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Chamberlain and Bergeron Claim Freestyle Gold, Eventing Cross Country Finishes at NAJYRC

Young Rider Freestyle medalists (from left) Devon Wycoff, Catherine Chamberlain, and Laurence Blais Tetreault (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – On Saturday, dressage riders competed for their Freestyle Individual medals in the Rolex Stadium at the 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). In the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship Catherine Chamberlain (Region 7) and Verdicci won their second Individual Gold medal of the week in the Young Rider division. Camille Bergeron (Canada/Quebec/Alberta) and Lowelas also won another Gold medal in the Junior division. Endurance riders competed in their 75-mile race yesterday, and it was Morgan Watson (Team USA Southeast) who won the race for the Gold medal with My Lords Elisha. The USA Southeast team took Gold in endurance.

Chamberlain Wins Gold Medal Number Two

The top 15 Young Rider Individuals advanced to the Freestyle Championship today and were judged by Cesar Lepardo Grana (ARG) at E, Adriaan Hamoen (NED) at H, Christof Umbach (LUX) at C, Gabriel Armando (ARG) at M, and Sandy Hotz (USA) at B.

The highest score of the day in the Young Rider division went to Catherine Chamberlain of Region 7 (19, Murietta, Calif.) and Verdicci with 72.525%. A self-proclaimed nerd, Chamberlain was thrilled to ride to music from the Harry Potter soundtrack. She and Verdicci performed some difficult sequences of movements, including the extended trot on two diagonals and flying changes on a serpentine to the counter lead.

“It was the first time performing this freestyle and it was really fun,” Chamberlain said. “I tried to make it difficult. In past I have had more simple freestyles and I wanted to show off a more difficult freestyle.”

Even though they had a challenging freestyle routine, Chamberlain and Verdicci had a stellar performance.

“It was a thrilling solid ride for me,” she said with a smile. “My horse was able to stick there with me and perform the best he could.”

Devon Wycoff of Region 5 (20, Boulder, Colo.) and Power Play earned the Silver medal with a score of 70.975%. She got her freestyle off to a strong start with lovely canter work and never looked back. She used music by Lindsey Stirling, a hip-hop violinist, that she enjoyed riding to and worked with her horse. After not having the best ride for her Individual Test, Wycoff was hoping to ride better in her Freestyle, and she did just that.

“My main goal was to keep my brain between my ears. I don’t know where I was when I was riding the Individual Test but it wasn’t on my horse,” Wycoff explained. “I needed to stay there and ride every movement. Thank God I stayed there, I stayed there. I didn’t care what the result was. This was just icing on the cake. I accomplished my goal when I walked out of the arena.”

The Bronze medal went to Laurence Blais Tetreault of Canada/Quebec (17, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and Michealango after they scored 70.625%. She rode to catchy music that she inherited from her sister, Mathilde. Like Wycoff, Blais Tetreault wasn’t thrilled with her rides earlier in the week but that was not the case with her Freestyle ride.

“I am extremely happy with how today went,” Blais Tetreault stated. “We had a rough start. My horse was nervous in Team Test and Individual. To finish with this nice ride, I’m very happy. He did everything I asked.”

Bergeron Scores Second Junior Gold Medal in Freestyle

Camille Bergeron (14, Mascouche, Quebec, Canada) and Lowelas had another winning performance at NAJYRC, this time in the Junior Freestyle Championship. The pair’s performance garnered a score of 71.275% and the Gold medal. Bergeron and Lowelas rode to upbeat music, helping to highlight the power in Lowelas’ gaits.

Junior Individual medalists (from left) Cassie Schmidt, Camille Bergeron, and Molly Paris (SusanJStickle.com)
Junior Individual medalists (from left) Cassie Schmidt, Camille Bergeron, and Molly Paris (SusanJStickle.com)

“I was wanting powerful music so that people wouldn’t just think ‘oh, he’s cute.’ I wanted people to go ‘Wow,’ so I chose this music,” Bergeron explained.

Bergeron said she had an excellent warm-up with Lowelas, with him being calm and attentive.

“When I came in the ring I was really confident and it was amazing,” Bergeron shared. “I do my best to be the most precise I can be.”

The judges for the Junior class were Cesar Torrente (COL) at E, Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at H, Lilo Fore (USA) at C, Mercedes Campdera (MEX) at M, and Marian Cunningham (PER) at B.

Cassie Schmidt (17, Aledo, Texas) rode Velasquer to the Silver medal after earning a score of X. The pair’s freestyle mainly used music containing pianos, including piano version’s Taylor Swift’s Love Song, Bach’s The Cello Song done by The Piano Guys and a song from the Twilight movie soundtrack. After Velasquer making it clear in a clinic with Karen Robinson that he did not enjoy powerful music, Schmidt realized he enjoyed piano music.

“Eventually [Robinson] tried the piano music and he just took a deep breath and felt so good,” Schmidt said with a smile. “Everything just felt perfect about it.”

Despite being excited by the nearby cross country action in the warm-up, Velasquer listened to Schmidt and laid done a great test.

“He just felt so with me. Everything just fell into place today,” Schmidt explained, coming back from some minor mistakes earlier in the week.

Molly Paris (18, Charlotte, N.C.) and Diamante Sky executed a strong freestyle to music from the Harry Potter soundtrack, put together by Marlene Whitaker, to claim the Bronze medal. The music fit Diamante Sky well and emphasized his elegance

“We tried not to make it too powerful since he’s a powerful horse but also kind of elegant,” Paris commented. “So we just tried to get something that matched his personality.”

Diamante Sky was also a bit unsettled in warm-up with the eventing horses galloping nearby, but was all business in the arena.

“He gave me all he had and that’s all I can ask for,” Paris said.

Endurance Gold for Southeast Team and Watson

Though the 2014 race for the North American Young Rider Endurance Championship took place Friday, the winners received their medals today in the Rolex Stadium. Standing atop the podium as the Team Gold medalists was the Southeast team.

The Southeast team finished with the best cumulative time of 19:16:37. The team is composed of:

Michael Bishop (17, Raleigh, N.C.) and Thundering Overtime
Mallory Capps (20, Cumming, Ga.) and SA Belshazzar
Morgan Watson (21, Clinton, Tenn.) and My Lords Elisha
Josie Whelan (20, Leicester, N.C.) and FFC First Csea Lord
Cassandra Roberts (17, Bronson, Fla.) and Golden Lightning

The unseasonably cool temperature Friday made the 120km race a bit easier for the horses and riders, but, nonetheless, it was still quite a task.

“The weather made it extremely easier on the horses,” Capps explained. “It was the best completion rate we ever had here. Usually we only have a 50% completion rate. I didn’t get hot during the day so that was awesome. The weather had huge impact on how the horses were.”

The Chef d’Equipe for the Southeast team, Lynn Kenelly, noted that, “These riders worked beautifully together. It was a collaborative effort. A five out of five completion rate doesn’t happen at this level.”

The Central team was the second and final team to complete the course in a time of 23:01:12. The team is composed of:

Mary Kathryn Clark (20, Eatonton, Ga.) and Chasing The Wind
Emilynn DiBassie (16, Magnolia, Texas) and MK Spyder
Jessica DiCamillo (21, Las Cruces, N.M.) and SHA Strike Two
Christina Kimery (16, Bixby, Okla.) and Noslo’s Selket Da Yankee

“My plan was to finish and to get a team medal and keep everybody going and stay strong on the trail and we succeeded,” DiCamillo said. “We’re all here with medals on us and we are all happy.”

Watson and My Lords Elisha crossed the finish line first in a time of 6:14:23 to win Gold, with Roberts and Golden Lightning finishing in Silver medal position with a time of 6:14:24. Roberts displayed her horsemanship by letting her teammate win the Individual Gold medal since it was Watson’s last year to be eligible to compete at the NAJYRC.

“It’s her last year. I won the Gold last year so I gave it to her this year,” Roberts stated.

Watson added, “I was chasing her and then we decided to work together and it worked out really well.”

Christina Kimery (Bixby, Okla.) and Noslo’s Selket Da Yankee crossed third in a time of 6:44:32.

“Everything went to plan,” Kimery said. “I held my position like I wanted to and the horse did great.”

The Best Conditioned award went to Laconic ridden by Maria Muzzio of the USA Northeast Combined team.

USEA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Eventing Championship

As expected, David O’Connor’s course proved extremely influential on Saturday as both the Young Rider and Junior leaderboards saw a great shake-up.

In the USEA North American Young Riders’ Eventing Championship, Area III stormed to the lead after strong rounds in CCI2* competition, where two riders were able to jump clear helping the team to only add 43.7 points to their score. They head into the show jumping on a score of 218.9.

The Area III team consists of:

Emily Rusinyak (19, Franklin, Ga.) and her own Reatta HW (no jumping penalties and 2.4 time penalties) – 63
Adrian Jones (16, Shamong, N.J.) and Laura Jones’ Irish Odyssey (40 jumping penalties and 26.4 time penalties) – 127.1
Calvin Ramsay (17, Lafayette, La.) and Courtney Ramsay’s Flintstar (no jumping penalties and no time penalties) – 63.2
Nicole Doolittle (16, Charlotte, N.C.) and her own Tops (20 jumping penalties and 18.8 time penalties) – 92.7

Rusinyak, who was the pathfinder for the Area III, thought the nine minute and 26 obstacle course asked technical questions but also rewarded horse and rider.

“I thought it was a great course and asked some tough questions but rewarded good riding. My horse was great.”

The Area III team attributed much of their success on Saturday to the mentality of putting the team before individual pursuits.

“Last year I rode at Young Riders as an Individual and this year I’m lucky enough to ride on a team. And there is a lot more riding on it (as a team competitor)” said Ramsay, who was one of only four riders to jump clear and finish within the time. “You’re not just riding for yourself, you’re riding for the team and it’s not about the Individual Gold, it’s about Team Gold.”

Ziegler (21, Beiseker, Alberta) maintained his lead after a faultless round on Saturday with his own Critical Decision and heads into the show jumping with a 14-point lead on score of 46.3.

“He smoked around [the course]; the cross country is what he lives for. If I just steer and keep my foot on the gas, he’s great,” said Zeigler, who competed later in the day in the Young Rider Freestyle, of his CCI4* veteran. “You just put him in the right direction and he locks on.”

April Simmonds (17, Uxbridge, Ontario) and Impressively Done stand in Silver medal position after adding just 3.2 time penalties to their dressage score and are now on a two phase total of 60.2. Autumn Schweiss (21, Fairfax, Minn.) and her own and Mike and Julie Schwiss’ Oakport Strauss are lying third on a score of 62.1.

Area II climbed two position in the standings to hold the lead heading into show jumping in the USEA North American Junior Eventing Championship, with all four members of the Area 2 completing the CCI1* course without jumping penalty helping the team to head into the show jumping with a 19 point lead.

The Area II team consists of:

Grace Fulton (15, Finksburg, Md.) and Sharon White’s Wild Orange (no jumping penalties and no time Penalties) – 57.9
Margret Schaeffer (17, Quakertown, Pa.) and her own Grey Area (no jumping penalties and no time penalties) – 54.6
Maddie Mosing (16, Hoffman, Tx.) and Sterling Silver Stables and Jennifer Mosing’s Tako (no jumping penalties and six time penalties) – 65.8
Alexis Nelson (18, Purcellville, Va.) and her own Total Eclipse (no jumping penalties and no time penalties) – 49.4

All four team members have grown to be fast friends and are enjoying riding as a team this weekend.

“I think that riding on a team is a privilege,” said Schaeffer. “We all get along so well and that really helps and everyone encourages each other.”

Nelson also believes that the week they spent in training camp together in The Plains, Va., at Morningside Farm really helped their riding and team spirit.

“It was very helpful to get to go to camp and train and school. It was amazing.”

Moira de Ste Croix-Laframboise and Blue Ben on their way to the top of the CCI1* leaderboard (Brant Gamma Photography)
Moira de Ste Croix-Laframboise and Blue Ben on their way to the top of the CCI1* leaderboard (Brant Gamma Photography)

Moira de Ste Croix-Laframboise (16, Ontario, Canada) and her own and Jane Teddie Laframboise’s Blue Ben also climbed two spots in the rankings to head into the final phase in the lead on a score of 49.2 on the strength of a fault-free round on Saturday.

