The rebranded FEI/Adequan North American Youth Championship (NAYC), presented by Gotham North, is off to a much-anticipated fresh start in 2018.

In its 44-year history, the North American Youth Championship (originally the North American Young Rider Championships, and later the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships) has developed some outstanding equestrians. Olympic competitors such as show jumpers Kent Farrington, McLain Ward, and Laura Tidball-Balisky, eventers Holly Jacks-Smither and Karen Oโ€™Connor, and dressage riders Allison Brock and Adrienne Lyle all came up through its ranks.

For many years, the championship that started in 1974 at Jokerโ€™s Hill, Ontario, as an eventing challenge between Americans and Canadians was the premier equestrian competition in North America for 16-21-year-olds. What was then known as the NAYRC added dressage in 1981 and show jumping in 1982, the same year British Columbia hosted all three disciplines together. A junior division for ages 14-18 was incorporated in 2006. Reining (2008), endurance (2011), and para-dressage (2016) were also added. The championship is currently the only FEI-sanctioned championship held annually in North America, and offers young equestrians from the US, Canada, and Mexico an opportunity to compete as part of a team in a simulated Olympic event.

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