A heat-wave and thunderstorms failed to throw the next talented generation off their stride at the FEI North American Junior & Young Riders’ Championships, which came to a thrilling conclusion at the Horse Park In Kentucky, USA on July 31st. Open to riders from the USA, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands, the five-day action-packed fixture attracted 250 entries, all hoping to make their mark in the five disciplines of Dressage, Endurance, Reining, Jumping and Eventing.
DRESSAGE
US Region 5 captured Young Rider Dressage Team gold. Aylin Corapcioglu (Ruhmann), Madeleine Birch (Uceri), Catherine Chamberline (Verdicci) and Brandi Roenick (Pretty Lady) completed with a combined score of 198.104, but only pipped Canada BC/QC – Emily Fownes (Frapuccino), Mathilde Tetrault (Michelango), Anna Mylai Messier (Marzipan) and Esmee Ingham (Norseman) – by just over one point, while USA Region 8 were less than another point further adrift in bronze.
Roenick produced the highest score of the competition, 69.289, and the 16 year old from Arizona complimented her team-mates – “it’s an awesome opportunity to ride with these girls and really get to know them” she said. Canada’s Esmee Ingham put the Canadian silver medal in context. “Since British Columbia is on the West Coast and Quebec City is so far east, for us to come together as a team having never met, and to take a medal is really incredible!” she pointed out.
Roenick had to settle for silver in the Individual Championship however when Isabelle Leibler (Watson) took gold and fellow-American Chase Hickok (Palermo) claimed the bronze. And it was Hickok who moved into silver medal position in the Freestyle in which Leibler’s flawless performance with her 14 year old Westphalian gelding earned a winning score of 74.00 – “he just felt like he was right there for me….it was the most amazing feeling” Leibler said. Mackinzie Pooley claimed the bronze with her last ride in international competiton with the 20 year old Oldenburg Jonkara.
The victory by Region 1 in the Junior Team Dressage Championship was all the more laudable for the fact that Kyra Endreson (Pik L), Julia Burtt (Aaron VI) and Dominique Cassavetis (Charming Princess) had no room for drop-score on their three-strong side. With 199.189 on the board however they pinned Region 5 into silver medal position while Region 8 took the bronze. America’s Sadie Lahey (Up to Date) won the Individual title ahead of Canada’s Sarah Loewen (Ricardo) in silver and Monica Houwelling (Stentano) in bronze. Lahy said of her horse “my trainer calls him Dennis the Menace – the entire week he’s knocking everything over, he’s pulling chairs down, knocking trunks over and saying hi to anyone who will come near him!”.
In the Junior Freestyle however it was the Canadians in the driving seat with Loewen clinching gold, Houwelling taking silver and America’s Burtt in bronze. Loewen described her musical score as “fun – my horse dances to it, I think it suits his personality!”.
ENDURANCE
For the first time in the event’s history, the FEI North American YR/J Championships added Endurance to the list with competitions at CEI2* and CEI4* level. The 4-Star team champions were USA’s Lindsay Bean (Tektonic), Devan Horn (DJB Sameill), Kyle Gibbon (Missu Koran) and Kelsey Russell (My Wild Irish Gold) who negotiated the 75-mile track despite intense heat and humidity in a collective time of 25 hours, 25 minutes and 31 seconds.
Individually, Russell claimed gold, Bean took silver and Gibbon the bronze. “I just took it slow and easy” Florida-based Russell explained. “I tried to let the horse pace themselves because they’re good at knowing how fast they can go”. Russell called on her horse’s reserves for a memorable finish. “We trotted all the way until the last turn and then cantered – there were horses behind us, and they just wanted to race, so we let them!” she said.
CEI2* team gold went to USA Northeast A whose collective ride time of 25 hours, 40 minutes and 57 seconds. The side consisted of Bean (Tektonic), Gibbon (Missu Koran), Forest Green (LR Amana Tabi) and Steven Hay (Khalil Asam). “The track was easy to follow” said Ha, “but the heat was a big deal. It required smart riding”.
Silver went to USA Southeast’s Russell (My Wild Irish Gold), Mallory Capps (Precious Beaunita), Mary Kathryn Clark (DA Al Capone) and Cassandra Roberts (SA Belshazarr. Capps explained “we did a lot of electrolyting and lots of ice water. People took it slow. Usually we have faster times”.
