that her success would be impressive enough to earn national recognition at the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala last Friday in Ottawa.

Thanks to a two-medal showing at the NAJYRC, Franc was presented with the Junior Equestrian of the Year Award.

“I was surprised. It was a national award and it was really big,” said Franc. “I was really excited and it was really amazing.

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“It just showed how hard I worked. I was really happy.”

Franc dominated the individual reining event and won gold as she and eight-year-old horse Jacs Shy Boy posted a 212 run, five marks higher than the rest of the field. In the team event, Franc’s run was the best for Team Canada with a mark of 206.

“It was so much different from the other shows because it was that much more,” said Franc. “It was really fun and a great experience. It was cool to see all the other disciplines there too. There were high quality things and high calibre horses but it was fun. That was an amazing experience there too.”

Reining, the sport in which Franc has excelled, is a judged riding competition where riders guide their horses through a precise set of patterns in circles, spins and sliding stops.

Franc shared the award with Montreal’s Laurence Blais-Tétreault, a standout in dressage competitions. This marked the first time in the award’s history that it was presented to two different athletes.

Riding Club roof

Shortly after the Ottawa event, the roof of the Red River Roping and Riding Club Indoor Arena collapsed between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Franc usually rides in that arena throughout the winters but has since taken her horses home after the collapse.

One of her younger horses was actually inside when the section of the roof came down, but it was not harmed by the collapse.

“It was thankfully on the other side of the arena so he didn’t get hurt,” said Franc. “But he was pretty shaken up.”

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea