Region 2's junior riders team and Region 3/6 Under 25 team captured the team gold medal on the first day of competition at the 2026 North American Youth Championships at Flintfield Horse Park in Traverse City, MI, U.S.A.
The 2026 NAYC started on Wednesday 29 July with the Junior Team Test, Children's Preliminary Test B, and U25 Intermediate II. For the juniors and U25 Grand Prix riders the competition was serious straight away as team medals were to be won.
Junior Riders: Region 2 Gets Team Gold
Region 2 took top honours in the Junior Team Test, posting a combined score of 201.879 to finish in gold medal position. Region 3 earned silver with a combined score of 198.273, and Region 5 rounded out the podium in bronze position with 196.393.
Representing gold medal-winning Region 2 were Grace Christianson (Noblesville, Ind.) and Outsider DRH, Vee Dravilas (Medinah, Ill.) and Wilona HSR, Autumn Vavrick (Oxford, Mo.) and One De La Fazenda, and Madelynn Williams (West Lafayette, Ind.) and FHF Rockstar, under Chef d'Equipe Angela Jackson.
Christianson, competing on Outsider DRH, a 2019 KWPN gelding (by Spielberg x Apache), owned by Karissa Gearen, in his first major competition, said she was pleased with her mount's focus in the ring. "He was very focused in the ring today. I was very pleased with him, especially being seven years old; this was his first big competition. It's so much fun being on a team with these girls. It's really fun to be back and doing well with them again," Christianson said.
Dravilas, aboard a new partner this year in Wilona HSR, a 2014 U.S.-bred Oldenburg mare (by Wild Dance x Davignon I), owned by Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn, described a season that took an unexpected turn before the pairing came together. "I originally was going to compete with a different horse, but at our first show of the season he turned up feeling off. My trainer, Kate Fleming Kuhn, gave me the opportunity to lease her mare, Wilona HSR. I'd only been riding her for two weeks before our first show, but I'm really grateful to be able to be here and ride her considering what a rough start we had this season," Dravilas said.
Williams, also aboard a new mount this year in FHF Rockstar, a 2013 Oldenburg gelding (by Routinier x Cottonwood Flame), owned by Jennifer Kaiser, known at home as Junior, credited the horse's personality for helping the transition. "Junior has a really quirky personality, always loving, always scratches. I've only been on him for about two and a half months. This opportunity turned out really well, and I couldn't be more grateful for it. I just wanted to put out a clean test today," Williams said.
Vavrick, riding One De La Fazenda said the 2019 KWPN gelding (by Valverde x OO-Seven), owned by Eleonora Frey, felt especially sharp in Traverse City. "My test today, he felt so good, especially compared to yesterday's ride. He was always right there, which is a new thing for me compared to horses I've ridden in the past. Riding him rather than owning him has been really honoring. He's super special, and he's very genuine," Vavrick said.
In the silver medal-winning Region 3 lineup, Bennett McWhorter (Wellington, Fla.) and Dalia, a 2016 Hanoverian mare (by Don Nobelesse x Contendro I), co-owned by McWorter and Stephanie Mills, posted the top individual score of the day of 71.182%.
"It feels really incredible to see all of our hard work pay off. Our goal today was just to have a beautiful and harmonious ride, and going into the future, to continue showing dressage as the art form that it is, to really help our sport and make it look beautiful," McWhorter said.
Under 25: Combined Region 3 & 6 Go For Team Gold
The U25 division took to the arena for the Intermediate II Team Test. Region 3 & 6 claimed gold with a combined score of 197.794, Region 1/5/7 earned silver with 194.510, and Region 2/4/8 took bronze with 187.010.
Nichols and Kind Pleasure posted the top individual score of the competition with a personal best of 70.245%.
Nichols said the team's lack of a drop score raised the stakes for every ride.
"I'm so proud of our team. We didn't have a drop score, so we really had to come and give it our all, and we did that today. I'm so happy for every one of us. Our horses really tried hard. My horse is a little on the shyer side, so coming here, he really blossomed. That was a personal highlight for me," Nichols said.
Berger credited her teammates for setting the tone before her final ride.
"Kylee had set down a great foundation, and I just tried to build on that. My horse, opposite of Erin's, is really gung-ho, we call [Aqua Marin] a little pocket rocket. He gave me so much in the arena today. Then Erin finished it off and totally built on what we had both done and kicked it out of the park. You can't ask for a better team than that," Berger said.
McKereghan said her mare's composure carried the opening ride.
"We went in and we did it, and we all tried our best, and all of our horses did super well. I was super proud of [Red Riding Hood AN]. She went in calmly and did all the movements. I'm super happy with her because she was cool and collected," McKereghan said.
Children: Warm-Up Round with the Preliminary test
Dawson credited her support team for helping her reach the championships.
"I'm very excited. My trainer has been Jennifer Kaiser for a while, so a big thank you to her because she's helped me a long way. Big shout-out to my parents; they've helped me get here. We travel about two hours to get to Kaiser about twice a month, so it's been an exciting experience," Dawson said.
Dawson also spoke fondly of her mare's personality.
"She does tricks! She knows how to give fist bumps, hugs and kisses. She's really sweet. She just loves attention and wants to give it back," Dawson said.
-- USEF press release - Photos © US Equestrian/Centre Line Media
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