Bashir took Individual gold, Roberts claimed silver and bronze went to Hay. Texas native Bashir said her horse “handled the heat well. The first loop was better because it was cooler. We started slowing down throughout the day. I tried to keep a consistent pace and that seemed to help us out”.
REINING
Team Canada defended the title in the Young Riders Reining Championship with gold for the Alberta/Manitoba side of Lisa Hiebert (Watch Tiger Jack), Jessica Green (A Geniune Story), Kylie Wasiuta (Smart Boom) and Nancy Pratch (Rooster Kicker). Seasoned veterans Pratch and Wasiuta knew just what it would take to come out on top. “The horses were great and we had very nice, consistent runs that helped us stay on top” said Pratch. “It is a huge honour, and we are proud to represent Canada at such an important event” she added. Wasiuta said “I’ve been to each and every Young Riders since Parker, and I cannot think of a better way for me to go out on this, my last year competing as a Young Rider. I never dreamed that I would one day be a gold medalist. It is the most important thing I’ve ever accomplished”.
Mexico’s team silver medal was particularly impressive as the country was taking part for the very first time. And they had to show true grit after losing their anchor horse belonging to Alberto Aguilar in the veterinary inspection. The three cousins Jesus Arturo Leal, Gerardo Leal and Gilberto Leal rose to the challenge however, and were only edged out by Canada in the closing stages. Speaking for his team-mates, Aguilar said afterwards “we are very proud to bring the silver medal back to Mexico and we give many thanks to our horses, our coaches and to the sponsors and organisers of this amazing event”. The team from Saskatchwan, Canada took bronze.
It was Will Leitner and A Geniune Diamond who claimed the the Young Rider Individual title ahead of fellow-American Laura Sumrall (Einsteins Fancy Free) in silver and Canada’s Shelbie Friesen (Golden Lena Chex) in bronze. Sumrall held the lead coming to the end of the competition, but Leitner’s last-to-go effort pushed her down to silver medal spot when the 20 year old from Harris, MO, earned a whole point more for the winning score of 218.5. “He was great”, Leitner said of his 12 year old Paint. “I couldn’t have asked for more horse today. He doesn’t really have a bad day and today was the best day he’s ever had!”
Sumrall went into a run-off for silver with Friesen after both scored 217.5, and edged her opponent out. There was also a small Junior division in which Canada’s Lane Wilson steered No Finer Shiner to gold ahead of Tiffany Wynn from Kentucky while another Canadian, Emily Wilson took bronze.
JUMPING
American Juniors and Young Riders dominated the Jumping Championships with US Zone 4 leading the Junior victory gallop and US Zone 4 scooping the Young Rider honours. Michael Hughes (Shockwave), Hayley Barnhill (Toucan Tango) Hasbrouck Donovan (Delilah) and Frances Land (Merlin) earned Junior gold with a team total of just 12 faults. “It feels amazing” said 18 year old Barnhill. “Zone 4 has never won a gold medal here, and its just awesome to be the first ones to do it”. Team manager Kim Land said “I’m really proud of them, and how they helped each other, they’ve had their ups and downs this week and today everybody just came together and got better and better”.
Zones 4 and 2 were tied with 12 faults each after the second round so it went to a tense jump-off in which three clear rounds sealed it for Zone 4. Silver went to Zone 2’s Callie Smith (Captain Krutzmann), Gabrielle Bausano (Ubico H), Charlotte Jacobs (Karonda V Schlossihof) and Maria Van Buskirk (VDL Theresa Lady) while the US Zone 1/6 team of Brooke Cudmore (Ocelot), Sydney Shulman (Gun Du Desfi), Dana Scott (Caracas 49) and Avery Waite (Brisco) claimed the bronze.
It was Zone 3’s Samantha Schaefer and the 15 year old Belgian mare Trezebees who scooped the individual honours as team gold medallists Frances Land and Hayley Barnhill had to settle for silver and bronze this time around. Schaefer commented – “my mare has a lot of blood, and the beginning of the week she was wild. But in hindsight I’m glad she has that much blood because she was able to last through all the heat, all the days, all the jumping. Today she felt like she did the first day”.