“I was pretty happy with my whole round; the two waters were definitely bigger than I had originally thought,” said Laframboise of her round on Saturday. “He’s really an amazing horse and I’m really glad I brought him up here.”

Nelson and Schaeffer are poised to add Individual medals to resume as well as they stand in Silver and Bronze positions, respectively.

USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship

Twelve horses went to task in the Walnut Arena on Saturday to contest the Farewell class with Zone 10’s Eve Jobs (16, Palo Alto, Calif.) and her own Esprit topping the field. The pair posted the quickest clear jump-off round in a time of 35.83.

Finishing 4/10ths of a point behind Jobs was Zone 10’s Samantha Kasowitz (16, New York, N.Y.) and Fairplay Farm’s Corprizia in second, while third went to the Dominican Republic’s Maria Jose De La Torre Ramierz and Wiseguy finishing the jump-off clear in a time of 37.03.

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak will live stream the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s events from the Rolex Stadium during NAJYRC. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!

Zones 3 and 1 & 9 Earn Team Gold at NAJYRC

Zone 3 stands on top of the podium (Sportfot)

Endurance Riders Enjoy Race Day

Lexington, Ky. – The jumping Team medal competitions were the event of the day in the Rolex Stadium at the 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC), with the Endurance race covering the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park and beyond. In the USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship, Zone 3 won the Gold medal in the Young Rider division, while a combined team of Zones 1 and 9 claimed the Junior Team Gold medal.

Zone 3 Scores Young Rider Team Gold

A challenging course by Steve Stephens set the tone for today’s Young Rider jumping Team competition. With only six clear rides in the two rounds of jumping, the faults added up for teams. However, it was still a strong performance from Zone 3 that took home Gold medals for the four Young Riders. They finished on a total of 14 faults.

Christina Firestone (18, Upperville, Va.) and Arwen and Chloe Reid (17, Washington D.C.) and Athena both had four faults in the first round but had improved performances in the second round to both go clear. KC Van Aarem (19, Wheaton, Md.) and Mastermind tallied five faults in the first round and only collected one time fault in the second round. Unfortunately, Alison Cooney (19, Wilmington, N.C.) and Touluca LS ran into some trouble and were eliminated at the triple at fence eight in both rounds.

However, Cooney felt she rode better in the second round and was very proud of her teammates, looking on the bright side of things.

“Our Chef d’Equipe [Sandra Ruiz] told us today that it was the first time in ten years, I believe, that we have gotten a Gold medal so it is very exciting for us,” Reid said. “Sandra has a lot of energy and she puts a lot into this so giving this back to her is a huge honor for me and I think for all of us.”

“The course was pretty difficult today but I think I had a lot of faith in my horse and her rideability was spot on,” Firestone explained when asked about her rides on Friday. “She was really listening to me so we worked really well together and were able to work out the difficult parts and get a nice clean round. I was able to fix my mistakes from the first round so I was happy with how it went.”

Zone 4 claimed the Team Silver medal with a total of 35 faults. Victoria Colvin (16, Loxahatchee, Fla.) had five faults in round one with Chanel B 2 but finished the second round with a clear trip. Brittni Raflowitz (19, Palm City, Fla.) and Punchy Dorcel started the day with eight faults but came back better to only have a single time fault in round two. Virginia Ingram (17, Nashville, Tenn.) and Urban had a solid nine fault round but then ran into some trouble in round two adding 14 faults.. Haley Gassel (21, Lenoir City, Tenn.) and Quite Dark 2 were eliminated at the water at fence 7 in round one but finished the course with the encouragement of the crowd in round two on a score of 12 faults.

The Bronze medal went to a three-person team from Zone 2. Michael Hughes (18, Allendale, N.J.) and Luxina had the best day in the Young Rider team competition, being the only pair to go double clear. Victoria Press (16, New York City, N.Y.) and Cayenne 140 had 17 faults in the first round but improved to four in the second round. Riley Newsome (18, Chester, N.J.) and Sunny Face G had 17 and eight faults in the two respective rounds.

Hughes of Zone 2 leads the top 25 riders returning for Sunday’s Young Rider Individual Final with only 0.23 faults. Firestone of Zone 3 sits in second on 4.26 faults and Wilton Porter of Zone 7 riding Diamonte Darco is third with 5.52 faults.

Zones 1 and 9 Join Forces to Claim Junior Gold Medal

The combined team of Zones 1 and 9 tackled Steve Stephen’s tough course, rising to the occasion and finishing in Gold medal position with a final score of 12 faults. Sara Nordstrom (17, Medina, Wash.) rode Coningtion to a double clear round and lead her team to victory. Jennifer Gates (18, Medina, Wash.) and Lord Levisto only had four faults in the second, at 6A, the first element of the triple. With a pair of four fault rounds, McKayla Langmeier (14, East Granby, Conn.) finished her first NAJYRC experience with HS Classic Care with eight faults. Victoria Arute (18, Avon, Conn.) ran into some trouble in the first round when Aletta’s hackamore bridle broke and they tallied 17 faults. They improved in the second round, collecting 12 faults.

The Zone 1 and 9 Team celebrates their Gold medal (Sportfot)
The Zone 1 and 9 Team celebrates their Gold medal (Sportfot)

“It was really exciting,” Nordstrom said of Zone 9 being paired with Zone 10. “I know [Arute and Langmeier] have really capable horses and we came into this competition with just Jennifer [Gates] and I but to be able to compete in the team competition as a team is really exciting and really fun.”

Of going double clear, Nordstrom explained, “It didn’t quite sink in until after I had jumped the last jump each time and it was so, so exciting.”

Only one fault behind the winners, Zone 5 earned the Team Silver medal on their home turf and in their first year competing at NAJYRC with a final score of 13 faults. Alec Bozorgi (18, Chicago, Ill.) and Navy Blue Tarroy only faulted at fence 7, the water jump, in the second round. Kady Abrahamson (16, Loveland, Ohio) and Quick Blue Z had six faults in the first round but were clear in the second, while Meredith Darst (17, Lebanon, Ohio) and Zenith Dance were clear in the first round, they had eight faults in the second. Vivian Yowan (17, Lexington, Ky.) and Vornano Van Den Hoendrik had four faults and one time fault in round one as well as another four faults in round..

The Bronze Team medal went to the all-male team from Mexico who finished with 16 faults. Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez (16, Guadalajara, Mexico) led the way with solid double clear rounds aboard Puertas So What. Twin brothers Andres and Adrian Berganza (18, Tulancingo, Mexico) both had four faults in each round on Catello 3 and Conovalenco, respectively. Santiago Attias Bulhosen (17, Mexico City, Mexico) and Deluxe Dancer had nine and 16 faults in the two respective rounds.

Lucy Deslauriers of Zone 2 and Hester heads in to Sunday’s Junior Individual Final with no faults after three rounds of competition. Lucas Porter of Zone 7 and Phineas are in second with 0.65 faults and Brett Burlington of Zone 4 lie in third with 1.19 faults.

North American Young Rider Endurance Championship

The North American Young Rider Endurance Championship began bright and early on Friday morning, as 14 entries raced through the Kentucky Horse Park and surrounding farmland. After little more than six hours and 14 minutes on the trail, it came down to a single second that separated the first and second-place finishers.

Southeast team's Morgan Watson and Cassandra Roberts approach the finish line (SusanJStickle.com)
Southeast team’s Morgan Watson and Cassandra Roberts approach the finish line (SusanJStickle.com)

Teammates on the Southeast team, Morgan Watson and Cassandra Roberts, showed their team spirit as they cantered the home stretch side-by-side. It was Watson (Clinton, Tenn.) and her own My Lords Elisha who crossed the finish line first in a time of 6:14:23, with Roberts (Bronson, Fla.) and Janice Worthington’s Golden Lightning finishing second in 6:14:24. Christina Kimery (Bixby, Okla.) and Jeremy Olson’s Noslo’s Selket Da Yankee crossed third in a time of 6:44:32.

The Southeast team finished Friday with the best cumulative time of 19:16:37. The team is composed of:

Michael Bishop (Raleigh, N.C.) and Mary Farris’ Thundering Overtime
Mallory Capps (Cumming, Ga.) and Jeremy Olson’s SA Belshazzar
Morgan Watson (Clinton, Tenn.) and My Lords Elisha
Josie Whelan (Leicester, N.C.) and Cheryl and Stagg Newman’s FFC First Csea Lord
Cassandra Roberts (Bronson, Fla.) and Janice Worthington’s Golden Lightning

The Central team was the second and final team to complete the course in a time of 23:01:12. The team is composed of:

Mary Kathryn Clark (Eatonton, Ga.) and Mustafa Tehrani’s Chasing The Wind
Emilynn DiBassie (Magnolia, Texas) and her own MK Spyder
Jessica DiCamillo (Las Cruces, N.M.) and Karen Binns-DiCamillo’s SHA Strike Two
Christine Kimery (Bixby, Okla.) and Jeremy Olson’s Noslo’s Selket Da Yankee

The Best Conditioned jog will take place Saturday at 10:30am, with Team and Individual medals being awarded at 3:30pm in the Rolex Stadium.

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak will live stream the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s events from the Rolex Stadium during NAJYRC. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!

Chamberlain and Bergeron Win Dressage Individual Gold Medals at 2014 NAJYRC

Kaylawna Smith (Area VI) and London Callin OHF on their way to winning the CCI1* dressage (Brant Gamma Photography)

Lexington, Ky. – Dressage riders completed their tests for Individual medals today at the 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). Taking home the Gold medal in the Young Rider division of the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship was Catherine Chamberlain (Region 7) on Verdicci. The Gold medalist in the Junior division was Camille Bergeron (Canada) riding Lowelas.

The judges for the Young Rider Dressage today were: E – Lorraine MacDonald (CAN), H – Lilo Fore (USA), C: Cesar Torrente (COL), M – Marian Cunningham (PER), B – Mercedes Campdera (MEX). In the Junior Dressage, the judges were: E – Sandy Hotz (USA), H – Cesar Lepardo Grana (ARG), C – Gabriel Armando (ARG), M – Christof Umbach (LUX), B – Adrian Hamoen (NED).

With a score of 71.789%, Catherine Chamberlain (19, Murrieta, Calif.) and Verdicci took the Gold medal in the Young Rider Individual competition. Chamberlain rides for Region 7, which includes riders from California, Hawaii, and Nevada.

Chamberlain finished several points ahead of the rest of the field, and attributed that to experienced trainers. “I just started training with David (Wightman) and Kathleen (Raine) last November, and they are so experienced,” Chamberlain said. “They’ve been to the World Equestrian Games, and all over Germany showing, so coming to their barn was a completely new experience for me. I’ve had my horse for seven years now, but there’s always so much more to learn, and working with them has been working on the fine points.”

David Ziegler (21, Beiseker, Alberta) and Peninsula Top Man won the Silver medal with a 68.289%. Ziegler is the first competitor in recent history to ride in two different disciplines in the same year at the NAJYRC, and believes his support team plays a large role in his success in such a busy week.

“I have a great team behind me, my parents, my chef d’equipes, my coaches, my grooms,” Ziegler said. “They’re all keeping me on track and making sure I’m everywhere I need to be.”

Hope Cooper (17, Concord, Mass.) and Don Diamond earned 67.263% for the Bronze medal. Cooper rides for Region 8, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In the Junior division, Camille Carier Bergeron (14, Mascouche, Que.), who rides for Canada/Quebec/Alberta, and Lowelas won the Gold medal with a 70.342%.

Bergeron was very pleased with today’s test, and felt that Lowelas was in his element. “My horse had a lot of energy, but a good energy,” Bergeron said. “He was active and had really nice control. He came here last year; it was not his first time here, so he was familiar with the arena and the area.”

Molly Paris (18, Charlotte, N.C.) and Diamant Sky received 68.868% for the Silver. Paris rides for Region 1, which includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Eastern West Virginia.

Alexandra Meghji (16, Toronto, Ontario) and Iliado II won the Bronze medal with a 67.711%. Meghji rides for Canada/Ontario.

