Individual Dressage Medals Awarded at NAJYRC

Laura Noyes of Region 8 won the Young Rider individual freestyle gold in the USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Division. Riding Syncro, she received a score of 74.750% from the five-judge panel. Brianna Dutton of Region 7 won the silver with a score of 71.900 on Tibet and Chelsea Pederson of Region 6 won the bronze with a score of 70.500% on H.S. With Honors. For Dutton and Pederson, it was their second such individual medals this week after having taken the same medals in the individual Prix St. Georges on Saturday. Dutton also won team Gold earlier in the week and Noyes won team Silver.

“He’s been really tense all week but today he was consistent and steady,” Noyes said of her long-time mount who had to miss last year’s championships after getting hurt at the Young Rider World Cup in 2006. “It just takes him a while to relax.”

“My goal was to make it to the freestyle and I didn’t put any pressure on myself as to how we’d do,” said Dutton. “I decided that I’d just go in there and try to have fun.”

Unlike Dutton, Pederson felt the pressure of the freestyle. “It is by far the most nerve-wracking ride,” she said. “We changed ours and used upbeat music which really fits his personality.”

Morgan Heinrichs of Region 5 won the Junior freestyle Gold Medal with a score of 71.900% on Orlando. McKenzie Jenkins of Region 3 won the Silver with a score of 70.900 on Tsarina Bint RII and McKinzie Pooley of Region 7 won the bronze with a score of 69.450 on Jonkara.

Heinrichs, who has only had her horse since February, rode to a composition of Swedish music selected by her trainer Jennie Baldwin.

Jenkins, whose music came from the Thomas Crown Affair, said she tried to put all her nerves aside. “I kept telling myself not to get nervous, just to have fun and it turned out to be a great day. I really love my freestyle; it fits my horse so perfectly.”

Pooley, who won two individual bronze medals last year, cited her previous experience at the Championships with helping her development as a rider. “This is just such an awesome program. It really helps you move to the next level of riding. Since last year, I’ve really worked on being more consistent and working together with my horse.”