Zone 4’s Chase Boggie (Hennessy), Liza Finsness (Ormsby Hill), Jordan Coyne (Lazaro) and Samantha Senft (Early Morning) took the Young Rider Team Jumping title even before Boggio entered the ring. Senft has an unusual training programme for her mare. “During the week we only trail ride, and we only do one or two jumps in the warmup, and before we go in the ring I have to sing Justin Bieber to her. I’m not kidding – if I don’t she will not perform as well!” she insisted. Zone 10’s Cayla Richards (Faustino), Danielle Korsh (San Diego), Sage Flynn (Hot Pants) and Kendall Skreden (Esperanto) took silver while Zone 2’s Katherine Dinan (Vancouver), Francesca Bolfo (Venus TR), Danielle Cooper (Calantus) and Karen Polle (Cachette Z) claimed bronze.
In the Individual Championship it was Zone 2’s Katherine Dinan and her 13 year old New Zealand thoroughbred gelding, Vancouver, who clinched the Young Rider golden prize ahead of Senft in silver and Korsh in bronze. Dinan led the way into the closing stages. “It was definitely challenging with five classes” she pointed out afterwards. “He’s (Vancouver) the kind of horse that will do two or three classes at a horse show, so I was expecting him to be a little less alert today, but he was really good. I have 100% faith and confidence in him. I know he can jump the world. I’m a very lucky girl” she added.
EVENTING
Devon Brown and Dynamic Image led the CCI2* Young Riders Eventing Championship from start to finish and helped Area 3 to team gold. “It’s unreal” said Brown after finishing her jumping round and taking on board just what she had achieved. “I came here just hoping for a good run in all three phases and to give him a good, confident run. I was a little worried because he hadn’t done much all spring. It was just amazing, he just went above and beyond, and just tried his heart out!” she enthused. Jacob Fletcher and his flashy coloured Australian Sport Horse gelding Falcon Splash moved up from seventh to take silver medal position with a double-clear cross-country and show jumping leaving them on a total of 57.2, just over seven marks behind the winner. “My goal was to make time on cross-country and have clean show jumping” Fletcher said, “but to go from ninth (after dressage) to second….I don’t think anyone can foresee that in such a big competition”.
Sarah Kamensky and Urlanmore Beauty dropped from silver to bronze with a single last-day rail on the ground. Area 11 took team gold with the scores from Brown, Kamensky, Emily Renfroe (Walk the Line) and Libby Head (Sir Rockstar) combining for a total of 168.6. Areas V/IX slid into silver medal spot when Fletcher, Kendyl Tracy (Every So Lucky), Emma Kate Fisher (Carlingford’s Merlot) and Rowdie Jo Adams (No Money Down) posted a total of 178.2. “It an absolute honour and the experience of a lifetime to be here. It really feels like we’ve made it and that’s a huge stepping stone”, Adams exclaimed. Canada slotted into third with 233.2 on the board for Joelle Baskerville (Malibu) William Dow (Midleton), Melissa Boutin (Siamese Kat) and Christian Bennett (Rolex).
In the Junior CCI1* less than five points separated the top five coming into the final jumping phase and Alyssa Philipps’ good and fast round in 52.7 seconds clinched the gold with her 19 year old thoroughbred Sundance Bay. “It’s so surreal right now” she said. The course rode really nicely and the striding was good for my horse. I was worried about a couple of fences because I thought he might be tired from cross-country and because of his age, but he pulled it off really well”. She said she was crying tears of joy when second after the dressage phase, and was tearful again about her veteran partner on the final day. “He’s one of a kind. At 19 you wouldn’t think he’d still be going. He’s done so much for me. He’s so special” she added. Sable Geisler’s mistake at the first element of the combination saw her lose her overnight lead and slip to silver medal position with Evil Munchkin while Brooke Pickering and Abbey Rhode took bronze.
The Junior team from Area V led from start to finish. Victoria New (Bally Whatnot), Phillips (Sundance Bay), Avery Klunick (In It to Win It), and Alexa Ehlers (In Any Event) scored 184.4 to pin Area VI – Piper Leddick (Emmie Lou), Zachary Brandt (Cavallino Cocktail), Kaitlin Veltkamp (Flashpoint D) and Madeleine Sexton (NRV Peter the Great) – back into silver while Ontario’s Giesler, April Simmonds (Sunday Best) and Pickering took bronze.
