Day 1:
July 26, 2011 — Move-in day at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) is an exercise in semi-organized chaos.? Convoys of horse vans roll through the picturesque entrance to the Kentucky Horse Park, and license plates from around the United States and Canada adorn vehicles parked haphazardly in the horse stabling area.? Stable attendants direct trailers to appropriate horse barns, horses whinny with excitement and welcome, Junior and Young Rider competitors unload armload after armload of dressage and horse equipment, and the show offices hum with activity as final preparations are made for one of the continent’s premier dressage championships.?| Read More
Day 2:
July 27, 2011 — Dressage Juniors and Dressage Young Riders got their first experience today as to what it will feel like to compete in the jaw-dropping Rolex Stadium during this week’s Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY.? Riders were understandably impressed by the expanse and atmosphere of the arena, including Region 7 Young Rider Kelli Newton, who couldn’t help but smile after schooling her mount Luciano.? “I was here to watch the World Equestrian Games last year, and all I could think as we walked down the ramp into the stadium was that this was the same place that Steffen Peters and all the other amazing horses and riders from around the world competed last fall.” | Read More
Day 3:
July 28, 2011 — Dressage riders struggled not only with first-day jitters but also crippling heat as Team competition got underway? Wednesday at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY.? In the Young Rider division, the U.S. Region 5 team persevered for gold, while the Canadian British Columbia/Quebec team earned the silver medal and U.S. Region 8 took bronze.? For Juniors, the U.S. Region 1 team topped all challengers, despite being at a disadvantage by having only three team members and therefore no drop score.? The silver medal went to U.S. Region 5, and the bronze was again claimed by U.S. Region 8. |?Read More
Day 4:
July 30, 2011 –?Another full day of intense dressage competition concluded Thursday as Juniors and Young Riders vied for Individual dressage medals at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY.? In the Young Rider division of dressage, Isabelle Leibler rode Watson 108?(Region 8 ) to the gold medal, as Brandi Roenick and Pretty Lady (Region 5) claimed silver and Chase Hickok with Palermo (Region 1) earned bronze.? For Juniors, Region 6’s Sadie Lahey and Up To Date P earned gold, with the silver medal being awarded to Sarah Loewen with Ricardo (Canada-Manitoba) and Monica Houweling and Stentano (Canada-West) receiving bronze in dressage. |?Read More
Day 5:
August 1, 2011 — As storm clouds cleared and the setting sun spotlighted freestyle dressage competitors on the final day of the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, it was also the sunset of a brilliant horse’s career.? Twenty-year-old Jonkara, beloved partner of Mackinzie Pooley from Coto de Caza, CA, confidently cantered into the Rolex Stadium for her final performance.? And fittingly, a gutsy test earned Pooley and her fiesty black Oldenburg mare the Young Rider Freestyle Bronze Medal with a score of 70.004%. | Read More
