HISTORIC MOMENT: Para-equestrian dressage joined the NAJYRC lineup in 2015. Team USA won the gold medal. On podium: team members Sydney Collier, Kate Shoemaker, and Cambry Kaylor; and US para-dressage chef d’équipe Kai Handt. Joining judges and other VIPs was US Para-Equestrian Association president Hope Hand (front row, center). Susan Stickle photo
The FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for Dressage is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, ages 14-21. Young equestrians vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, show jumping, and eventing. The competition is run under FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the international governing body of equestrian sport, and is the only FEI championship held annually on this continent. This year’s competition recently concluded on August 14, 2022. We take this opportunity to look back on some of the past competitions. Editor’s note: The competition was previously known as the North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC).
2011
Julia Burtt, Kya Endreson and Dominique Cassavetis, Gold Medal Junior Dressage Team from Region 1 at the 2011 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Kentucky.
2012
For the third year in a row, the USDF Region 5 Young Rider team stood atop the medal podium at the NAJYRC Susan Stickle photoJUNIOR TEAM GOLD MEDALISTS: Team Quebec/Canada Susan Stickle photoTriple YR gold medalist Brandi Roenick on Weltino’s Magic, owned by Jen Hlavacek Susan Stickle photo
2013
YR TEAM CHAMPS: Gold medalists Teresa Adams, Ariel Thomas, Jamie Pestana, and Jaclyn Pepper from Region 7 Susan Stickle photoRegion 6’s Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer won both the YR Individual and the YR Freestyle championship titles Susan Stickle photoCanada/Quebec’s Laurence Blais Tétrault and Lowelas won Junior Team gold as well as Junior Freestyle gold Susan Stickle photo
2014
NAJYRC YR team, individual, and freestyle gold medalist Catherine Chamberlain on Verdicci Susan Stickle photoYOUNG RIDER TEAM GOLD MEDALISTS: Region 7 riders Anna Buffini, Cassidy Gallman, Catherine Chamberlain, and Lindsey Brewin Susan Stickle photoJUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONS: Katie Lang, Hannah Bauer, Bebe Davis, and Molly Paris of USDF Region 1 Susan Stickle photo
2015
Region 7 team gold medalists Samantha Jenny, Cassidy Gallman, Lindsey Brewin, and Catherine Chamberlain Susan Stickle photoYR INDIVIDUAL GOLD: Natalie Pai riding Fritz San Tino Susan Stickle photoJUNIOR INDIVIDUAL GOLD: Region 2’s Helen Claire McNulty on Checkmate Susan Stickle photo
2016
YR TEAM CHAMPIONS: Region 1 gold medalists Nicholas Hansen, Elizabeth Bortuzzo, Mallory Chambers, and Lian Wolfe Susan Stickle photoJUNIOR INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS: Vanessa Creech-Terauds (silver), Jenna Upchurch (gold), Carlos Maldonado Lara (bronze) Susan Stickle photoTriple NAJYRC Young Rider dressage gold medalist Nicholas Hansen on Ritter Benno Susan Stickle photoJUNIOR TEAM MEDALISTS: Region 4 (silver), Region 3 (gold), Regions 1/6 (bronze) Susan Stickle photo
YOUNG RIDER TEAM GOLD: A downpour couldn’t dampen the spirits of Team Quebec/Alberta, Canada Susan Stickle photoJUNIOR TEAM GOLD: USDF Region 3 riders Susan Stickle photoJunior Team Gold Medalist: Juliette Cain of Region 3 on Mariska Susan Stickle photoTEAM PRIDE: The 2018 NAYC dressage teams gather before the start of competition Susan Stickle photo
2019
HISTORIC MOMENT: The Junior team’s 2019 win was the first gold medal for a Region 4 NAYC dressage team. Team chef d’équipe David Wightman (front) stands with Hannah Thiher, Maggie Elsbernd, Averi Allen, and Nicolas Beck. Meg McGuire photoYOUNG RIDER TEAM GOLD MEDALISTS: Region 1’s Hannah Irons, Megan Peterson, Kayla Kadlubek, and Anna Weniger with chef d’équipe Debbie DelGiorno Meg McGuire photoJUNIOR DOUBLE GOLD: Annelise Klepper of Ohio, the youngest junior dressage competitor at the 2019 NAYC, won Junior Individual and Freestyle gold medals aboard the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding Happy Texas Moonlight (Happy Diamond x Top of Class) Meg McGuire photo
The United States Equestrian Federation licenses dressage judges at three levels. Here we give a brief explanation of licenses, as well as requirements for judging specific classes.