Eventing Riders Complete Dressage Phase

Eventing CCI1* (Junior) and CCI2* (Young Rider) riders started their journey to the medal podiums today with the dressage phase of the USEA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Eventing Championship. The CCI2* riders finished their dressage tests in the evening with Canada/Ontario jumping into the lead for Team standings on a score of 165.1 penalties. Area V/VI is second with a score of 171.9, and Area III lies in third on 175.2.

The Canada/Ontario CCI2* team consists of:
Lauren Clark (18, Uxbridge, Ontario) and Coolumn XV – 58.3
Hanna Bundy (20, Toronto, Ontario) and D’Jion – 50.7
Jamie Kellock (19, New Market, Ontario) and Don’t Blink – 57.4
April Simmonds (17, Uxbridge, Ontario) and Impressively Done – 57.0

Thinking ahead to Saturday’s cross country course, Kellock said it best about which she is most looking forward to, “the last one,” as the team from Ontario hopes to have successful runs through the finish flags.

Riding as an individual, David Ziegler (21, Beiseker, Alberta) of Canada leads CCI2* individual standings with a score of 46.3 aboard Critical Decision. Bundy of Canada/Ontario sits in second with D’Jion on a score of 50.7, while Nicole Doolittle (16, Charlotte, N.C.) of Area III and Tops are in third with a score of 53.9.

“There is a lot of galloping, but I like that,” Ziegler said of David O’Connor’s cross country course. “‘BG’ knows Kentucky and he is excited,” he added of Missy Ransenhousen’s former Rolex Kentucky CCI4* mount.

Area IV leads sits atop the leaderboard in the CCI1* Team competition with 153.7 penalties. Area V is in second with 159.6, while Areas II is in third on 161.9.

The Area IV CCI1* team consists of:
Kristine Burgess (15, Lino Lakes, Minn.) and BFF Tiara – 52.9
Rebbecca Gall (17, Saukville, Wis.) and Can Ya Dig It – 50.6
Elena Hengel (17, Woodland, Minn.) and Zipp – 57.3
Hannah Stohr (17, Lenexa, Kan.) and Hey Jude – 50.2

“I have to say that we have a really nice coach, Jon Holling, who is really good at getting us prepared the day before and getting our horses where we need to be,” Stohr said, as she credited the Area IV team coach for their success following the first phase of competition. “He’s also great at getting us in the right state mentally to go in.”

Hengel half-jokingly added that they also have lots of time to practice dressage in indoor arenas during the winter months in the upper Midwest. She also stated that the team, “is taking it one day at a time,” as they optimistically head into the cross country phase.

Individually, Kaylawna Smith (18, Murrieta, Calif.) of Area VI is leading with 45.6 penalties on London Calling OHF. Sitting in second is Alyssa Phillips (17, Fort Worth, Texas) of Area V on Bliss III, who has 47.1 penalties. Moira de Ste Croix-Laframboise (16, of Canada/Ontario) is in third with 49.2 penalties on Blue Ben.

“I couldn’t believe it when I was walking down the aisle to the Rolex Stadium; it was unbelievable,” Smith said of entering the field of play for her first NAJYRC. “It was a great feeling.”

USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship

Jumpers took to the Walnut Ring on Thursday to complete the first phase of competition and take their first steps toward Individual medals. A total of 26 Young Riders and 39 Juniors went to task over Steve Stephens’ testing tracks in the Speed Leg, which utilizes the faults converted phase.

Taylor Alexander and G and C Flash (Sportfot)
Taylor Alexander and G and C Flash (Sportfot)

Taylor Alexander (Castle Rock, Colo.) and Alexander LLC’s G and C Flash sped to early lead in the Young Rider championship after posting a quick clear round in the afternoon session. The Zone 8 representative heads into the Friday on a championship score of zero after stopping the timers in 69.34.

Lying in second place after the first round is Zone 7’s Katie Cox (Conroe, Texas) with Kim Cox’s Twilight after producing a clear effort in 69.39 and stand on an overall total of .03.

Michael Hughes (Allendale, N.J.) and Christina Fried’s Luxina jumped a lightning fast round, but a single rail meant they would add four seconds to their time for a score of 69.80. The Zone 2 veteran stands on a total of .23 after Thursday.

Zone 2’s Lisa Deslauriers (New York, N.Y) and her own Hester produced a tidy, efficient round to stop the timers in 65.96 and carry the individual junior lead into Friday’s Nations Cup on a score of zero.

Lucas Porter (Bartonville, Texas) stands second behind Deslauriers with Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Phineas, after producing a clear round in a time of 67.26. The Zone 7 rider now stands on a championship score of .65.

Lying in Bronze medal position after the Junior Speed Leg is Zone 10’s Peyton Warren (Rancho Murierta, Calif.) with her Lysander 99. The pair produced a clear trip in a time of 68.02 and stand on an overall total of 1.03.

Competition continues on Friday with Junior and Young Rider Nations Cups; the juniors will be first in the Rolex Stadium beginning at 8am ET.

The 14 North American Young Rider Endurance Championship competitors kicked off their championship with the Horse Inspection, where all horses were accepted. This year’s field includes Emilynn DiBassie, the number one ranked Young Rider in the FEI Rankings.

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak will live stream the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s events from the Rolex Stadium during NAJYRC. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!

First Medals Awarded in Dressage at 2014 NAJYRC

Region 7 Young Rider Team Gold medalists (l to r): Anna Buffini, Cassidy Gallman, Catherine Chamberlain, and Lindsey Brewin (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The first day of competition at the 2014 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships kicked off at the Kentucky Horse Park, with dressage riders taking to the Rolex Stadium. Region 7 and Region 1 proved unbeatable in the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship, as they clinched Young Rider and Junior Team Gold, respectively. The jumpers and eventers also took their first steps in championship competition, as they completed their first Horse Inspections.

Region 7 won the Gold medal in the Young Rider division of the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship for the second year in a row, while the Canada/Quebec team won the Silver and Region 8 received Bronze medals. The team from Region 1 took home the Junior Gold Medal. Canada/Ontario won the Silver medal, while the Bronze medal went to Region 6/7.

The Region 7 Gold medal winning Young Rider team consisted of:
Anna Buffini (20, San Diego, Calif.) and Sundayboy – 68.921%
Lindsey Brewin (16, San Ramon, Calif.) and Vaillant – 65.526%
Catherine Chamberlain (19, Murietta, Calif.) and Verdicci – 72.132%
Cassidy Gallman (19, Poway, Calif.) and Grand Makana – 65.684%

They had a team total of 206.737 for victory. The riders attributed part of their victory to great teamwork and a large support system.

Buffini noted, “This has been an amazing experience. I’ve never been here before; I’ve been watching for years now. It’s always been a dream of mine to be here, sitting here with this group of girls, who I’m so blessed to be sitting by. We’re a family now. We haven’t known each other that long, but we’re BFFs now. It’s been a huge blessing to be here. I’m very thankful to be here and for the outcome. Winning the Gold medal has just been icing on the top.”

The Silver medal went to Canada/Quebec with a total of 201.395:
Laurence Blais Tetreault (17, Montreal, Que.) and Michaelango – 65.342%
Julie Channell (21, Longview, Montreal, Que.) and Furstin Anastasia – 67.053%
Naima Moreira Laliberte (17, Montreal, Que.) and Nao Guimeraie – 65.763%
Tanya Strasser-Shostak (19, Ste-Adele, Que.) and Action Tyme – 68.579%

Region 8 won the Bronze medal with a total of 197.026:
Giulia Cohen (17, New York, N.Y.) and Lasserre – 65.868%
Hope Cooper (18, Concord, R.I.) and Don Diamond – 64.684%
Elizabeth Fell (18, Winooski, Vt) and Superstarr – 61.921%
Hannah McCabe (18, Lee, N.H.) and Valparaiso – 66.474%

The Region 1 team won the Junior division on a total of 199.784, taking home the Gold medal.

The Junior team from Region 1 consisted of:
Hannah Bauer (15, Purcellville, Va.) and Trustful – 65.189%
Barbara (Bebe) Davis (16, Bedminster, N.J.) and Feivel Mousekewitz – 65.649%
Katie Lang (18, Chesapeake, Va.) and FA Patriot – 61.622%
Molly Paris (19, Charlotte, N.C.) and Diamant Sky – 68.946%

Region 1 Junior Team Gold medalists (l to r): Katie Lang, Hannah Bauer, Bebe Davis, and Molly Paris (SusanJStickle.com)
Region 1 Junior Team Gold medalists (l to r): Katie Lang, Hannah Bauer, Bebe Davis, and Molly Paris (SusanJStickle.com)

Davis noted that she enjoys competing in a team competition in a typically individual sport. “I love the team aspect; I love being able to support my other team members and have them support me,” Davis said. “It’s such a great experience and it’s definitely great preparation for the future, for those who have aspirations to go to the next level and to be, hopefully, representing the United States in international competition.”

The Silver medal went to Canada/Ontario with a total of 197.785:
Vanessa Creech-Terauds (14, Caistor Center, Ont.) and Finja – 58.676%
Alexandra Meghji (16, Toronto, Ont.) and Iliado II – 65.649%
Sophie Potter (16, Kleinburg, Ont.) and Frisbee – 63.568%
Liza Wilson (16, Collingwood, Ont.) and Fleurina – 68.568%%

Region 6/7 won the Bronze medal with a total of 196.584:
Danielle Bonavito (15, Danville, Calif.) and Wyoming – 68.216%
Heather Decent (14, Gig Harbor, Calif.) and Norra – 60.108%
Lauren Mack (17, Monte Sereno, Calif.) and Lada’at – 64.486%
Olivia Zeilinger (16, Danville, Calif.) and Stentano – 63.892%

More from Wednesday at the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Presented by Gotham North

Competition in the USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship officially got underway on Wednesday morning, with 67 horses representing five countries presented at the First Horse Inspection. Three horses, Sabrina Rivera’s Count Mystery (El Salvador-Junior), Adrian Berganza’s Conovalenco (Mexico-Junior), and Megan MacPherson’s Deep Snow (Zone 8-Junior), will be re-inspected Thursday morning prior to the start of competition. The First Individual Qualifier begins at 9:00am ET in the Walnut Arena, with Junior competition followed by Young Riders.

Wednesday afternoon hosted the first Horse Inspection for the USEA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Eventing Championship, with all 65 competitors being accepted.

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak will live stream the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s events from the Rolex Stadium during NAJYRC. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!

2014 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC Begins Its 40th Anniversary

A well-decorated golf cart in the Golf Cart Parade to Spy Coast Farm (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) will play host to 216 young athletes from Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and the United States across four disciplines. The riders have converged upon the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., for the competition running July 15-20. Today, the NAJYRC festivities kicked off with the Golf Cart Parade to neighboring Spy Coast Farm, followed by the Opening Ceremonies and Exhibitor Party.

Four disciplines (a total of seven championships for Juniors and Young Riders) will take part in the only FEI Championship held annually in North America. The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for juniors and young riders, ages 14-21. This year, young equestrians have come to vie for Team and Individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of jumping, dressage, eventing and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of endurance. Unfortunately, due to insufficient entries, the North American Junior and Young Riders’ Reining Championship was cancelled, but is anticipated to return in 2015.

This year is an exciting one for the NAJYRC, as 2014 marks its 40th anniversary. The Championships began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A dressage championship was added in 1981, and jumping was added in 1982. The first complete Young Riders championship was held in British Columbia, Canada, in 1982. The Championships were expanded to officially include a championship division for juniors in 2006. The discipline of reining was added to the official schedule in 2008; endurance joined the championship for the first time in 2011. At the NAJYRC, athletes learn valuable information about international rules and regulations that will serve them well when they represent their country at senior-level events.

Returning individual medalists from the 2013 NAJYRC include:

Dressage
Bebe Davis – Junior Freestyle Bronze medalist
Naima Moreira Laliberte – Junior Individual and Freestyle Silver medalist
Devon Wycoff – Young Rider Team and Individual Bronze medalist

Endurance
Cassandra Roberts – Individual Gold medalist

Eventing
Nicole Doolittle – Junior Individual Gold medalist

Jumping
Eugenio Garza Perez – Junior Individual Gold medalist

The NAJYRC begins tomorrow morning at 9am with the Junior and Young Rider Team Tests to open the competition in the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship. There are 74 riders who hope that their teams will claim a medal in the afternoon and hear their national anthem played, if they should end up atop the podium. On Friday, the Individual Tests are held, with the riders returning Saturday for their Freestyle Tests.

