Holly Carter: 18 year old Holly Carter, from Regina Saskatchewan, began showing in the Grassroots classes at provincial quarter horse shows in 2014. Her passion for the all-around competition helped strengthen her horsemanship skills as both an English and Western rider. Competing in western Canada between 2015 and 2019, Holly earned multiple Circuit and All-Around Youth, Novice Youth and Open Awards from SQHA (Saskatchewan), QHAA (Alberta), and MQHA (Manitoba), and holds 2018 Canadian National Championship titles in hunt seat equitation and open green trail, as well as reserves in trail, equitation and horsemanship. Holly is a 2019 AQHYA World Show Qualifier in showmanship, horsemanship, hunt seat equitation, trail and western pleasure. When not around horses, Holly enjoys designing and sewing her own show clothing, downhill skiing, and trail running with her dog. She is committed to her academics and had the honour of being selected as her high school’s 2019 Schulich Leadership nominee. Currently attending Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Holly is studying Health Science and is a proud member of the NCAA equestrian team. Holly is very excited for this opportunity to represent Team Canada as an alternate rider!

Abby Schaap: 17 year old Abby Schaap from Midland Ontario is thrilled to representing Canada for the second time, this time as a rider. Abby is ecstatic to be traveling and competing in the Netherlands especially as she has family from there. Being on Team Canada has been a dream of hers since she started riding quarter horses. Abby has been riding horses since she was 2. She started out on a Shetland pony and when she out-grew her pony, she moved on to a larger pony and began showing in the jumper classes. Abby eventually out grew this pony as well, and moved on to a quarter horse and fell in love with them. After watching her aunt show at the quarter horse circuits, she too wanted to begin showing, both in English and western. Abby now shows her horse Riley, whom she got as 2 year old and is now 7. Her success in the show pen has earned her OQHA awards, multiple high point award and circuit awards, and multiple all-round awards with Ontario Area 3. She has also had success placing top 10 in the showmanship and equitation at the AQHA East Level 1 Championships and most recently by being a finalist at the Built Ford Youth World Show in hunt seat equitation. Outside of riding horses Abby enjoys boating, camping and spending time with friends. Abby is very proud to be representing Canada as rider at YWC 2020!

Talissa Gervais: From Bienfait Saskatchewan, is thrilled to be joining YWC Team Canada as an alternate rider. Talissa has been riding horses for as long as she can remember. She enjoys competing in the all-around events and has proudly earned herself an AQHA championship and multiple Canadian National Championships and she is a multiple AQHYA World Show qualifier. Talissa has enjoyed competing at the Quarter Horse Congress in trail, showmanship, and horsemanship. She has also successfully shown at the Level 1 Championship Show in Las Vegas where she was a finalist and top ten earner in western riding in 2019. When Talissa is not riding, she is playing basketball on the high school senior girls’ team and on the local club basketball team. She has a true love for all sports. Talissa is looking forward to the experience the Youth World Cup journey is going to give her in The Netherlands!

Brianna Carr: Joining team Canada’s rider roster for 2020 is 16 year old Brianna Carr from Calgary, Alberta. As an NRHA competitor, Brianna has been competing in reining events across North America for eight years. She has shown successfully throughout Western Canada and has qualified and shown at the North American Affiliate Championships in Oklahoma. In 2018 she earned the title of Youth 14-18 reserve champion and multiple top ten placings in the Rookie classes at the NAAC in Oklahoma. While Brianna has focused on reining she has also trained and shown in all-round events. When not showing, Brianna keeps herself occupied in the horse world by lending a helping hand to all those around her as well as practicing and striving for improvement. Brianna is looking forward to this incredible opportunity of bringing her skills and experience to Team Canada in the Netherlands in 2020.

Ellie Gerbrandt: 16 year old Ellie Gerbrandt from Roberts Creek British Columbia is thrilled to be returning to Team Canada as a rider for the 2020 Youth World Cup. Ellie competes in the all-around events at top level shows throughout the US. Ellie has earned top 10 placings at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in hunt seat equitation and showmanship, as well as top 15 in horsemanship. She was the gold medalist in hunt seat equitation at the 2018 Youth World Cup earning the title of World Champion. Over the years she has won many circuit championships and all around awards including some from the Arizona Sun Circuit and the Level 1 Championship Show (west). Outside of showing Ellie enjoys helping out at the local retirement home and giving back to the community. She is looking forward to meeting new people, having fun with her team members, and learning many new things!