RESULTS
Young Rider Team Dressage Championship: GOLD – Region 5 198.104 – Ruhmann (Aylin Corapcioglu), 61.632, Uceri (Madeleine Birch) 67.026 Verdicci (Catherine Chamberline) 61.79, Pretty Lady (Brandi Roenick) 69.289; SILVER – Canada BC/QC 197.027 – Frapuccino (Emily Fownes) 61.974, Michelango (Mathilde Tetrault) 68.816, Marzipan (Anne Mylai Messier) 65.553, Norseman (Esmee Ingham) 64.658; BRONZE – Region 8 196.132 – Chackomo M (Alexandra Potasky) 63.079, Watson (Isabelle Leibler) 68.079, top (Madeleine Van Vleet) 58.237, Leonardo (Marlee O’Neill) 64.974.
Young Rider Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD – Watson 108 (Isabelle Leibler) USA 67.289; SILVER – Pretty Lady (Brandi Roenick) USA 67.158; BRONZE – Palermo (Chase Hickok) USA 66.842.
Young Rider Freestyle Dressage Championship: GOLD – Watson 108 (Isabelle Leibler) USA 74.000; SILVER – Palermo (Chase Hickok) USA 70.725; BRONZE – Jonkara (Mackinzie Pooley) USA 70.004.
Junior Team Dressage Championship: GOLD – Region 1 199.189 – Pik L (Kya Endreson) 66.432, Aaron VI (Julia Burtt) 67.054, Charming Princess (Dominique Cassavetis) 65.703; SILVER – Region 5 195.865 – Raoul (Taylor Lindsten) 64.757, Westfalica (Talia Hershaft) 65.351, Daylight (Brook Santiagelo) 65.757, Power Play (Devon Wycoff) 62.568; BRONZE – Region 8 190.432 – Lunas 4 (Morgan Wolfe) 60.351, Panash (Stephanie Early) 62.297, Divinci (Leah Myers) 64.270, Sipriano (Maggie Charbonnet) 63.865.
Junior Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD – Up to Date P (Sadie Lahey) USA 67.868; SILVER – Ricardo (Sarah Loewen) CAN 67.079; BRONZE – Stentano (Monica Houwelling) CAN 66.605.
Junior Freestyle Dressage Championship: GOLD – Ricardo (Sarah Loewen) CAN 69.675; SILVER – Stentano (Monica Houwelling) CAN 67.700; BRONZE – Aaron VI (Julia Burtt) USA 67.150.
Young Rider Reining Team Championship: GOLD – Canada (Alberta/Manitoba) 623.00 – Watch Tiger Jack (Lisa Hiebert), A Genuine Story (Jessica Green), Smart Boom (Kylie Wasiuta), Rooster Kicker (Nancy Pratch); SILVER – Mexico 619.5 – Smart Little Elan (Jesus Arturo Leal), Dunit Lady Whiz (Gerardo Leal), Paddys Irish Cody (Gilberto Leal); Canada (Saskatchewan) – Check That Remmi (Jon Katzman), Golden Lena Chex (Shelbie Friesen), Melody of the West (sBrett Dembrsk), Okie Dokie Juice (Lindsay Wankel).
Young Rider Reining Individual Championship: GOLD – A Geniune Diamond (Will Leitner) USA 218.50; SILVER – Einsteins Fancy Free (Laura Sumrall) USA 217.50; BRONZE – Golden Lena Chex (Shelbie Friesen) CAN 217.50.
Junior Individual Reining Championship: GOLD – No Finer Shiner (Lane Wilson) can; SILVER – I Gotta Whiz (Tiffany Wynn) USA; BRONZE – Miss Cielo Chex (Emily Wilson) CAN.
Young Rider Team Jumping Championship: GOLD – USA Zone 4 12 – Early Morning (Samantha Senft), Lazaro (Jordan Coyne), Ormsby Hill (Liza Finsness), hennessy (Chase Boggio); SILVER – USA Zone 10 15 – Faustino (Cayla Richards), San Diego (Danielle Korsh), Hot Pants (Sage Flynn), Esperanto (Kendall Skreden); BRONZE – USA Zone 2 16 – Vancouver (Katherine Dinan), Venus TR (Francesca Bolfo), Calantus (Danielle Cooper), Cachette Z (Karen Polle).