A total of 61 eventing competitors will begin their quest for a medal on Thursday morning, with the CCI1* riders performing their dressage test in the morning, followed by the CCI2* riders in the afternoon. The heart of the USEA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Eventing Championship, the cross country phase, will take place Saturday across the rolling bluegrass landscape of the Kentucky Horse Park. The championship will culminate on Sunday with riders tackling the show jumping phase in the Rolex Arena.

The USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship will begin Thursday morning with 67 riders participating in the first individual qualifier. Competition continues Friday with two rounds for the team finals to determine the Team medalists. The riders will return Sunday morning to determine who claims Individual honors.

A field of 14 riders is set to race in the North American Young Riders’ Endurance Championship on Friday morning. The competitors will set out at 6:30am across a 120 kilometer CEI4* course in hopes of finishing strongly and claiming Team and Individual medals.

Stay connected with all the action at the 2014 NAJYRC at http://usefconnect.com/najyrc.

To learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, visit: http://youngriders.org/.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak will live stream the entirety of events taking place July 18-20 in Rolex Stadium. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!

NAJYRC showcases the best young rider and junior horse/rider combinations in dressage, eventing, jumping, reining, and endurance. Young equestrians from across the continent will descend on the Kentucky Horse Park to vie for FEI medals at these Championships.

For sponsorship information, visit www.youngriders.org/Sponsors.aspx.

By Kathleen Landwehr

2014 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships Set to Host 216 Riders

Lexington, Ky. – With Opening Ceremonies just three days away, final preparations for the 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) are in full swing. The Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that 216 Definite Entries have been received for the championship, which runs July 15-20, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. This year’s championships look to be as competitive as ever with Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and the United States all represented.

Of the 74 riders set to compete in the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship, 39 will vie for medals in Young Rider competition, with 35 lining up in the Junior championship. In Team competition, two Canadian and six U.S. teams are set to stake their claim on Young Rider glory, and three Canadian and seven U.S. teams are set in the Junior division.

In the USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship, 28 Young Riders and 39 Juniors compose Individual competition. Three Canadian and six American teams will look to secure Team medals in Young Rider competition, with three Canadian, one Mexican, and seven American teams lining up in the Junior Championship.

One Canadian and three U.S. teams are set to go in the Young Rider portion of the USEA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Eventing Championship, and two Canadian and nine U.S. teams make up Junior competition. In total, 17 riders will stake their claim on Young Rider excellence and 44 compose the Junior division.

A field of 14 riders is set to race in the North American Young Riders’ Endurance Championship, with three U.S. teams composing Team competition.

Unfortunately, due to insufficient entries, the North American Junior and Young Riders’ Reining Championship has been cancelled, but is anticipated to run in 2015.

Stay connected with all the action at the 2014 NAJYRC at http://usefconnect.com/najyrc.

To learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, visit: http://youngriders.org/.

Parra and Piaffe Performance Celebrate 13 Consecutive Medals at NAJYRC

Dr. Cesar Parra and Barbara “Bebe” Davis. (Photo courtesy of Piaffe-Performance)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (August 16, 2013) – Cesar Parra counted 13 as his lucky number during the 2013 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, presented this year by Gotham North, July 17-21, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.  With the success of Junior Bebe Davis in 2013, Parra has now coached riders to 13 top finishes at the NAJYRC, the premier equestrian competition for riders ages 14 to 21.

Junior Freestyle Bronze medalist, Bebe Davis, has ridden with Parra in the FEI pony divisions, and made the move to the Junior division earlier this season in Florida.  “Having the honor of competing at the NAJYRC was truly an incredible experience. The opportunity alone was amazing, but the fact that I came home with all Top Ten finishes and a Bronze Medal in the Freestyle makes it even more memorable,” Davis, 15, said.  “I could not be more grateful to my trainers, Cesar Parra and Kathleen Riley, as well as Krista Schrager for all of her help and support. I also thank my sponsors Cavalleria Toscana and Kep Italia Helmets who kept me looking my best and, of course, all of this would not be possible without the love and support of my parents, Michael and Sarah Davis.”

The other past Piaffe Performance Juniors and Young Riders who have medaled over the years at NAJYRC include Nikki Levy (Team Bronze); Michael Shondel (2003 Team Gold, Silver individual test); Julie McKean (2006 Junior Team Gold, Individual Silver, Freestyle Gold; YR 2008, 2009); Dominique Cassavetis (2011 Junior Team Gold); Chase Hickok (2011 YR Freestyle Individual Silver, Bronze individual test); and Nicolas Torres (2012 Top finisher across all three division classes).

Bringing out the best in riders is the mark of a true teacher, whose lessons extend beyond the dressage ring: Respect, discipline and self-control are concepts that bring success in life.  “I love teaching young riders; it is a great feeling to know that you can shape a young person’s life in a positive way,” says Parra. “I believe I am really at my best as a trainer when there is a definite goal, such as a medal.  Then it is easy to make a plan to reach that goal. With the Junior and Young Rider Championships, the requirements are well-defined so it’s a matter of making a specific plan for that horse and rider.”

Competing as a Junior or Young Rider, Parra notes, “is about the journey. Congratulations and thank you to Bebe for riding so well at these past Championships, to her parents for their trust, and to our whole Piaffe Performance team for working so hard at home.

“It is the team that has made it possible for me to coach so successfully at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships,” said Parra.  “The whole team helps with the preparation of the horse and rider, then they keep things running brilliantly at home when I am not there.”

Follow the progress of Piaffe Performance’s rising stars and meet more of its sale and dressage prospects at www.piaffe-performance.com.

For more information contact:
Dr. Cesar Parra
drcesarparra@msn.com
www.piaffe-performance.com
410-977-8352

New Stars Turn On the Style at FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2013

Picture on the podium: Teresa Adams, Ariel Thomas, Jaclyn Pepper and Jamie Pestana. Photo: FEI/StockImageServices.

Lausanne (SUI), 23 July 2012 – Athletes from the USA, Canada and Mexico lined out in the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2013 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA where there were a total of 20 sets of medals up for grabs.

Competitors between the ages of 14 and 21 years were in action once again, and with 222 entries across five disciplines it was another hectic and spectacular fixture.  These Championships date back to 1974 as an Eventing challenge between the USA and Canada, with Dressage added in 1981 and Jumping a year later.  The first complete Young Riders Championship was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982 while Juniors joined the ranks in 2006 and the discipline of Reining was added to the schedule in 2008 with Endurance combing on board in 2011.

Dressage

The USA Region 7 team won the Young Rider Dressage Team title with a finishing score of 206.421, improving from silver medal position at the 2012 Championships. The highest score for the winning side was 71.105 registered by 20-year-old Jamie Pestana who was Junior Individual and Freestyle champion in 2010. Pestana clearly understands the concept of team sport, commenting afterwards, “It’s great when you’re out there and your team is cheering for you and you know that you’re not just there for yourself, but for your team-mates and your region.”  All four members of this side were from California, and 18-year-old Ariel Thomas, who contributed a score of 67.184 with Montfleury, pointed out, “It’s really nice because we have so many shows and CDIs (in the region), so it really helps us get the feel of what it’s going to be like before we come here.”  The other two members of the victorious Region 7 side were 20-year-old Jaclyn Pepper who produced a mark of 68.132 with Taboo and 16-year-old Teresa Adams who posted 64.237 with Weejee.

Pestana had to settle for silver medal spot in both the Young Rider Individual and Freestyle however when Ayden Uhlir from Region 6 reigned supreme in both with Sjapoer.  It was a clear-cut result on both occasions, Sjapoer racking up 71.605 to top the Individual and an impressive 72.175 to clinch the Freestyle.  Uhlir calls her 14-year-old gelding her “other half” and insists they are very alike. “We’re very social and overall happy!” she said.  Pestana has enjoyed fluctuating fortunes with Winzalot in these Championships in previous years but was right on song this time with the nine-year-old this time around. “I got him as a baby, and we moved up the levels together,” the rider pointed out.  Bronze in the Individual event went to Devon Wycoff from Region 5 while in the Freestyle it was Canada’s Tanya Strasser Shostak and Action Time who stood on the third step of the podium.

Double-champion Uhlir showed her class when failing to be unnerved when the music stopped during her Freestyle, continuing on as if nothing had happened and then picking it up again when the music was restored.  “I just stayed on my exact pace,” she said afterwards. “I knew that when the music would come back on I’d be where I was supposed to be… I just rode it, and it all worked out in the end!”

The Canada/Quebec team took Junior Dressage team gold for the second successive year, pinning USA Region 7 into silver and Region 3 into bronze. The winning side of 16-year-old Naima Moreira Laliberte (Windbreaker), Laurence Blais Tetreault (Lowelas), 17-year-old Felixe Cote Villeneuve (Pissaro) and 15-year-old Betrice Boucher (Dante) racked up a score of 201.864.  Tetrault said the team win was the result of hard work. “I think we just trained really hard.  Naima and I are from the same state, so we train and work together.  Working together I think really helped us,” she said.

It was a close contest for the Junior Individual Dressage medals but Lindsey Holleger from Region 3 won through with a great performance from Friedenfurst to pip Naima Moreira Laliberte and Windbreaker from the gold medal winning Canada Quebec team, while team silver medallist Rison Naness (Venezia) claimed the bronze.  Holleger’s winning score was 70.974.

Junior Freestyle champion was 16-year-old Laurence Blais Tetreault who had already helped Canada Quebec to the team gold.  Riding the 13-year-old Lowelas, Tetreault posted a fantastic mark of 71.525, and said afterwards, “I would definitely recommend NAJYRC (these Championships) to other riders.  It prepares you if you want to go further (in the sport).  In my future, I think I’m going to look back and be so happy that I got the chance to do this,” she added wisely.

Jumping

The Jumping action got underway with a Speed class for both Juniors and Young Riders which counted towards the individual standings.  And there was an interesting tie between Mexico’s Eugenio Garza riding Bariano and Zone 1’s Dana Scott with Whatever RB in the Junior division.  Zone 4’s Kaley Tomeu and Belle Bleu finished third here.

The course was designed by Steve Stephens and in the Young Riders section it was Lillie Keenan from Zone 2 who produced the quickest round with Londinium to head off Zone 4’s Shawn Casey in second place and Zone 2’s Charlotte Jacobs in third.

And it was Zone 2 that clinched team gold in both Young Riders and Juniors.  Stephens set a tough track for the Young Rider team event and there were only two clear rounds, the winning side completing on a total of 36 faults.  Lillie Keenan and Londinium led her side to victory with a single fence down in each round.  Mattias Tromp (Casey) added four and eight while Michael Hughes (Luxina) double-faulted in both rounds.  It was a difficult outing for Gabrielle Bausano and Ubico H who picked up 20 first-round penalties before being eliminated second time into the ring.

Keenas described the course as “challenging” but said she didn’t give her horse the best ride. ”He rose to the occasion though,” she said.

The combined team from Zones 8 and 10 took Young Rider team silver with a total of 47 faults.  Hannah von Heidegger and Geledimar produced one of just two clear rounds of the day to make a major contribution and was joined by Taylor Alexander (Everest de Muze), Haley Schwab (Wakyra) and Robert Jornayvaz (Williams).  Heidegger describes her mare as “quirky, but that’s why I love her!”

Young Rider team bronze went to Zones 3 and 5 with consistent performances from the three-member squad of Kate Morrison (Windoctro), Catherine Tyree (Wetter) and Chloe Reid (Victor E) who finished just two faults behind the silver medallists.

The Junior Jumping team title went to Zone 2 led by Allison Toffolon (Kadans Webster) and Katherine Strauss (Chellando Z) who went double-clear.  Victoria Press (Cayenne) was foot-perfect first time out but left two on the floor in the second round while Kira Kerkorian (Leopold) suffered elimination in both rounds.  The final team total however was just eight faults.  At just 14 years of age it was quite an achievement for Strauss, who said, “I just came from Spruce Meadows and I was nervous coming here because the courses at Spruce are in a big field, and you go in an open gallop and there are a lot of unrelated lines.  There, if you mess up a line, you can usually continue the rest of the course better.  Here, if you mess up one line you might mess up a few to come.”