Amber Zabel: 17 year old Amber Zabel from Caledon, Ontario has been riding for 12 years. Horseback riding is an extremely big part of her life and she is thrilled for the opportunity to take part in her first Youth World Cup as a rider. Besides showing Quarter Horses, Amber enjoyed eventing for 3 years in her early teens. She has also tried cutting and reining to broaden her experience in the horse world. In 2018, Amber was Reserve Champion in hunter under saddle at the Level 1 Championship Show and she had top 10 placings at Congress. She has been a proud member of the OQHYA (Ontario) NYATT team for the All American Quarter Horse Congress for 4 years in a row. Her most recent accomplishments include placing top 5 at the Congress in the Level 1 14-18 trail and in the NYATT hunter under saddle and placing top 10 in the 15-18 Youth hunter under saddle this year. Amber has earned 2 youth superiors on her show horse Sleepy Monn and is striving to complete as many superiors as she can before her youth career comes to an end. Aside from being busy with her horse life, Amber plays on her school volleyball team, has counselled at horseback riding camp, and has volunteered at a therapeutic riding center. She has been on the OQHYA board, starting as a director and working her way up to her present position of being the OQHYA President. Amber is looking forward to traveling to The Netherlands to compete with Team Canada.

Kamyl Mathieu: 18 year old Kamyl Mathieu, from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec is thrilled to be joining Team Canada as a rider. Kamyl has been riding horses since she was 4 years old and started showing when she was 6. She is an all-around rider who especially loves and excels in showmanship, horsemanship and hunt seat equitation. Kamyl has qualified two times for the AQHA Youth World Show and achieved her superior in showmanship. Most recently she was thrilled to show her horse for the first time at the All American Quarter Horse Congress this past month. Kamyl has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to ride and show many horses and has developed her riding skills by doing so. Not only is Kamyl an accomplished rider, she is also a top student. She is also proud to have been a part of a 2017 volunteer experience where she went to Ecuador to help the members of a community there. Being a member of Team Canada has been a goal for Kamyl and she is excited to be bringing her skills to Team Canada as we travel to the Netherlands.

Team Coach: Della Cryderman has been breeding, training and showing Quarter Horses for over thirty years and presently owns and operates a equine training facility. Her focus for Cryderman Training Stables is to prepare horses and their exhibitors for national and international competition. While the majority of the horse/rider combinations whom she coaches show at American Quarter Horse circuits, she also coaches several dressage and jumping horses/riders. Cryderman has travelled and shared her knowledge with riders who have committed to furthering their skills, and given many clinics ranging from first time riders to numerous youth and amateurs who became AQHA Superior Award winners, AQHA Champions, AQHA Versatility Champions, All-American Congress and AQHA World Show finalists. Cryderman’s daughter, Jessie Godin was a gold-medalist member of Team Canada while competing at the Youth World Cup hosted by Australia in 2004. Della coached Jessie to 4th place in Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation during the 2016 AQHA World Championship Show. Cryderman served as President of the Thunder Bay Quarter Horse Club for 15 years and as President of the North Superior Quarter Horse Council for 10 years.

Team Manager: Karen Westerback has been involved with Quarter Horses for approximately 20 years and competes as an amateur on AQHA show circuits in Canada and the U.S. She has achieved two AQHA Amateur Superior Awards and is an AQHA Amateur Champion. Westerback is employed as a Youth Services residential worker for youth who are at risk with the law, helping to develop therapeutic plans for release from custody. She has served her local Quarter Horse associations over the years as Secretary, Vice-President and Youth Advisor, and has been actively involved in major fund-raising events and organizing. In the past year, she has acquired a new role as a ring steward for several large AQHA show circuits including the Minnesota Corporate Challenge and the Bob Yanz Masters and now serves as the President of the North Superior Quarter Horse Association.