Photo submitted to Times Observer Representing the Boulder Ridge Stables Academy Team that participated at the U.S. Equestrian Federal National Academy Championships in November are (from left): Ella Sorvelli, Instructor Aspen Fors, Lynsey Arthur, Addison Blair, Instructor/Trainer Ivorie Fors with Taylor Fors, Brook Scott, and Grace Cummings.

Riders from a Warren County stable played their part in a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Five riders from Boulder Ridge Stables in Pittsfield took part in the U.S. Equestrian Federation National Academy Championship Horse Show in Murfreesboro, Tenn, last month.

In addition to the competition, “the whole show is a charity,” Boulder Ridge Stables Owner and Boulder Ridge Academy Team Trainer/Instructor Ivorie Fors said. “Everything benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Center.”

There were 1,246 entrants from 18 states, Fors said. Those entrants raised a record total of $100,000.

In addition to paying their way to the event, the five entrants from Boulder Ridge — Grace Cummings, 9, of Corry, Lynsey Arthur, 16, of Titusville, Ella Sorvelli, 9, of Russell, Brooke Scott, 10, of Youngsville, and Addison Blair, 12, of Warren — raised $1,800 for St. Jude. The Boulder Ridge team basket raffle entry brought in another $450 — third highest of all the baskets raffled at the event.

The dollars did not pay for judges and prizes.

“Everything at the show, everyone’s time, ribbons, everything is completely donated,” she said. “All this money can go to St. Jude’s.”

In addition to sponsorships from family and friends, the team members worked for their donations.

“We sponsored a day camp here,” Fors said. “Our team had to work the camp – they did all the work.”

Work is an important part of the team.

“Not only are we promoting sportsmanship and self-esteem, we are also promoting that we have to give back because our kids are quite blessed,” she said. “We really promote that they need to work hard.”

The basket included items donated by the team parents.

The Boulder Ridge Team raised a lot of money and experienced a lot of success.

“This show, these are the best of the best of academy riders,” Fors said. “All of my riders placed this year.”

“We had a rider with a second-place vote,” she said. “I had another rider who did go to the second round with a third place. And we had another rider make it to the last round.”

The competition for the nine- and 10-year-olds was particularly fierce.

“This show was so big the nine- and 10-year-olds were split four times,” Fors said. “Even to place in the first round was pretty phenomenal.”

Academy is a program that does not require members own horses.

“These are people that ride, take lessons from my barn, and asked to join our team,” Fors said. “It does not require a horse.”

“It’s a great program,” she said. “It’s wonderful for people who don’t want to make the full commitment of keeping a horse.”

At competitions, Academy riders do not take personal horses. “Only lesson horses and lesson equipment,” she said. “No one has an unfair advantage.”

“Everyone is at the same level,” Fors said. “It’s a great stepping stone for people who are just learning about showing horses.”

While many team members are youth, that is not a requirement.

“We start at three (years of age),” she said. “Three to 100.”

“Most people will be in academy for maybe three years or less,” she said. “Then, they will move on to showing — that’s their own horse.”

Still, not everyone has space or money for their own horse. “They can stay in academy,” Fors said. “There are different levels. This is something they can continue to do.”

The Academy program is a good one for the horses, too, she said. Many academy horses, including “one that we took to Nationals,” are rescues.

Because the program is supported by the federation, participants in the right age brackets can earn scholastic letters.

Raising money is only part of what the federation, and barns like Boulder Ridge all over, can do for St. Jude.

“St. Jude’s is a Children’s Cancer Center, the largest one in the country,” Fors said. “A lot of times, children’s wishes are to get near a horse or on a horse.”

“The kids understand what this is all about,” she said. “They understand how lucky they are. They’ve been working hard.”

Anyone interested in more information about the Boulder Ridge program is invited to visit its Facebook page.