It came down to a third-round decider between Mexico and Zone 4 for silver and bronze and three clears in the jump-off clinched silver for the Mexican side of Eugenio Garza (Bariano), Andres Berganza (Catello 3), Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanex (Puertas Catena), and Adrian Berganza (Corlando van Koekshof).  Zone 4’s bronze medallists were Haley Waters (No Doubt), Jenna Friedman (Zidrocto), Sophie Simpson (Why Not) and Kaely Tomeu (Belle Beau).

The stage was now set for the Individual finals, and they didn’t disappoint with Keenan taking the Young Rider title and Garza Perez claiming Junior gold. There were 18 through to the closing stages in the Young Riders division and it came down to a three-way battle between Kate Morrison, Lillie Keenan and Charlotte Jacobs – the latter in the lead carrying 7.58 faults going into the final day. A pole down put paid to her chance of gold however and she had to settle for bronze when Keenan jumped clear to stay on her running tally of eight faults and Morrison, carrying 13.70, did likewise for the silver.  Keenan described Londinium as “a really special horse.  We started showing this year and he was a star right away. We got along very, very well.” Jacobs said of the pressure: “I took a lot of deep breaths and tried to do the best of my ability.”

Junior champion was Eugenio Garza Perez with Bariano who was tied with three others going into the last day and who never touched a pole over five rounds of jumping. He understood the consequences of his last-day effort not just for himself, but also for the Mexican team. “We knew that one rail could cost us and we would be out of the medals. I was nervous, I’m not going to lie,” he admitted afterwards.  “I felt like I rose to the occasion when I needed to and performed well under pressure.  My coaches believe in me, and I’m glad I could show them!” he said.

Individual Junior silver went to 14-year-old Katherine Strauss from Zone 2 who collected just four faults over five rounds of jumping with Chellano Z and bronze sent to Sydney Shulman and Quidam who completed with just five faults on the scoreboard.

Eventing

The team from Area lll took the Young Rider Eventing Championship title ahead of the combined side from Areas Xll, Xlll, lX while Area V claimed team bronze. And Area lll also claimed two of the three individual medals with Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace standing top of the podium and bronze medallist Jennifer Caras (Fernhill Stowaway) separated by Area V’s Rowdie Adams (No Money Down).

It was dressage leader Adams who still held sway after the cross-country phase having enjoyed a spectacular ride with No Money Down, the only horse-and-rider combination to finish their run over the fixed fences without jumping or time faults.  The eventual individual champion, Martin, lay second with the addition of just two time penalties while Caras was in third having added 11.6.  This also ensured that Area lll had the team advantage going into the final Jumping phase.

And with one of just two clear rounds over the coloured poles, 18-year-old Martin sealed it. She said afterwards that riding Quantum Solace “feels like you’re sitting on top of the world…I know he can make it over (the fences).  I’ve never felt a horse that has so much heart and power, and it’s effortless” Martin said of her eight-year-old Argentinian thoroughbred gelding which was originally destined to be a showjumper. “I had no idea what kind of horse he could turn into. It’s pretty cool to think two short years ago I didn’t think he could do this. He’s pretty mature for his age. He’s my best friend, and he’s the only thing that stayed consistent in my life. He’s always there for me”, she added.

Last into the ring, Adams had two rails down when settling into silver medal spot. It’s been something of a fairytale story for this rider and the horse she rescued from a junkyard six years ago. “I was a little kid that thought every horse was cool,” she remembered. “He was eight when I got him, and now he’s turning 14. It’s taken a lot of years and all the disappointing rides, but something clicked on him and I never gave up on him. It brought us here today. I had a lot of people tell me he was never going to do anything and he’s proven everyone wrong. It’s fantastic to think that he’s come all this way. The fact that he did a beautiful dressage ride for me, jumped around like a pure genius in cross country, he could have had every rail down today and it would be okay. He’s done so much for me,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Team Silver medal went to Area VII, VIII & IX with a total of 242.1 penalties from Jacqueline Larouche (The Gingerbread Man), Erin Strader (Radio Flyer II) and Lizzie Snow (Ringfort Tinkaturk) while Area V’s Alexa Ehlers (In Any Event), Mary Frances Cargile (Take the Mick) and Rowdie Adams (No Money Down) took the bronze.

It was Nicole Doolitte and the aptly-named Tops who took the Junior Individual title as well as team gold for Area lll alongside Victoria Clayton (The Secret Agent), Manhattan (Ashley Dodds) and Diane Portwood (Cinerescent).  It was a close-fought affair after the cross-country phase here when the top four riders were all within five penalties of each other.  Doolittle had the advantage over Mary Peabody Camp (Rave Review) while Emily Macauley (Canadian Exchange) lay third going into the last day.

Doolittle therefore had all of the pressure on her as she entered the stadium for the final Jumping round but she kept her cool and with a flawless clear from her 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding she claimed double-gold. The 15-year-old champion described her horse as “quite a goofy horse.” She continued, “He’s a very personable horse. He’s really in tune with how you’re feeling and you can tell how he’s feeling at any time. He’s wonderful under saddle, and I’ve come into a great rhythm with him. It’s been a blast getting to know him. He’s become my best friend in this whole process.”

The Silver medal went to Ann O’Neal Pevahouse (Area V) on Don Bosco, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Bosco. They had 54.4 penalties from dressage, were clear through cross country, and their clear in jumping rocketed them up from seventh to second place.

The Individual bronze medal hung around the neck of April Simmonds from Ontario who rode the eight-year-old Impressively Done. They scored 53.7 in Dressage and were in 13th place, but after just 1.2 time penalties on cross country, they moved up to eighth and their great clear round in jumping moved them to third after all the riders placed from second through sixth had faults in the final phase.

Endurance

Cassandra Roberts and Viktory Banner helped the USA Southeast team to double-gold in the Endurance Championships.  In her very first competition ride with this horse, the 16-year-old from Bronson in Florida posted the winning time of 6:19.31  She only got the ride when her own mare was injured and she just had a few training sessions prior to arrival in Kentucky.  “He had a lot of experience before I started with him,” she explained. “He’s an amazing horse and it was pretty exciting.  It makes me feel pretty good to win two gold medals!” she added.

Joining Roberts on the Southeast squad was Heleen de Beer from Atlanta who also took individual bronze with DCL Mooi Penny when crossing the finish line in 8:19:22 while the other two members of the winning side were Taylor White whose finishing time was 9:08:10 and Mallory Capps (Masterpiece Vlad).  The winning USA Southeast team time was 23.47.03.

It was double-silver for Team Canada’s Emma Webb and Vagas.  This partnership retuned a time of 7:29:40, which underlined just how quick Roberts and Vicktory Banner had been when clinching Individual gold.  Webb, who took team gold in 2012, had plenty of reason to be pleased with her two silver medals this time out however as she was riding a borrowed horse. “Last December I got to race him 75 miles and that went really well. I’ve been riding him a bit this summer, but this is only the second time I’ve actually competed him!  He’s a fun pony and we had a good time!” she said.

A total of four teams competed for the Endurance Team title and bronze went to to USA’s Northeast who posted a team time of 26:49:48.  And they had the added distinction of including the Best Conditioned Award at the end of the race when Michael Bishop’s TEF Sunflash came up trumps.  “Flash is a very high-energy, strong horse.  He loves to go and he hardly ever stops really.  He drinks well and he’s very fit.  He’s done three 75-mile races since December,” Bishop explained. In true sporting spirit however, the 16-year-old rider pointed out that “the Best Conditioned Award was great to get, but the team medal was a big honour.”

Reining

As it did during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, the Reining Championships took place in the air-conditioned Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park and excitement was at fever-pitch throughout the competitions.  This was a two-way contest all the way between USA and Canada and team medals were equally shared, with USA clinching Junior team gold and Canada topped the Young Rider podium.

It was a sensational US Junior team victory as they pulled it off with just two riders when Gimme Major Bucks, ridden by Victoria Cartillar, didn’t pass the veterinary inspection. Against the odds, Matthew Verser and James Michael Phillips riding Sunrise in Hollywood and Shining Shoes respectively really rose to the occasion with scores of 206.5 and 213 to win it.  Chef d’Equipe, Dell HKendricks, said, “They had huge hurdles to overcome with only two horses to show, but they kept fighting their way through.  That’s the real fun of being on a team – when you come through even though you’re not supposed to!”

The Junior silver team medals went to Canada’s Emily Wilson (Miss Cielo Chex), Maxine Whiteside (Sailors Good Sackett), Hannah Sted (Lil Cat n Gun and Haley Franc (Jacs Shy Boy).

In Young Riders the Canadian gold medallists Pearl Aebly (Ms Smart Holywood), Stephanie Thomson (Jacs Docsan) and Madison Steed (Jumpin Jack Trash) were all first-timers at the NAJYRC.  Steed said, “We went in with a plan to have a good, easy, calm round and show the judges that Canada is here.  It means a lot, to be able to represent your country at an event like this.  To come here and get the gold, with us being beginners, was awesome!”

Young Riders Reining Team silver went to USA South Central’s Jonathan Stepka (Sweet Mega Brown), Jake Letner (A Genuine Diamond) and Jamie Erickson (Rock Mountain Whiz).

Canada’s Madison Steed and Jumpin Jac Trash took the Young Rider Reining Individual gold medal, showing with great confidence and skill to secure an emphatic five-point win over the USA’s Jamie Erickson and Rocky Mountain Whiz whose US team-mate, Jonathan Stepka, took bronze with Sweet Mega Brown.  Steed said of her victory, “It all goes back to my horse. He doesn’t stop; he has so much try in him.  He’s a cool horse that way.  You can push him as hard as you want.  I really owe it to him.”  Erickson, also 16 years of age, was only competing in his fifth show with Rocky Mountain Whiz and said, “Each time we ride, we’re always improving.”

Results:
Young Rider Team Dressage Championship: GOLD – USA Region 7, 206.421: Montfleury (Ariel Thomas) 67,184, Taboo (Jaclyn Pepper) 68.132, Winzalot (Jamie Pestana) 71.105, WeeJee (Teresa Adams) 64.237; SILVER – USA Region 6, 198.841: Sjapoer (Ayden Uhlir) 69.184, Donnerspiel (Molly Eastridge) 66.368, Up to Date P (Sadie Lahey) 63.289; BRONZE – USA Region 5, 198.158: Veto (Amelia Child) 65.553, Power Play (Devon Wycoff) 68.805, Westfalica (Talia Hershaft) 64.00.

Young Rider Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD – Sjapoer (Ayden Uhlir) 71.605; SILVER – Winzalot (Jamie Pestana) 69.605; BRONZE – Power Play (Devon Wycoff) 68.579.

Young Rider Freestyle Dressage Championship: GOLD – Sjapoer (Ayden Uhlir) 72.175; SILVER – Winzalot (Jamie Pestana) 70.975; BRONZE – Action Time (Tanya Strasser Shostak) 70.500.

Junior Team Dressage Championship: GOLD – Canada Quebec 201.864: Windbreaker (Naima Moreira Laliberte) 67.054, Lowelas (Laurence Blais Tetreault) 63.378, Pissarro (Felixe Cote Villeneuve) 62.865, Dante (Betrice Boucher) 66.432; SILVER – USA Region 7, 201.46; Stentano (Olivia Zeilinger) 68.811, Zodessa (Gabriela Glumac) 63.838, Venezia (Rison Naness) 66.73, Valliant (Lindsey Brewin) 65.919: BRONZE – USA Region 3, 196.865: Friedensfurst (Lindsey Holleger) 67.757, Okidokie (Mallory Kent) 66.027, Ucarius (Rachel Robinson) 63.081, Wild Tiger (Jamie Doolittle) 57.703.

Junior Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD – Friedensfurst (Lindsey Holleger) 70.974: SILVER – Windbreaker (Naima Moreira Laliberte) 70.105; BRONZE – Venezia (Rison Naness) 68.921.

Junior Freestyle Dressage Championship: GOLD – Lowelas (Blais Tetreault) 71.52; SILVER – Windbreaker (Naima Moreira Laliberte): BRONZE – Rotano (Barbara Davis) 69.875.

