Dressage competition continued Thursday at the 2023 North American Youth Dressage Championships with the Junior Teams taking center stage and the U.S. Regions sweeping the podium.
Thirty-six horse-and-rider combinations went head-to-head across nine teams, with the team of combined USDF Regions 4 and 6 coming out on top of the podium with a total score of 204.575. USDF Region 3 earned the silver medal on a score of 204.364, and USDF Region 8 earned the bronze with 203.787.
Wright Spearheads Region 4/6 to Team Gold
Fifteen-year-old Norah Wright and her own Baccos Do Retiro, an 18-year-old Andalusian gelding by Poderoso do Retiro x Dardo II, scored the highest for the winning Region 6/4 team, riding to a 68.939% which placed them 6th in the individual ranking. Teammate Lexi Kment rode Laureen Van Norman’s 19-year-old warmblood Montagny von der Heide (by Hibiscus x Munchhausen) to 68.727% and a 7th place.
The pair were the anchors for their region, and Kment, a gold medal veteran of NAYC, just wanted to go in and have a fun ride with “Monty.” She explained, “It means a lot [to be back on a winning NAYC team]; it is super special because coming into this competition this year, I came in wanting to have fun. I went into the ring today with a big smile on my face, I was so proud of these girls and how well they did, and I just knew that whatever was going to happen was going to happen.”
“Retro [Ronvair] is my mom’s horse,” Martz explained. “It feels really special to be taking him at 19 years old and competing with him because he is a horse that my mom bred and trained, and right now she is battling cancer, and it feels really special to be able to be here to experience it all on her horse that she did everything with.”
Silver for Region 3
The silver medal team of Region 3 was comprised of Justine Boyer and Campanero HGF (by Camaron IX x Adelante), Tessa Geven and Sir Frederico (by Sandro Hit x Don Frederico), Madison Sumner and the KWPNxFriesian cross bred Briar, and Virginia Woodcock and her own Mollegardens Sans-Souci.
Woodcock, who was the anchor rider for the team, achieved a score of 69.303% and fourth place with the 9-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (by Sir Donnerhall x Sam Sam).
“It means so much to be here with these girls,” Woodcock said. “It’s been really fun to be a part of this team, the support between us has been amazing, and I wasn’t expecting to be here, and this is a pleasant result; it’s very exciting.”
Region 8 Gets Bronze
The bronze-medal winning Region 8 Team included Lucy Sheldon and Porsche’s Florencia (by Furst Heinrich x Ferman, Sophia Forsyth and Gestut Bonhomme's former stallion Dimagico (by Dimaggio x Jazz Time) , and team high scorer Leah Drew and Damon’s Davian (by Damon Hill x Newcastle). Drew produced the top result for her team with 69.757% and a third place.
The winning ride of the day came from Region 2 member Allison Berger on the 9-year old Hanoverian mare Delacure (by Deveraux x Brentano II) with 70.061%?. The runner up was Region 1's Sienna Rowe on the 13-year old Westfalian Lightfire Just Do It (by Lugato x Furst Piccolo) with 69.909%.
Mexico was supposed to field its first ever junior team to the NAYC, but unfortunately in the end two team members dropped out and only
Text © USEF press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © KTB Creative Group
Related Links
Scores: 2023 North American Youth Championships
Region 3 and Canada Win Team Gold at 2023 North American Young Riders and U25 Championships
Inaugural Under 25 Championship at 2023 North American Youth Championships
U.S. Riders Announced for the 2023 North American Youth Championships
Canadian Teams Announced for 2023 North American Youth Championships