Equine Canada is pleased to provide daily coverage of the Canadian junior and young riders competing at the Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships, presented by Gotham North, in Lexington Kentucky.

This year’s event, running from July 17 – 21, welcomes 222 young athletes from across Canada, the United States and Mexico who are competing for FEI team and individual medals in the three Olympic disciplines; jumping, eventing and dressage, and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance.

Dressage

Canadian Junior Dressage Rider Naima Moreira Laliberte Wins Individual Silver 
Junior rider Naima Moreira Laliberte of Outremont, QC and Windbreaker 3, Pferdesport Wintermühle GmbH’s 12-year-old Westphalian gelding sired by Windspiel As, won the silver medal in today’s FEI Junior Individual Championship on a final score of 70.105%.

“I was very happy with my horse today, he did a great job. He was a little more tired today than yesterday, so I tried to keep things light and upbeat,” said Moreira Laliberte. “We had a small issue with the test when one of the judges thought I went off course. It was quickly realized that I was indeed on course, so I proceeded on with the test. You have to let those things go and not let it get to you. So I kept on going and everything worked out really well. I have my freestyle tomorrow and hope it goes really well. The style of music is oriental, and I chose a pattern that really suited my horse to make sure it brings out his best. I am really looking forward to it. I love freestyles!”

“I am really proud of Naima and Windbreaker 3,” said Chef d’équipe, Ellen Rumball. “They had a great test and a lot of fun and they earned a medal. We’re looking forward to another great test in the freestyle tomorrow.”

Laurence Blais Tetreault of Montreal, QC and Lowelas, her 13-year-old Trakehner gelding sired by Hockey 41, finished fourth on 68.132% and Beatrice Boucher of St. Dominique, QC rode Dante, Agnieszka Wnorowska’s 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding sired by Dirano, to 10th with a final score of 66.342%.

Top Three Individual Junior Results
Gold – Lindsey Holleger/Friedensfurst/Region 3, USA
Silver – Naima Moreira Laliberte/ Windbreaker 3/ QC, CAN
Bronze – Rison Naness/Venezia/Region 7, USA

Top Three Canadian Results
2nd- Naima Moreira Laliberte/Windbreaker 3/70.105%
4th- Laurence Blais Tetreault/Lowelas/68.132%
10th- Beatrice Boucher/Dante/66.342%

For complete results visit: http://www.foxvillage.com/FVDShowResults/(rknqrsyeguejrx55i1kvm455)/Class.aspx?sh=1702&cl=3

In the Young Rider division, Tanya Strasser Shostak of Ste. Adele, QC rode Action Tyme, Evi Strasser’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Aktuell, to a fifth place finish on a final score of 67.105%. Sydney Holme of North Saanich, BC earned a final score of 66.553% placing eighth atop Day Dreamer, her 11-year-old Rheinlander gelding sired by Dream of Heidelberg and Anneka Sutton of Drumbo, ON took Donnegan, Karen Thomson’s 10-year-old Canadian-bred Hanoverian sired by Don Frederico, to 14th place, finishing on 65.079%.

Top Three Individual Young Rider Results
Gold – Uhlir Ayden/Sjapoer/Region 6, USA
Silver – Jamie Pestana/Winzalot/Region 7, USA
Bronze – Devon Wycoff/Power Play/ Region 5, USA

Top Three Canadian results
5th- Tanya Strasser Shostak/Action Tyme/67.105%
8th- Sydney Holme/ Day Dreamer/66.553%
14th- Anneka Sutton/ Donnegan/65.079%

For complete results visit: http://www.foxvillage.com/FVDShowResults/(rknqrsyeguejrx55i1kvm455)/Class.aspx?sh=1702&cl=4

Eventing

Canadian eventers, Haley Armstrong Laframboise of Mono, ON and Dasha Ivandaeva of Tottenham, ON had successful starts today in the Young Rider Championship CH-Y2* division earning their best dressage scores to date.
“I was the most nervous I’ve ever been going into the dressage test, but Dejavu went into the ring like a true professional. It is the best she’s ever been, which resulted in us achieving a personal best,” said Armstrong Laframboise. “I’m looking to move up in the ranking during tomorrow’s cross country and hopefully finish in the top three.”

In what was a highly competitive phase, Armstrong Laframboise and Dejavu, Jan Bigelow’s 11-year-old Canadian-bred American Warmblood mare sired by Dreitakt, finished their test with a score of 53.9, placing seventh. Team-mate Ivandaeva finished 11th on 58.9 aboard Autorytet, her 11-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding sired by Banita. With less than one show jumping rail separating the top seven riders, tomorrow’s cross country will be an exciting contest with riders vying for a clear cross country performance before heading into Sunday’s show jumping.

“I thought both riders rode in a very professional manner. They presented the test well and both had their personal bests. These riders are stepping up in the biggest competition of their lives, being extremely professional and riding well,” said Jennifer Kellock, Chef d’ Equipe, Team Ontario.

“I thought the riders did a fantastic job this morning with their dressage. Hayley had the best test of her career, right here in Rolex Stadium, and she did an incredible job riding every single stride of the test squeezing out every single mark she could. Dasha went in and laid down a solid test as well. Both tests were very professionally done, and I’m very proud of what they accomplished in that ring” stated Jessica Phoenix, Coach Team Ontario.

“I am feeling very confident going into cross country. In preparation, both riders have walked the course three times already, and are primed and ready to go. We had a very good training session this morning and they all jumped extremely well. There are three water obstacles on the cross country course, which is more than usual, but these horses are fit and ready. Both riders are sitting on very experienced cross country horses, and I think everyone is really excited to watch them tackle the course tomorrow.”

Top Three Individual Standings
1st – Caroline Martin/Quantum Solace/ Area III) USA/ 50.2
2nd – Rowdie Adams/No Money Down/(Area V) USA/50.9
3rd – Jennifer Caras/Fernhill Flag/(Area III) USA/52.0

Canadian Individual Standings
7th – Haley Armstrong Laframboise/Dejavu/53.9
11th- Dasha Ivandaeva/ Autorytet/ 58.9

For complete individual results visit: https://www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/CompUp/Data/Result367.pdf

Jumping

Canadian Junior rider, Adrien Vilcini of Peterborough, ON completed his experience at the NAJYRC by winning second place in show jumping’s Farewell Class today.

Vilcini and I AM, John Jamieson’s 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, rode the course in 63.990 seconds posting a faster time than class winner, Victoria Colvin (78.450), but took an unfortunate rail adding four faults to his final score for a second place finish.

“Adrien and I AM had a great round in the ring today. It was a wonderful opportunity to finish the event on a very positive note. Overall, Adrien learned a great deal by competing at this level. It’s given him valuable insight into where to make improvements and what he needs to do to prepare for future competitions. I’m proud of his accomplishments this past week and happy he’s had a positive learning experience that will serve him well in the future,” said Hyde Moffatt, Chef d’equipe.

Endurance

At the time of reporting the official results for Endurance had not be posted. Unofficially, Canadian Endurance riders won silver in both the Individual and Team championships. Full coverage of the event will be provided in tomorrow’s edition of Equine Canada’s Daily Wrap Up.