Young Rider Team Jumping Championship: GOLD – Zone 2, 36 faults: Casey (Mattias Tromp) 4/8, Luxina (Michael Hughes) 8/8, ubico H (Gabrielle Busano) 20/Elim, Londinium (Lillie Keenan) 4/4; SILVER – Zones 8/10, 47 faults: Everest de Muze (Taylor Alexander) 12/4, Wakyra (Haley Schwab) 17/25, Geledimar (Hannah Von Heidegger) 5/0, Williams (Robert Jornayvaz) 17/9: BRONZE – Zones 3/5, 49 faults: Windoctro (Kate Morrison) 4/4, Wetter (Catherine Tyree) 8/8, Victor E (Chloe Reid) 16/9.

Young Rider Individual Jumping Championship: GOLD – Londonium (Lillie Keenan) Windoctro (Kate Morrison) 8 faults: SILVER – Kachina (Charlotte Jacobs) 11.58 faults: BRONZE – Windoctro (Kate Morrison) 13.70 faults.

Junior Team Jumping Championship: GOLD – Zone 2, 8 faults: Kadans Webster (Allison Toffolon) 0/0, Cayenne (Victoria Press) 0/8, Leopold (Kira Kerkorian) Elim/Elim, chellando Z (Katherine Strauss) 0/0; SILVER – Mexico, 16 fault, 0 in Jump-Off: Bariano (Eugenio Garza Perez) 0/0/0 38.31, Catello (Andres Berganza) 8/0/0 40.59, Corlando van Koekshof (Adrian Berganza) 12/4/0 40.14, Puertas Catena (Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez) 8/0/DNS; BRONZE – Zone 4, 16 faults, 14 faults in Jump-Off: No Doubt (Haley Waters) 4/4/4 41.20, Zidoctro (Jenna Friedman) Elim/20/10 45.21, Why Not (Sophie Simpson) 0/4/DNS, Belle Bleu S (Kaely Tomeu) 4/0/DNS.

Junior Individual Jumping Championship: GOLD – Bariano (Eugenio Garza Perez) 0; SILVER – Chellando Z (Katherine Strauss) 4 faults; BRONZE – Quidam 13 (Sydney Shulman) 5 faults.

Young Rider Reining Team Championship: GOLD – Canada, 631.5: Ms Smart Hollywood (Pearl Aebly) 208.5, Jacs Docsan (Stephanie Thomson) 212.0, Jumpin Jac Trash (Madison Steed) 211.0; SILVER – USA, 628.5: Sweet Mega Bown (Jonathan Stepka) 211.5, A Genuine Diamond (Jake Letner) 210.5, Rock Mountain Whiz (Jamie Erickson) 206.5.

Young Rider Reining Individual Championship: GOLD – Jumpin Jac Trash (Madison Steed) 219; SILVER – Rocky Mountain Whiz (Jamie Erickson) 214: BRONZE – Sweet Mega Brown (Jonathan Stepka).

Junior Reining Team Championship: GOLD – USA, 419.5: Sunrise in Hollywood (Mattew Verser) 206.5, Shining Shoes (James Michael Phillips) 213.0; SILVER – Canada, 400.5: Miss Cielo Chex (Emily Watson) 0, Sailors Good Sackett (Maxin Whiteside) 0, Lil Cat n Gun (Hannah Steed) 194.0, Jacs Shy Boy (Haley France) 206.5.

Junior Individual Reining Championship: GOLD – Shining Shoes (James Michael Phillips) 217; SILVER – Miss Cielo Chex (Emily Wilson) 211.5; BRONZE – Sailors Good Sackett (Maxine Whiteside) 207.

Young Rider Endurance Team Championship: GOLD – USA Southeast 23:47:03: Viktory Banner (Cassandra Robert), DCL Mooi Penny (Heleen de Beer), Hoover the Mover (Taylor White), Reminisonce (Katie Baldino), Masterpiece Vlad (Mallory Capps);  SILVER – Canada 25:45?42: Vegas (Emma Webb), Jahlad (Jessica Yavis), Sakic (Jaylene Janzen); BRONZE – USA Northeast, 26:49:48: TEF Sunflash (Michael Bishop), LR Amana Tabi (Forest Green), Khlil Asam (Maria Muzzio), DJB Braveheart (Hunter Green).

Young Rider Individual Endurance Championship: GOLD – Viktory Banner (Cassandra Roberts) 6:19:31: SILVER – Vagas (Emma Webb) 7:29:40: BRONZE – DCL Mooi Penny (Heleen de Beer) 8:19:22.

Young Rider Team Eventing Championship: GOLD – Area lll, 191.5: Quantum Solace (Caroline Martin) 52.2, Nuance (Mary Atkins Hunt) 71.7, Fernhill Stowaway (Jennifer Caras) 67.8; SILVER – Areas Xll, Xlll, lX, 242.l: Gingerbread Man (Jacqueline Larouche) 83.2, Radio Flyer (Erin Strader) 72.8, Ringfort Tinkaturk (Lizzie Snow) 86.3; BRONZE – Area V, 285.4; In Any Event (Alexa Ehlers) 109.8, Take the Mick (Mary Francis Cargile) 116.7, No Money Down (Rowdie Adams) 58.9.

Young Rider Eventing Championship: GOLD – Quantum Solace (Caroline Martin) 52.2, Guinness X (Matilda Segal) 1000.00; SILVER – No Money Down (Rowdie Adams) 58.9; BRONZE – Fernhill Stowaway (Jennifer Caras) 67.6.

Junior Team Eventing Championship: GOLD – Area lll, 165.7: The Secret Agent (Victoria Clayton) 67.9, Manhattan (Ashley Dodds) 56.0, Cinerescent (Diane Portwood) 61.6, Tops (Nicole Doolittle) 48.1; SILVER – Area Vll, Vlll, 175.7; Rave Review (Mary Peabody Camp) 58.6, Surefire’s Anwar (Margaret Ragan) 1000.00, Canadian Exchange (Emily Macauley) 58.8, Morning Star (Ashlynn Meuchel) 58.3; BRONZE – Area ll, 195.2; Lucky Little Spy (Morgan Booth) 1000.00, Just Bailey (David Pawlak) 59.8, Hope to Star (Madeleine Parisan) 63.0, Victory Shelan (Chase Shipka) 72.4.

Junior Individual Eventing Championship: GOLD – Tops (Nicole Doolittle) 48.1; SILVER – Don Bosco (Ann O’Neal Pevahouse) 54.4; BRONZE – Impressively Done (April Simmonds) 54.9.

By Louise Parkes

Martin and Doolittle Win Individual Eventing Golds, Area III Takes Two Team Golds at 2013 NAJYRC

Caroline Martin aboard Quantum Solace on their way to the Eventing CCI2* Individual Gold medal (Brant Gamma Photos)

Lexington, KY – The 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) finished Sunday after another fantastic week of top competition for Junior and Young Riders. Eventing was the focus of the final day with Team and Individual Medals for CCI1* and CCI2* riders. In the CCI2*, Caroline Martin (Area III) and Quantum Solace won the Gold and Area III was the top team. Nicole Doolittle and Tops led the victory gallop in the CCI1* competition for the Gold medal and her Area III team was golden as well.

Five disciplines (a total of 9 championships for juniors and young riders) took part in the only FEI Championship to be held annually in North America. The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, ages 14-21.

The best 10 riders returned for the stadium jumping phase in the CCI2* Sunday. With one of only two clear rounds, Caroline Martin (18, Miami Beach, FL) and Quantum Solace moved up to secure the Gold medal with a total of 52.2 penalties. Their dressage score was 50.2 and they had two time penalties on cross country.

Martin gave thanks to her horse for his great performance in the stadium jumping. “In one of the lines, I added another stride and he kept jumping higher, higher, and higher. I have so much faith in him. It feels like you’re sitting on top of the world on him and I know he can make it over. I’ve never felt a horse that has so much heart and power, and it’s effortless.”

Martin found Quantum Solace, an eight-year-old Argentinian Thoroughbred gelding, as a four-year-old who was originally going to be a jumper. It was an inauspicious start for the “scrawny baby,” Martin said. “I had no idea what kind of horse he could turn into. It’s pretty cool to think two short years ago I didn’t think he could do this. He’s pretty mature for his age. He’s my best friend, and he’s the only thing that stayed consistent in my life. He’s always there for me.”

With two rails down in stadium jumping as the last one in the ring, Rowdie Adams (Area V) had to settle for the Silver medal on No Money Down. Adams had 50.9 penalties after dressage and moved into the lead when she was the only one totally clear in the cross country. She finished on 58.9 penalties.

Adams said that the big spread of the oxers was something her horse struggled with after running cross country. “This was a championship course,” she acknowledged. “It is what it should have been. He’s not the most careful show jumper, and he’s always been that way. I went in today expecting him to probably hit something, but I was really hoping he wouldn’t.”

Like Martin, Adams has a similar close-knit relationship with No Money Down, who is appropriately named. Adams said she found the 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Coordinator in a junkyard and rescued him six years ago. “I was a little kid that thought every horse was cool,” she remembered. “He was eight when I got him, and now he’s turning 14. It’s taken a lot of years and all the disappointing rides, but something clicked on him and I never gave up on him. It brought us here today.”

She continued with tears in her eyes, “I had a lot of people tell me he was never going to do anything and he’s proven everyone wrong. It’s fantastic to think that he’s come all this way. The fact that he did a beautiful dressage ride for me, jumped around like a pure genius in cross country, he could have had every rail down today and it would be okay. He’s done so much for me.”

With what No Money Down has given her, Adams said that he doesn’t owe her anything. She is uncertain of what his future will be, but that he will always be a part of her family. “Whatever he wants to do, he can do,” she agreed. “If he wants to continue on and do Rolex, he can. If he’d rather chill in a field, that’s fine. That horse has given me everything. He’s gotten me here. I owe him everything. I have two medals on my neck.”

Jennifer Caras and Fernhill Stowaway had 52 penalties after Dressage and gained 11.6 time penalties on cross country. With one rail down in stadium jumping, she finished on 67.6 penalties for the Bronze medal.

Caras (17, Marietta, GA) said that she thought the stadium jumping course “looked massive,” but that she was happy with her horse since he is only seven years old. Caras found the KWPN gelding by Empire two years ago in England after she “couldn’t stop watching him.” She remarked, “I don’t know if I’ve ever loved a horse this much before. Everybody says their horse is the best, but I definitely think mine is! You mess up and he’s green, but he’ll still handle it fine. He doesn’t hold it against you.”

She added, “He’s a very useful horse. He’s very talented in all three phases. He’s not quite quick enough to be at highest level, but he’s only seven so he has a long way ahead of him hopefully.”

Area III won their first Gold medal of the day in the CCI2*, thanks to very strong performances from their team: Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace (52.2 penalties), Jennifer Caras and Fernhill Stowaway (67.6), Mary Atkins Hunt (19, Mobile, AL) and Nuance (71.7 and fourth individually), and Matilda Segal on Guinness X (Eliminated on cross country). Their team total was 191.5 penalties.

Martin believes that the reason why their team did so well was their “great support group.” She said, “We work together. We all hang out and we’re very close. I’m so sad it’s over. I don’t want to leave.”

Hunt noted that NAJYRC puts different pressure on the riders than any other show, but that is has helped them in their journey as riders. Segal (17, Monticello, GA) agreed, “It’s a great thing this competition does to bring us together like this so early on in the sport. It goes along with what this competition means, furthering kids in sport and pushing us on to something like Rolex or a (senior) team. This puts us in environments early on.”

The Team Silver medal went to Area VII, VIII & IX with a total of 242.1 penalties from team members:
Jacqueline Larouche (19, Aspen, CO) and The Gingerbread Man: 83.2 penalties
Erin Strader (21, Ann Arbor, MI) and Radio Flyer II: 72.6
Lizzie Snow (21, Portland, OR) and Ringfort Tinkaturk: 86.3, clear in Stadium Jumping

Area V won the Bronze medal with the following riders and a total of 285.4 penalties:
Alexa Ehlers (18, Bartonville, TX) and In Any Event: 109.8
Mary Frances Cargile (20, San Angelo, TX) and Take the Mick: 116.7
Rowdie Adams (17, Cash, TX) and No Money Down: 58.9

Doolittle Is Tops in CCI1* to Lead Area III

Nicole Doolittle had all of the pressure on her as she entered the Rolex Stadium for the Stadium Jumping phase of the Eventing CCI1* for Junior riders. Not only was she the leading rider individually, she also had to determine where her team, Area III, would end up in the standings. With a flawless clear round on Tops, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Top of the World, Doolittle would end up as a double Gold medalist.

