Lexie Kment and Sophia Rokstad became the individual gold medal winners at the 2025 North American Young Riders Championships at the Flintridge Horse Park in Traverse City, MI, on 29 July - 3 August 2025.
NAYRC
The NAYRC brings together top athletes aged 12 to 21 years from Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean for the chance to compete for team and individual medals in a Championship format.
The event began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Americans and Canadians young riders at Joker’s Hill, Ontario. In 1981 dressage was added and ran as the North American Young Riders Championships (NAYRC). In 2006 the Junior division was added it it became the NAJYRC. In 2023 an Under 25 division was implemented and the NAJYRC ran under the North American Youth Championship (NAYC) banner. In 2025 the Children division got added to the programme.
In the absence of a Canadian team (only 2 individuals), the North America Young Riders Championships could no longer be considered a continental championship and was downgraded from FEI level to USEF level with its own set of USEF medals.
Kment Wins Individual Test Gold
“This week is probably one of the most special of the entire year for me,” said Kment. “To compete on this international stage surrounded by the people and horses I love is just so incredible. I’ve grown up with Gatino, we’ve known each other for nearly nine years, and to win together with my mom as part of our team is so meaningful.”
Kment is an NAYC routinier, having won 7 gold medals at NAYC and 9 in total, including double individual gold at the 2021 North American Junior Riders Championships; bronze on Montagny von der Heide at the 2022 NAJRC and team gold at the 2023 NAJRC. Lexie took over the ride on Gatino van Hof Olympia from her mom and trainer Jami Kment, who showed him at international small tour level in Wellington in 2019 and 2020.
Anna Swackhammer (CAN) and her 12-year old Oldenburg mare Fabienna GV (by by Fackeltanz x August der Starke) captured the silver medal with a score of 68.206%, delivering a focused and polished performance in what marked her final year as a Young Rider.
“I went into that test determined,” said Swackhammer. “It’s my seventh NAYC, and I knew I had to make it count. This week was bittersweet but so rewarding to end it with this ride.”
“This is my first NAYC without my mom, so being here with my aunt and this incredible horse, Rihanna; it really meant the world to me,” said Martz. “Being part of these programs has changed my career. I’m so thankful for everyone who supports us here.”
Rihanna Ymas was donated to Dressage4Kids by Christina Danguillecourt after her daughter Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt (ESP) had a successful career on the mare. The family found the horse as a youngster at the Marbach Riding Horse auction. Martz won individual silver on Rihanna at the 2024 North American Junior Riders Championships and moved to Young Riders level this year.
Olivia's mom Brook Irving-Martz was a long-time supporter of youth dressage and a former NAYC athlete. Irving-Martz passed away in February of this year after battling a rare form of cancer. At the NAYC the the inaugural Brook Irving-Martz Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy was awarded to Children champion Grace Christianson.
Kur Gold for Sophia Rokstad
With Canada's entries for the NAYC sadly diminishing every year, it came as a courageous statement of swimming against the current when Canadian Sophia Rokstad won gold in the Kur to Music finals on Sunday 3 August 2025. Due to Canada's lack of entries the NAYRC was downgraded from an FEI continental championship to a USEF hosted CDI event.
“Last year, we were eliminated in the Individual test, and that was really hard on me mentally,” said Rokstad. "I picked up the walk and unfortunately he slipped his tongue over the bit and it was something that had never happened before; so it was really shocking to me and I didn't quite realize that that was happening in the moment. The judges rang the bell on me. It was quite shocking to me. It felt like the world came crashing down on me. I had this goal for years since I was a little girl. For all this be gone in the blink of an eye was heart-breaking. Ever since se left last year I had my sight set on this year. Today I went thinking whatever happens happens. Winning that is so surreal. I can't believe it."
Hailing from Langley B.C., Rokstad purchased Lord Nunes from Korean Dong Seon Kim in the autumn of 2023 and he became her schoolmaster to make the transition into the FEI international youth classes. She trains with Ashley Donadt.
Lexie Kment and Gatino Van Hof Olympia took silver with a score of 73.325%, adding a third medal to her NAYC tally this week.
“This week has been so incredible,” said Kment. “To be able to compete here as a Young Rider with a horse I know so well and love so much, and with my mom as my coach and teammate, it’s just really special. Riding to my freestyle music, 'The Truth' by Megan Woods, I had the biggest smile on my face the whole way down centerline. This song fully captures God’s never ending love and the truth that we all are seen as worthy and loved by Him. I’ve been coming to NAYC for years, and to walk away from this one with three medals and so many memories is something I’ll always hold close.”
“I’ve had him since he was an unbroke 3-year-old,” said Roth who trains with Sarah Tubman in Wellington, Florida. “To ride into an arena like this and feel at home is everything. I was really proud of our left pirouette, it’s come so far this year.”
Roth also reflected on what it meant to compete as part of a full team and give back to younger athletes in the Children’s division. “Our Region 2 team is like home base for me,” she said. “It was really fun to have the Children’s division added this year because we could mentor those younger riders. I’ve done NAYC before, and so have my teammates, and we got to support the kids who were experiencing it for the first time. We all made it into the freestyle, and watching everyone get better each day was amazing.”
Photos © US Equestrian - Text © USEF, edited by Eurodressage
Related Links
Scores: 2025 North American Youth Championships
Region 4 Grabs Team Gold at 2025 North American Young Riders Championships
U.S. Riders and Teams Named for 2025 North American Youth Championships
U.S. Riders Named for 2025 North American Under 25 Championships
Canadian Riders Selected for 2025 North American Youth Championships
Region 3 and Region 3/5 Win Team Gold at 2024 North American Youth Championships