Sarah Bates and Onyx will represent U.S. in World Driving Championship. Photo provided by Sarah Bates
BY DEB AND TIM SMITH
In our decade of writing for the Sentinel we have to acknowledge that this is the first time we’ve covered a local resident competing in an international sports event so we thank Sarah Reitz Bates for providing us the opportunity to take a global stage. Sarah was recently named as the first pick of three from the United States.
Sarah was recently named the United States first pick of 2 to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Driving Championship’s in France with her home bred, raised and trained pony Onyx, who has won several awards in the U.S. under the scrutiny of trained experienced judges.
The competition is being held in Le Pin au Harras, France, from September 17-21. Sarah’s carriage company Dominiak Carriages in Poland is generously making her two custom carriages which she will use in competition when she arrives in France.
“My lifelong goal to win the FEI World Championship in France is in its last phase,” Sarah told us, “after recently qualifying and being the first of three to be selected from the USA!”
Sarah’s immediate goal is to raise $70,000 to make this happen and she’s hoping you will be a part of it! She is now seeking sponsorship from local and national companies and individuals to make this trip possible and to win the prestigious medal for our United States!
She grew up with her family in Mendon with a pony named Sheik who she learned to care for in the family’s small barn. “I joined the Mendon Pony Club,” Sarah said, “where I rode and competed in jumping with my family’s support for many years. In 1983 I started working at a local farm called Walnut Hill, where the Pittsford Carriage Association annual carriage show took place every summer. Her family loved the sport as a family event.
“My dad did all the electricity among other things,” Sarah said, “and my mom cooked until the event was so big, caterers were hired and then she continued to entertain judges and the public. Sarah’s brother was a ring steward. Sarah helped grow flowers, mowed the lawn, and in 1985 she started driving carriages. She was hooked and developed her long-term goal of the world championships! Many years of work and sacrifice have gone into this dream of achieving this goal, and Sarah confirms that, “It has been worth all of them!” For 25 years now, Sarah has trained others to learn the sport of driving.
The cost to represent the United States will be nearly $70,000. The budget for this trip, includes safely shipping Onyx ($25,000), cart shipping, and ground travel in France. Other expenditures include $1200 for a stall, $8000 to rent a horse trailer for the world championship, $1200-$2000 for a trailer to pick up Onyx at the airport, and at least $15,000 for shipping the carriages home.
In closing Sarah says, “Again I thank you for your interest in this prestigious sport and any possible sponsorship you could contribute to a chance to win for Onyx, NYS and the USA.” If you would like to contribute to this wonderful cause please go to (at GoFundMe): Donate to Support the Dream: Help Reach Pony World Championships, organized by Sarah Reitz Bates; or (through Venmo): Sarah Bates Venmo.com
