July 14, 2006 – Cambridge, Ontario – The Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series has introduced some exciting new changes for 2006.

Most importantly, the Series has evolved to take on a national stature, including the introduction of a Western Championship. While several western venues will host Young Horse classes, the Western Final will be held during the CSI-W Thunderbird Summer Festival in Langley, BC, from August 23 to 27.

Winners in the Western Championship will be invited to contest the National Finals that will take place from September 20-24 during the CSI-W Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, ON. Traditionally held at Toronto's Royal Horse Show in November, moving the National Finals to the Tournament of Champions will allow all age categories to compete over multiple days. Tight scheduling at the Royal Horse Show had previously restricted the National Finals to one night only, and only the Five and Six-Year-Old age categories could be accommodated.

Also new for 2006 is the introduction of the Seven and Eight-Year-Old division, held at the 1.35m level, to enhance the already popular Four, Five and Six-Year-Old Divisions. This will allow for the continued development, and recognition, of the country's top up-and-coming equine athletes.

Jump Canada, the governing body for hunter/jumper sport in Canada, has recognized the important role that young horse development plays in the Canadian horse industry, impacting breeders, athletes and horses alike. In 2005, a Young Horse Chair was created on the Jump Canada Board, a position filled by Phil Henning of Cambridge, ON. In an effort to see the Young Horse program, which operated so successfully in Ontario, expanded into a national program, Jump Canada has provided $20,000 in funding to help grow the program in its initial year.

"At our strategic planning meeting held in November of 2004, we identified young horse development as one of the key areas to Canada's future success, both domestically and on the international stage," says Elizabeth Bordeaux, Chair of Jump Canada. "We are very pleased to have Phil Henning take on the role as Young Horse Chair, as his experience and involvement with the program in Ontario will help to guide us as we move towards fostering young horse development on a national level. Introducing a Western Championships in Langley, BC, is a very positive first step."

Open to all registered breeds, the purpose of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. This careful development by age group allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels with confidence. Of course, the Series also provides an ideal opportunity for potential buyers to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.

"We are extremely grateful for the support that Jump Canada has shown towards growing this program, and we also recognize the immense contributions made by the Ontario Hunter/Jumper Association in helping to form and build this program," says Henning, Jump Canada's Young Horse Chair. "The fact that the 2005 National Champion in the Five-Year-Old Division, Timebreaker, came from Alberta, traveling all the way to Toronto in order to compete, demonstrates that the time is here to offer the program on a national scale. We have also had incredible feedback from the competitors, impressed by the quality of show jumping prospects they now have access to trying and buying right here in Canada."

The Canadian Young Horse Development Series is guided by committee members Phil Henning, Chair, Tony Cachia, Mike Grinyer, Megan Krueger, Tim Millard, Christine Walch and Dieter Warner. For more information, please visit the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series website at www.jumperdevelopment.com.