Starting out the week, Doolittle and Tops scored 48.1 penalties in Dressage to stand in second place. They added no jumping or time penalties on cross country to move up to first place, and that all-important clear round in stadium jumping gave them the win.

Nicole Doolittle of Area III, the Eventing CCI1* Individual and Team Gold medalist, riding Tops (Brant Gamma Photos)
Nicole Doolittle of Area III, the Eventing CCI1* Individual and Team Gold medalist, riding Tops (Brant Gamma Photos)

Doolittle (15, Matthews, NC) was riding in her second NAJYRC, but it was on Tops, a newer horse that she has only been riding for eight months and who has competed at the Advanced level. “We had a really great season, so I was fortunate to have some good shows leading up to this. I felt confident coming in,” she stated.

Doolittle described Tops as “quite a goofy horse.” She continued, “He’s a very personable horse. He’s really in tune with how you’re feeling and you can tell how he’s feeling at any time. He’s wonderful under saddle, and I’ve come into a great rhythm with him. It’s been a blast getting to know him. He’s become my best friend in this whole process.”

Tops is “a consistent horse overall,” with being a good mover for dressage, bold on cross country, and a “pretty careful jumper.” Doolittle added, however, “He does get a little Irish attitude sometimes when he doesn’t totally agree.”

Doolittle thanked her groom Carly Whetstone for how beautifully turned out Tops was this week. Regarding her double Gold medal performance, she said, “It was a surreal moment. I’m overjoyed and proud with how my horse has carried (this) out.”

The Silver medal went to Ann O’Neal Pevahouse (Area V) on Don Bosco, a 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Bosco. They had 54.4 penalties from Dressage, were clear through Cross Country, and their clear in Stadium Jumping vaulted them into medal contention. They moved from 14th to seventh to second place this week.

Pevahouse (18, Little Rock, AR) has had Don Bosco for five years and said that his strongest phase is cross country. “He likes to open up and gallop a lot. He can get a little lazy at the end, but he’s still really careful,” she described.

While Pevahouse said she hoped she could medal at NAJYRC, she “didn’t think I could move up from seventh to second.” They placed sixth individually here last year. “I’m so happy!” she exclaimed.

The Bronze medal hung around the neck of April Simmonds (Ontario), who rode Impressively Done, an eight-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Eulogize. They scored 53.7 in Dressage and were in 13th place, but after just 1.2 time penalties on cross country, they moved up to eighth. Their great clear round in stadium jumping moved them to third after the second through sixth place riders had faults in the final phase.

Simmonds (15, Oxbridge, ON, CAN) has ridden Impressively Done for two and a half years and they have moved up from the Training level together. Although she said they have had “good and bad shows” this season, she felt very well prepared for NAJYRC. “His strongest phase is cross country. He’s very fast and he loves it, and he respects the jumps,” she said of her horse.

Regarding her Bronze medal finish, she exclaimed, “I feel shocked. I was eighth going into stadium jumping. I didn’t think I’d move up that much.”

Half of the class Sunday went clear over the course designed by Richard Jeffrey of Bournemouth, England. This helped many riders contribute to their team and kept the team standings the same from after cross country.

Doolittle led the Area III team with just 48.1 penalties for the Team Gold medal, which had a team total of 165.7 penalties. She was joined by Victoria Clayton on The Secret Agent (67.9 penalties), Ashley Dodds with Manhattan (56.0), and Diane Portwood with Cinerescent (61.6).

Diane Portwood (17, Marietta, GA) did not have an ideal situation coming into the NAJYRC as her horse Cinerescent was injured. She was not ridden two weeks before the week of NAJYRC. “I didn’t know what to expect from her. She normally gets one day a week off,” Portwood explained. “It definitely affected how we had to ride the dressage test. I couldn’t push for movements and a bigger trot.”

With some time off, Cinerescent was sound and ready for NAJYRC. Portwood was nervous coming into Sunday’s stadium jumping phase in her first time at NAJYRC. “It was really nerve-wracking being here. I groomed here last year, so I knew what to expect, but it’s much different when you’re riding,” she said. She credited team coach Kyle Carter, who has also been her personal coach for eight months. “He knew me and my horse. That helped calm me down a lot,” she said.

Ashley Dodds (16, Canton, GA) said that for her first time at NAJYRC, it was a great experience. “It helped a lot that we have such an amazing team. We have fun, but we can also be serious,” she noted. While a few jumps were “not as planned” in stadium jumping, Dodds was happy that she was able to fix it and continue to ride positive and finish her course well.

Victoria Clayton (17, High Mountain, GA), another first-timer at NAJYRC, said she had not been here before as groom and “didn’t know what to expect.” She noted, “I’m so lucky to have these girls for teammates.”

The Silver medal went to Area VII & VIII with 175.7 penalties. Their team members were:
Mary Peabody Camp (19, Louisville, KY) and Rave Review: 58.6 penalties
Margaret Ragan (16, Prospect, KY) and Surefire’s Anwar: Did not pass final horse inspection
Emily Macauley (18, Grand Rapids, MI) and Canadian Exchange: 58.8
Ashlynn Meuchel (18, Kalispell, MT) and Morning Star: 58.3

Area II finished with the Bronze medal on 195.2 penalties, with team members:
Morgan Booth and Lucky Little Spy: Rider fall on cross country
David Pawlak (16, Boyce, VA) and Just Bailey: 59.8
Madeline Parisan (14, Rising Sun, MD) and Hope to Star: 63.0
Chase Shipka and (16, Marshall, VA) Victory Shetan: 72.4

Special trophies and awards were given throughout the week. They were:

The Howard B. Simpson High Five Trophy, awarded to the volunteer who best exemplifies Howard’s spirit of volunteering –  Christy Baxter

Style Awards:
Reining – Victoria Cartillar, USA South Central
Jumping – Eugenio Garza Perez, Mexico
Endurance – Micheal Bishop, USA Northeast Combined
Dressage – Krista Spencer, Region 4
Eventing – Erika Carson, Area IX

The Horsepower Trophy, recognizes an outstanding horse from any of the championship disciplines who best demonstrates determination, courage, class, heart and the ability to inspire athletes and spectators alike throughout the competition – DJB Braveheart, Endurance

The Captain Andrew B. De Szinay Memorial Sportsman Trophy, given to the young rider who best personifies the high standards and virtues of integrity, sportsmanship, honor, courage, team spirit, good temper, and unselfishness – Cassandra Roberts, Endurance

The Caristo Cup, given to the chef d’equipe that best exemplifies Ralph Caristo’s enthusiasm and professionalism –  Juan Manuel Cossio, Jumping Chef d’Equipe for Mexico

The Albers Award, given to the dressage chef d’equipe who best demonstrates the same level of dedication, enthusiasm, and team spirit shown by Patsy Albers throughout the years – Ed Lavallee

The Pursuit of Excellence – Fiona Baan Memorial Trophy, awarded to the young rider in the dressage championships who receives the highest combined average percentage score from the Team, Individual, and Freestyle dressage rides –  Ayden Uhlir, Region 6

The Trish Gilbert Award, given to the highest placing current U.S. Pony Club member competing in the NAJYRC CCI2* Eventing Championship – Rowdie Adams, Area V

The Rebecca Broussard Saturday Night Award, given to the highest placed junior and highest placed young rider following the cross country phase of the eventing championships:
Junior – Nicole Doolittle, Area III
Young Rider – Rowdie Adams, Area V

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak streamed Saturday’s events from the Rolex Stadium during NAJYRC as well as the Individual Reining from the Alltech Arena. Video On-demand of the top performers is now available. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!

NAJYRC showcases the best young rider and junior horse/rider combinations in dressage, eventing, jumping, reining, and endurance. Young equestrians from across the continent will descend on the Kentucky Horse Park to vie for FEI medals at these Championships.

For sponsorship information, visit www.youngriders.org/Sponsors.aspx.

Jennifer Wood for USEF

Keenan and Garza Perez Win Jumping, Steed and Phillips Lead Reining Medals at 2013 NAJYRC

Jumping Young Rider Individual Medalists: Kate Morrison (Zone 5), Bronze; Lillie Keenan (Zone 2), Gold; Charlotte Jacobs (Zone 5), Silver (Sportfot)

Lexington, KY – Saturday’s morning competition at the 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) featured exciting sport and medal presentations for two disciplines. Individual medals were given in jumping and reining. In the jumping, Lillie Keenan (Zone 2) and Londinium won Young Rider Gold, while Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) and Bariano received the Junior Gold with no faults throughout the week. The Young Rider Reining Gold medal went to Madison Steed (CAN) and Jumpin Jac Trash, while James Michael Phillips (USA) and Shining Shoes won the Gold in the Junior division. Eventing continued with Cross Country and will conclude competition tomorrow with their final Stadium Jumping phase.

Starting out the day were the Individual Jumping Finals for Juniors and Young Riders. The top 18 riders advanced to the finals in the Young Rider division, and 13 of those came through to the second round. Going into the second round, the top five stood on their faults from the first two days as they all had first round clears. The race really came down to the top three: Kate Morrison (13.70 faults), Lillie Keenan (8.00 faults), and Charlotte Jacobs (7.58 faults).

Morrison (Zone 3) and Windoctro went double clear and received the Bronze medal with 13.70 faults. With another beautiful clear round, Lillie Keenan and Londinium stayed on their eight faults. Charlotte Jacobs and Kachina were having a foot-perfect round until a light rub at the final fence, the skinny horseshoe vertical, rolled the rail out of the cups for a heartbreaking four faults. They would finish on 11.58 faults for the Silver medal.

“It was tough of course,” Jacobs recalled. “She left the ground at the last fence and she’s usually such a great vertical jumper. I was like, ‘I have it,’ and I landed and I heard the crowd and I was like ‘Oh my God, I knocked it down.’ It was instant shock. I was upset, but Lillie and I were reminiscing the other day and we were here doing Pony Finals together. We’ve been friends forever, so of course I’m happy for her.”

The Gold medal in the Young Riders went to Keenan, a 16-year-old from New York City, NY. She and Londinium, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Lord Pezi, have been paired together since January.

Keenan expressed, “Charlotte is one of my closest friends and if the roles were reversed I’d be very, very happy for her, as she is for me. It’s great to be able to be so close with people when you’re neck and neck for medals.”

Regarding the pressure of being one of the top riders coming back today, Keenan replied, “If I start thinking too much about the pressure and the points and what I can do to move up, I make myself crazy. I knew my horse wanted to jump clear every round. I knew I needed to ride better than I did in the Nations Cup first round. The pressure we both feel, but we try to block it out.”

The riders noted that time allowed was a factor for the competition this week. Keenan thought that it helped her and her horse. “I have a really fast horse. Even in the speed round, I didn’t realize I could go that fast. He jumps best out of a gallop,” she said. “When I ride him forward in more of a hunter seat and allow him to jump to the best of his ability, that’s really when it goes best. Having a tight time allowed works in my favor.”

Keenan went on to describe Londinium, “We started showing at (the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival) this year and he was a star right away. We got along very, very well. He’s a really special horse.”

Jacobs, who is 18 years old and from East Aurora, NY, shared that nerves have been something she has worked on. “I’ve never been able to deal with pressure, usually I’m very bad with it,” she shared. “Going in last the first round was a lot of pressure. But I took a lot of deep breaths and tried to do the best of my ability, and tried to do the same in the second round.”

Jacobs and Kachina have had a long history together. The 15-year-old Selle Francais mare by Voltaire has been in the Jacobs family since she was six, and used to be ridden by Charlotte’s father, Lou Jacobs, in the Amateur Jumpers before Charlotte took over the ride two years ago.

