FOR the past two years Rayman Butterfield has set everything in his life aside in order to reach for the stars.

Butterfield, who first got on a horse at age five in Bermuda, has been competing on the show jumping circuit in Canada during the summer and in Florida during the winter.

And next month the 19-year-old will compete against the best 40 young riders from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean when he travels to the famed Tempel Farms outside of Chicago for the North American Young Riders' Championships.

"It is going to be very tough," said Butterfield who returned to Bermuda this week for a few days before heading back to his base in Canada.

To get ready for the North American Young Riders' Championships Butterfield has just been competing at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada for five weeks. "Spruce Meadows is the most prestigious competition in Canada or, for that matter North America. It is as close as you will find to the very top competitions in Europe - it is the top of the chain," said Butterfield of the show jumping competition.

"It went really well. I won a class. It was also my first year at Spruce Meadows and I didn't know what to expect. You learn a lot competing at Spruce Meadows - you are definitely challenged. All the people there are top class riders and with very good horses. In fact everything came down to time (to win the classes)," he said adding, "every week was different. And each week the competition got better and better and tougher and tougher. I went there to get prepared for Young Riders. If I didn't go I don't really think I would have been ready. I had to get used to a new horse and also to get used to the size of the jumps which I can expect at Young Riders. In fact most of the riders at Spruce Meadows who are of my age will be at the Young Riders."

Butterfield and his family, father Malcom and mother Debbie, just bought a new horse in Florida during the winter. She is 16.25-hand mare called Gemini Dertelong and Butterfield will be riding her during Young Riders. He has also been riding his other mount, Quidango, but has decided to only take the new horse to Chicago. "They are both about eight years old but Gemini is more experienced mentally. She is a great horse and is definitely Olympic calibre and has been trained by a professional show jumper."

Butterfield, who finished his high school education in Canada, attended one year at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, but decided in order to fulfill his dreams he would have to compete full time on the show jumping circuit.

And that is what he has been doing for the past couple of years. "I tried to do both for a while but it was too much," he said. "I couldn't get the experience in Bermuda obviously but I also had to leave school up there - I had to put school on hold for a while. I had to make a choice. However I am not saying I will not return to school - I am not going to shut that out of the picture. That would be just plain stupid. I am just going to follow my heart for now and see what happens."

He also has a new coach - Mac Cone who has been a member of Canada's Olympic team. "He is great and was with me at Spruce Meadows. Before that for four years I was coached by Hugh Graham who is also very good and was also a member of Canada's Olympic team."

The Bermuda Equestrain Federation selected Butterfield for Young Riders based on his performances on the show jumping circuit. "They have to also know that you have the horse that can do it as well," said Butterfield.

Young Riders will be staged from August 6-11 at Tempel Farms which is also home to the world's largest private herd of Lipizzan horses and one of the finest equestrian facilities in North America.

The competition is for riders aged from 16-20 and is divided into the A and B sections. Butterfield will be competing in the toughest A section. In fact many of the world best riders got their start at Young Riders including Olympic silver medallists Greg Best and Karen Lende O'Connor.

Young Riders started in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Canada and the US and it is now the official US Junior Olympic Equestrian event.

Butterfield said that competing in Florida for two months during the winter has also helped. "In Canada you will get the indoor events but the exposure down south is much better," he said adding that he has to trailer his mounts between the two countries.

In Florida he is based in Tampa and Ockala (four hours north of West Palm Beach) and he often has some Bermuda company with him in both Florida and Canada - namely top local rider Nick DeCosta. In fact while Butterfield is in Bermuda for the next week he will be going down to Inwood Stables where DeCosta trains to ride some of the horses. "Even when I come down here I try to spend time in the saddle. It is amazing how much your body forgets - even after a short time - although your mind doesn't forget. I am going to go down to Inwood Stables and ride with Nick who trains at the same barn as me in Florida. He is also a very good friend."

There will be two practise rounds at the North American Young Riders' Championships and then the competition starts for real. "It is an accumilation of points. And the courses and jumps get harder and bigger. The time allowances really come into it," he said.