Help Benjamin Noonan and Keep Kitty get to NAYC
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Benjamin Noonan. Please help support me and my horse, Keep Kitty on our journey toward competing at the North American Youth Championships (NAYC), in Kalispell, Montana July, 2019.
NAYC is the horse world equivalent to the Junior Olympics. I have been working toward this goal for the past year--not to mention the years leading up to this event at the lower levels. Qualifying includes multiple hours of training, completing four Preliminary events and completing one FEI CCI-2* competition. I completed the final required qualifications this past month on my amazing partner, Keep Kitty. Only the best horses and young riders are selected for the honor of representing their area's team. My horse and I have met the criteria and are hoping to represent Area IV at the CCI-2* level. It is a dream becoming a reality.
Kitty is my best friend. We spend hours together daily. I know her mood swings, her favorite foods (skittles) and her favorite places to eat grass. We have frequent conversations about what I want her to do and what she is willing to do. She is an amazing partner. My parents and coaches surprised me December 26, 2016 (basically under the tree) with Kitty for a Christmas present. She was WAY beyond my skill set, including bucking me off after a conversation that went her way while jumping. I guess you can say our partnership has grown since then. I am very fortunate that my parents have allowed me the opportunity of riding Kitty. While we have had some rough patches with our relationship, we have had some outstanding successes. During the Summer of 2017 and 2018, Kitty and I have been blessed with the chance of moving to Virginia during the summer to expand our understanding of each other. My coaches not only have helped me to be a much more conscientious rider, but also have given me tools and life skills to guide me toward being a well rounded individual. By the end of Summer 2018, Kitty and I placed first in our first two Preliminary events at Millbrook H.T. and Fairhill H.T. In addition to our wonderful successes on the East Coast, Kitty was the top placed Preliminary horse in Area IV for 2018. Also, in the same year, she placed eighth in the Training level horse. She just loves her job!
The NAYC-J/CCIO-S-Y expenses are estimated to be close to $6,000 per rider for this seven day event. The rider is responsible to raise a minimum of $3000. As I am only fifteen, an adult must also attend event with me, which increases my total cost. Up until this point, I am grateful that my family has been able to support Kitty and I both emotionally and financially towards this dream. They have been able to pay for all of the expenses incurred from the qualifying requirements. I have two siblings in college, one special needs sibling and a sister who is just graduating from high school. My parents are under a lot of pressure to help me to realize the dream. I try to offset the cost with working at the barn of my coaches in Florida and Virginia, to decrease the total price of training and boarding Kitty. I also work at the barn in St. Louis to help take the work load off my family.
I am asking for any donation that you can give to help me offset the expense of the competition. Anything will help. Even if you cannot donate, please share with your friends and family---you never know who will be able to help. I promise Kitty and I will represent my area as best as we can. I appreciate anything that you can offer to help us toward our journey to the NAYC. Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this and please share with your friends and family.
-Benjamin
NAYC is the horse world equivalent to the Junior Olympics. I have been working toward this goal for the past year--not to mention the years leading up to this event at the lower levels. Qualifying includes multiple hours of training, completing four Preliminary events and completing one FEI CCI-2* competition. I completed the final required qualifications this past month on my amazing partner, Keep Kitty. Only the best horses and young riders are selected for the honor of representing their area's team. My horse and I have met the criteria and are hoping to represent Area IV at the CCI-2* level. It is a dream becoming a reality.
Kitty is my best friend. We spend hours together daily. I know her mood swings, her favorite foods (skittles) and her favorite places to eat grass. We have frequent conversations about what I want her to do and what she is willing to do. She is an amazing partner. My parents and coaches surprised me December 26, 2016 (basically under the tree) with Kitty for a Christmas present. She was WAY beyond my skill set, including bucking me off after a conversation that went her way while jumping. I guess you can say our partnership has grown since then. I am very fortunate that my parents have allowed me the opportunity of riding Kitty. While we have had some rough patches with our relationship, we have had some outstanding successes. During the Summer of 2017 and 2018, Kitty and I have been blessed with the chance of moving to Virginia during the summer to expand our understanding of each other. My coaches not only have helped me to be a much more conscientious rider, but also have given me tools and life skills to guide me toward being a well rounded individual. By the end of Summer 2018, Kitty and I placed first in our first two Preliminary events at Millbrook H.T. and Fairhill H.T. In addition to our wonderful successes on the East Coast, Kitty was the top placed Preliminary horse in Area IV for 2018. Also, in the same year, she placed eighth in the Training level horse. She just loves her job!
The NAYC-J/CCIO-S-Y expenses are estimated to be close to $6,000 per rider for this seven day event. The rider is responsible to raise a minimum of $3000. As I am only fifteen, an adult must also attend event with me, which increases my total cost. Up until this point, I am grateful that my family has been able to support Kitty and I both emotionally and financially towards this dream. They have been able to pay for all of the expenses incurred from the qualifying requirements. I have two siblings in college, one special needs sibling and a sister who is just graduating from high school. My parents are under a lot of pressure to help me to realize the dream. I try to offset the cost with working at the barn of my coaches in Florida and Virginia, to decrease the total price of training and boarding Kitty. I also work at the barn in St. Louis to help take the work load off my family.
I am asking for any donation that you can give to help me offset the expense of the competition. Anything will help. Even if you cannot donate, please share with your friends and family---you never know who will be able to help. I promise Kitty and I will represent my area as best as we can. I appreciate anything that you can offer to help us toward our journey to the NAYC. Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this and please share with your friends and family.
-Benjamin
Organizer and beneficiary
Benjamin Noonan
Organizer
Ballwin, MO
Ruth Ann Noonan
Beneficiary