Jacobs said that time allowed was very much on her mind since Kachina is a big horse who spends more time in the air. Jacobs had to think about going forward between the jumps. “We were only .4 points away from each other, so if I had a time fault, I would be Silver. It was land from every jump and just go,” she said.

Jacobs almost didn’t make it to the NAJYRC this year since Kachina was injured and she was sixth on the list to attend for Zone 2. After a rider had to drop out, Jacobs got moved up to the alternate spot. She expressed, “I was very lucky in that situation that I was even here. I’m very thankful that she’s healthy again and she’s here showing. I’m even more thankful that I got a Silver medal.”

Morrison and Windoctro have stepped up this year to the national grand prix level and she was excited to medal in this year’s NAJYRC. Morrison is 19 years old and from Dublin, OH. She has been riding Windoctro, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Indoctro, since September.

Morrison said she “considers him really special.” She said further, “Anytime he goes into the ring, he gives his all. He’s not the easiest. He goes in the ring lagging a little bit and you have to kick him up. Once he’s there though, he jumps amazing. He’s going to try as hard as I do. I was giving my all and he obviously did too. I was really happy with how he went. He jumped amazing for me.”

Windoctro was at this level when Morrison started riding him and said, “He’s given me a lot of confidence. My other High (Amateur Jumper) horse is nervous. Him starting me out in the grand prix has given me a lot confidence with her.”

Zone 2 had another extremely strong showing at NAJYRC this year, and Chef d’Equipe Ralph Caristo commented, “I think the success comes from the support system we have, starting with my wife. Mostly it’s the Zone itself and the committees that support us, the parents, the trainers. We have a very good relationship with everybody. They want to do it. I’m very lucky to have them go around. I’m just the cheerleader here. They have trainers and they’re the ones who should get all the credit.”

Keenan added, “Being a member of the team, I can say Ralph and Holly are a lot more than cheerleaders. Zone 2 really has an edge having such an amazing support system, but as a group of riders we’re really close. Throughout the year, yes we’re competing against each other, but we’re also thinking ahead. This is really the peak event for the year. We have it in the back of our minds that we’re getting ready for Young Riders. Throughout the year, Ralph and Holly, our trainers and family, we’re really aiming for this.”

Along with the medalists in round one, there were clear rounds from Jacqueline Steffens (CAN) on Quercus van Generhese, Hannah von Heidegger (Zone 10) on Geledimar, Wilton Porter (Zone 7) on Radio City, and Mattias Tromp (Zone 2) with Casey. In the second round, Porter had just one time fault, as did Michael Hughes (Zone 2) and Luxina and Chloe Reid (Zone 3) with Victor E.

Five Clears Wins Gold for Garza Perez

The top 25 Juniors took to the course this morning over a track designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL. It was challenging with the wide open water going into the morning sun, and the skinny vertical jump shaped like a giant horseshoe that stands almost 13 feet tall.

With an incredible performance of five clear rounds over three days, 16-year-old Eugenio Garza Perez of Mexico and Bariano, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Jetset-D, took the Gold medal in the Junior Jumping Final. Garza Perez is the third rider from Mexico to win an Individual Gold medal in the history of the NAJYRC, joining Manuel Alvarez Ruiz Galindo and Olympian Alberto Michan. In addition to his five clear rounds, Garza Perez added another clear round in the jump-off for the Team competition to help Mexico win the Silver on Thursday.

While Garza Perez is from Monterrey, Mexico, he has lived in Dallas, TX, for two years. He started riding Bariano just over a year ago and said that his first NAJYRC “has been an amazing experience.” He continued, “We’ve really become a great team. All the coaches, parents, everyone who has backed me up, I feel like I kind of could repay them and show them our hard work has paid off. It’s just incredible. We knew we had a strong horse, but never knew we could do this much of a good job. It was awesome that we could keep it going and produce that many clear rounds.”

Garza Perez had a tough task going into the final rounds being tied with three other riders. “We knew that one rail could cost us and we would be out of the medals. I was nervous, I’m not going to lie,” he acknowledged. “I feel like I rise to the occasion when I need to and perform well under pressure. My coaches believed in me and I’m glad I could show them.”

The Silver medal went to 14-year-old Katherine Strauss from Zone 2. She rode Chellando Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Chellano Z to four faults over the five rounds. Clear through Wednesday and Thursday, Strauss had four faults in today’s first round with a foot in the open water, which caused many faults throughout the opening round.

“I was really nervous going into the first round, because it was make it or break it time,” Strauss disclosed. “I could either totally be out of the medals or I could hopefully catch (Eugenio)…but I didn’t! I just thought you have to know yourself when you get nervous. My tendency is to go slow and backwards. I knew just to ride faster than I usually would. My parents and trainers are so supportive, and they told me you can’t control what everyone else does, so do the best you can and focus on the course and your horse.”

Strauss, who wasn’t old enough to be on the Young Rider team this year, hopes to move up and come back to NAJYRC. “I know my horse can do it; I hope I can do it too,” she said.

With a great double clear ride, Sydney Shulman (Zone 1) secured the Bronze medal. The 18-year-old rider from Greenwich, CT, rode Quidam 13, a nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Bogegardens Quattro. Shulman finished on five faults, which she accrued in the first round of the Team competition.

Shulman explained that having just gotten Quidam 13 in April, she doesn’t know him well. “I chose to show as learning experience for both of us,” she mentioned. “I’d never shown him two days in a row, much less two times in one day. It was interesting to see how he held up.”

Of her rounds, she said, “I made a silly mistake the first round on the second day. I thought I had to make up for that, so I was riding a little bit stronger and a little faster, because I had a time fault. I was pleased with how he was.”

Along with the three medalists, there were three other clear rides in round two: KC Van Aarem (Zone 3) and Mastermind, Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez (MEX) and Puertas Catena, and Barbara Ruziska (Zone 3) on Victoire VH Dingenshof. Garza Perez and Shulman were the only double clears on the day.

Reining Young Rider Individual medalists: Jonathan Stepka (USA) - Bronze; Madison Steed (CAN) - Gold; Jamie Erickson (USA) - Silver (Waltenberry)
Reining Young Rider Individual medalists: Jonathan Stepka (USA) – Bronze; Madison Steed (CAN) – Gold; Jamie Erickson (USA) – Silver (Waltenberry)

Young Rider Reining Gold to Steed

The 2013 SmartPak Reining Championships concluded today in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park with two high-scoring rounds of high-level reining.

For the Young Riders, it was the scorching hot score of 219 from Canada’s Madison Steed to secure the Gold medal showing Jumpin Jac Trash (2007 AQHA Gelding). Steed, a veteran of FEI Young Rider competition, showed with great confidence and skill securing a five point lead over the Silver medal score.

Steed said that her pattern felt “really good” in the Individual competition. “I stayed out of the penalty box this time, so I was really happy with it,” she said. “It all goes back to my horse. He doesn’t stop; he has so much try in him. He’s a cool horse that way. You can push him as hard as you want. I really owe it to him.”

Steed (17, Cochran, AB, CAN) has been riding “Jac” for two years and said he has a huge personality. “Anything within a 10 foot radius is his jurisdiction,” she laughed. “Anything he can get at, he’ll chew up and eat. He has the hugest heart you can ask for.”

A Silver medal effort was turned in by Jaime Erickson of the United States riding Rocky Mountain Whiz (2005 AQHA Gelding) to a score of 214. And the Bronze medalist, Jonathan Stepka (16, Little Rock, AR), rode his own Sweet Mega Brown (2004 AQHA Gelding) to secure the final place on the championship podium.

This was only the fifth show that Erickson (18, Keytesville, MO) and Rocky Mountain Whiz have competed in, but Erickson said that lots of practice this summer helped them to the Silver medal performance. “Each time we ride, we’re always improving,” she said. “The more we ride, it’ll get better and better. There’s still more to come out of my horse. It’s an honor to be here, and I’m thankful for my horse.”

For Stepka, the air-conditioning in the Alltech Arena certainly helped his horse. “The air-conditioning plays a major role in warming up your horse,” he explained. “I can feel her energize up and she’s ready to go again. I know my horse is going to walk in there and be ready to go all over again.”

Stepka enjoyed representing the United States at the NAJYRC and that with this experience, he hopes that he can continue his riding career to be on senior level teams at such competitions as the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). “Going overseas to WEG would be absolutely mind-blowing,” he expressed. “To think that I’m a little ole kid from Arkansas and could compete on an international level? It would definitely be an honor.”

Phillips Is Golden in Junior Reining

Claiming top prize and top honors in the Junior championship, James Michael Phillips riding Shining Shoes (1995 AQHA Gelding) turned a gold medal effort to win the top podium position. Crediting his 18-year-old horse for wisdom and experience, Phillips rode as the final draw in the class to a 217 score, punctuating the win with a full six and a half point difference above the next placing rider.

This is Phillips’ (14, Hartsch, OK) first time competing at the NAJYRC and said that today’s Individual competition was a different ball game from the Team class. “In the Team competition, if you messed up, someone could come in and pull you out. In the Individual, it’s all on you if you mess up. I did improve a lot on the pattern (from Thursday), and it got better and better as I went on with the pattern today.”

Phillips has been riding Shining Shoes for four years. “He’s real loving and he tries hard and loves his job. He never wants to cheat you on anything,” he described.

He said of his Gold medal experience, “To get to stand on the podium with the flag being raised and hear the anthem is amazing.”

Silver medalist Emily Wilson (16, Oxbridge, ON) carried on the tradition of medals for the Canadian family, all of whom have shown the same Miss Cielo Chex (2002 AQHA Mare) all the way to the podium. Marking a score of 211.5, Wilson led the competition as the one to beat all the way up to the final round. “It was tough competition down here,” Wilson said. “I want to try and get on another team. I’ll definitely come back again next year and try.”

In Bronze, Maxine Whiteside was aboard Sailors Good Sackett (1996 AQHA Gelding) and rode to a score of 207. Whiteside (14, Olds, AB) has been riding Sailors Good Sackett for two years and it was her godmother who got her into reining. “I’d like to try and get on another (NAJYRC) team, but I might try to get another horse,” she said. “He’s done his best for me.”

Known throughout the world as the epicenter for the sport of reining, North America presented the world’s most elite Junior and Young Riders at these Championships, providing exciting and high quality competitions. Organizers look forward to a strong future and continued growth in FEI Reining programs in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Rowdie Adams (Area V) and No Money Down tackle Saturday's CCI2* cross country course (Brant Gamma)
Rowdie Adams (Area V) and No Money Down tackle Saturday’s CCI2* cross country course (Brant Gamma)

Adams Leads CCI2* after Clear Cross Country, Doolittle at Top of CCI1*

Rowdie Adams (Area V) and No Money Down had a spectacular cross country ride today and were the only ones to finish with no jumping or time penalties. They remain on their dressage penalties of 50.9 for the lead. In second place is Caroline Martin (Area III) on Quantum Solace, who had two time penalties and stands on 52.2. Jennifer Caras (Area III) and Fernhill Stowaway had 11.6 time penalties for a total of 63.6 and third place before tomorrow’s final phase.

With Caras and Martin leading Area III, they remain in first place in the Team competition with 179.5 penalties. Area VII, VIII & IX is in second place on 226.1 penalties. With 265.4 penalties, Area V is in third place.

The standings in the CCI1* are all close for the top four riders, who are within five penalties of each other after finishing cross country with no time or jumping penalties. Leading is Nicole Doolittle (Area III) on Tops with 48.1 penalties. In second is Mary Peabody Camp (Area VII & VIII) with Rave Review on 50.6 penalties. Emily Macauley (Area VII & VIII) and Canadian Exchange are in third place with 50.8 penalties.

Area III moved up to first place after cross country and stand on 157.7 penalties. Area VII & VIII also advanced to second place and have 159.7 penalties. Area II came from fourth place into third and have 187.2 penalties.

The Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North conclude tomorrow with the stadium jumping phase for Eventing, which will determine the Team and Individual medals for CCI1* and CCI2*.

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

NAJYRC showcases the best young rider and junior horse/rider combinations in dressage, eventing, jumping, reining, and endurance. Young equestrians from across the continent will descend on the Kentucky Horse Park to vie for FEI medals at these Championships.

For sponsorship information, visit www.youngriders.org/Sponsors.aspx.

Jennifer Wood and Brad Ettleman for USEF