- With two strong rounds the Canada-Alberta team took home the gold in the junior team jumping competition at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. The Canada-Alberta team, Jasmine Wiggins riding Little Milton, Bretton Chad riding Calle 11, Alexandria Smith riding Calira and Ben Asselin riding Lolita combined for a total of 13 faults.
- The silver went to the team from Zone 4, Paige Coles riding Pacific Touch, Frances Land riding Merlin, Michael Hughes on Pracht and Hayley Barnhill on Toucan Tango (24 faults).
- Zone 10, Kendall Skreden on Esperanto, Jocelyn Neff on Gaja 20, Lindsay Douglas on Pernot, and Audrey Coulter riding Rodenburghs California took home the bronze with 32 faults.
- The course, designed by Olaf Petersen, was a challenge to the junior teams and included an open water and several related distances. Wiggins, 16, went clear the first time around but dropped a foot in the water on the second go. “This water was different. It is tougher,” she said. “The second time I made a mistake, and we were in the water.” Smith agreed, “That water was pretty bright blue. I didn’t want to fall off in that water,” she said. “The water is always tough; you have to ride like your ass is on fire.”
- This was the first time to NAJYRC for each of the Canada-Alberta teammates, who grew up showing and riding against each other. “I think being on a team is a great thing,” Asselin, 16, said. “It gives young riders like us a chance to feel the pressure.”
- The team win continued Canada’s winning streak at NAJYRC, after the reining and dressage teams took home medals earlier in the week. “We are a small town and a small place,” Chad, 17, said. “It’s cool to come here and show everybody that Alberta has riders too.”
- All four riders are looking ahead to Sunday’s individual competition, but they admitted that anything is possible in show jumping. “Every day is a new day, and Sunday it will be a tougher course,” Chad said. “We all have been on a pretty good roll and have confidence.”
For full results, check out YoungRiders.org.