Young Rider Individual Jumping Championship: GOLD – Vancouver (Katherine Dinan) Zone 2 10.14; SILVER – Early Morning (Samantha Senft) Zone 4 10.24; BRONZE – San Diego (Danielle Korsh) Zone 10 16.57.
Junior Team Jumping Championship: GOLD – USA Zone 4 12 – Toucan Tango (Hayley Barnhill), Delilah (Hasbrouck Donovan), Shockwave (Michael Hughes), Merlin (Frances Land); SILVER – USA Zone 2 12 – Captain Krutzmann (Callie Smith), Ubico H (Gabrielle Bausano), Karonda V Schlosslihof (Charlotte Jacobs), vdl Theresa Lady (Maria Van Buskirk); BRONZE – USA Zone 1/6 16 – Gun Du Desfi (Sydney Shulman), Ocelot (Brooke Cudmore), Caracas 49 (Kana Scott), Brisco (Avery Waite).
Junior Individual Jumping Championship: GOLD – Trezebees (Samantha Schaefer) Zone 3 0/33.95; SILVER – Merlin (Frances Land) Zone 4 0/35.81; BRONZE – Toucan Tango (Hayley Barnhill) Zone 4 4/35.80.
Young Rider Endurance CEI4* Team Championship: GOLD – USA – Tektonic (Lindsay Bean), DJB Samelli (Devan Horn), Missu Koran (Kyle Gibbon), Kelsey Russell (My Wild Irish Gold).
Young Rider Individual Endurance CEI4* Championship: GOLD – My Wild Irish Gold (Kelsey Russell) USA; SILVER – Tektonic (Lindsay Bean) USA; BRONZE – Missu Koran (Kyle Gibbon) USA.
Young Rider Team Endurance CEI2* Championship: GOLD USA Northeast – Tektonic (Lindsay Bean), Missu Koran (Kyle Gibbon), Lr Amana Tabi (Forest Green), Khalil Asam (Forest Green); SILVER – Tektonic (Kelsey Russell), Missu Koran (Kyle Gibbon), LR Amana Tabi (Forest Green), Khalil Asam (Steven Hay).
Young Rider Individual Endurance CEI2* Championship: GOLD – Dazed and Amazed (Sophia Bashir) USA: SILVER – SA Belshazarr (Cassandra Roberts) USA; BRONZE – Khalil Asam (Steven Hay) USA.
Young Rider Team Eventing Championship: GOLD – USA Area 111 168.6 – Walk the Line (Emily Renfroe), Sir Rockstar (Libby Head), Urlanmore Beauty (Sarah Kamensky), Dynamic Image (Devon Brown); SILVER – USA Area V/IX 178.2 – Falcon Splash (Jacob Fletcher), Carlingford’s Forever (Emma Kate Fisher), Ever So Lucky) Kendyl Tracy), No Money Down (Rowdie Joe Adams); BRONZE – Canaa 237.2 – Midleton (William Dow), Siamese Kat (Melissa boutin), Rolex (Christian Bennett), Malibu (Joelle Baskerville).
Young Rider Individual Eventing Championship: GOLD – Dynamic Imag (Devon Brown) USA 50.5; SILVER – Falcon Splash (Jacob Fletcher) USA 57.2; BRONZE – Urlanmore Beauty (Sarah KEMENSKY) USA 58.4.
Junior Team Eventing Championship: GOLD – USA Area V 184.4 – In It To Win It (Avery Klunick), Bally Whatnot (Victoria New), In Any Event (Alexa Ehlers), Sundance Bay (Alyssa Phillips); SILVER – USA Area VI 205.2 – Emmie Lou (Piper Leddick), NVR Peter the Great (Madeleine Sexton), Cavallino Cocktail (Zachary Brandt), Flashpoint D (Kaitlin Veltkamp); BRONZE – Ontario 219.8 – Ichabod (Haley Armstrong-Laframboise), Sunday Best (April Simmonds), Abbey Rhode (Brook Pickering), Evil Munchkin (Sable Giesler).
Junior Individual Eventing Championship: GOLD – Sundance Bay (Alyssa Phillips) USA 52.7; SILVER – Evil Munchkin (Sable Giesler) CAN 56.3; BRONZE – Abbey Rhode (Brook Pickering) CAN 56.7.
For more details on the FEI North American Young Rider and Junior Championships 2011 go to http://www.youngriders.org/
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