- The first day, Wednesday, July 28, of the 2010 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships got underway with the dressage team competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Ky. The young rider team compiled from Regions 5 and 6 went home victorious with a combined score of 199.84.
- The team started their day with a 59.26 percent from Madeline Birch, 18, from Heber City, Utah, riding an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Starlight. Two solid scores from the Arizonians Laura DeCesari, 20, from Tucson, riding Cheenook II (66.05%) and Brandi Roenick, 15, from Scottsdale on Nobel (64.52%) followed. Jhesika Wells, 20, and Intrepid put in the final score of 69.26 percent to bring home the gold medal.
- As well as being part of the gold medal team, Wells, from Redmond, Wa., and her 20-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Intrepid’s 69.26 percent was the highest score of the day. Canadians Megan Lane and Jaimie Holland were close behind with a 67.47 and 67.26 percents, respectively.
- The Region 5/6 team encompasses much of the western United States including, Utah, Arizona and Washington. The four girls only paired up at the start of the show, but even the youngest teammate Roenick, 15, said, it was great “being able to meet new girls and be on a team and immediately click. It’s fun to have that bond with teammates.”
- Team Ontario was right on Region 5/6’s heels, missing the gold medal by only 1.4 percentage points. The team was spearheaded by 19-year-old Lane, from Collingwood, Ont., riding Caravella (67.47%). For 21-year-olds Amy Jager, Waterloo, Ont., riding Key West (63.64%) and Holland, Caledon, Ont., on Fleurina (67.26%), their team medal was bittersweet since it’s their final NAJYRC. Maura O’Sullivan, 18, on Pik Czar made the jump from the juniors to young riders this year with a 58.10 percent.
- O’Sullivan and Lane teamed up for the second time after being victorious on the junior team in 2009. The duo made the leap to young riders this year and took their team to second. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Lane said. “It’s my horse’s first time at this level, and I’m over the moon about how she did.”
- With a total score of 196.77, the combined Regions 4 and 8 Team took home the bronze medal. Tessa Dick, 21, riding Lord Chalk Hill, “Charlie” a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding, was the first ride into the arena and laid down a 64.68 percent that would be difficult to match. Mary Bahniuk Lauritsen, 21, from Harvard, Mass., and Rossignol-ISF scored a solid 62.42 percent, while Meagan Davis, 21, Stone Ridge, N.Y., on Bentley put down a 66.84 percent.
- Hans Baertsch, 17, from Duluth, Minn., on Rubinstar GB, contributed a 62.57 percent, and made the Region 4/8 the only co-ed team to leave with a medal from Wednesday’s competition
- Davis and Bentley put last year’s fall in the freestyle test firmly behind them with a score of 66.84 percent, a team bronze medal and the fifth best score of the day. “I didn’t think about it and neither did he,” Davis said.
- Region 4 rider Dick, Baldwin City, Kan., got off to an inauspicious start earlier this week when her truck broke down about an hour from Lexington.
- In the junior team competition, the Canadian team from British Columbia was victorious with a combined total of 201.28. Esmee Ingham, from West Vancouver, B.C., riding Norseman had the second highest overall score of the day with a 69.02 percent. Teammate Monica Houweling, Delta, B.C., and Stentano came just behind with a score of 67.35 percent. Sylvie Fraser and World Star LHF contributed the third score with a 64.91 percent.
- Stentano, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding, cut his nose on a water bucket the night he arrived in Kentucky. He required stitches which were removed the day before the junior team competition. Immediately rubbing his nose, he re-opened the wound, which didn’t seem to cause him or Houweling any trouble in the ring, as they took the junior team gold medal home.
- The silver medal went to Region 7. The team was lead by 17-year-old Jamie Pestana, Copperopolis, Calif., and Winzalot who scored 69.45 percent, the highest score of the day. Teammates Meg Adams, 18, Woodland, Calif., and N.A.S.H. (64.32%), Stephanie Early, 16, Salinas, Calif., and Panash (64.00%), and Genay Vaugn, 16, Elk Grove, Calif., on Waranja (63.62%), placed back-to-back to give the team an overall score of 197.78.
- The combined team from Regions 3 and 4 earned the bronze with an overall score of 193.67. Stephanie Bedford, 18, Atworth Ga., and Whalen scored 65.62%. Claire Krska, 17, Olathe, Kan., and Romincka placed well with a 64.59 percent. The baby on the team, Rebecca Cohen, 14, Wellington, Fla., and Downtown gave the team their third score of 63.45 percent. Alexandra Kitchen, Atlanta, Ga., and the 9-year-old Westphalian, Ronaldo were solid at their first NAJYRC with a 62.10 percent. “I never thought we would get here at the start of the season,” Bedford said. “We are all first year juniors, so it’s exciting.”
- Judge Joan McCartney commented on the improvements NAJYRC judges have seen over the years. “I think what hit me most of all this time is how the quality of the horses has improved in leaps and bounds,” she said. “Each year you see a step up, and we are seeing correct riding and harmonic rides.”
- Simon Solaro from France and Mauricio Landa from Mexico rounded out the international dressage competitors at NAJYRC, the only FEI championships held annually on U.S. soil.
- Many of the riders found themselves fighting tears as they took in the magnanimity of showing at the Kentucky Horse Park, a few months from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. “The coolest part is when you drive down the highway and see the sign for the World Equestrian Games,” said Holland. “It is an unbelievable venue.”
- Thursday’s competition includes the young rider dressage individual championship, young rider CCI** dressage and the team reining final.
