NAJYRC

Traverse City, Mich. – The 2026 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, concluded competition Sunday, August 2, at Flintfields Horse Park with the FEI Junior Individual and FEI Young Rider Individual Freestyles. This year's championship marked a historic first for NAYC dressage. Four nations competed in multiple categories throughout the week, with the U.S., Canada, and Mexico joined for the first time ever by the Cayman Islands. Junior Individual Freestyle...

Traverse City, Mich. – Competition continued today at the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, with individual medals awarded in both the Young Riders and Children's Individual Competitions. The CDIOU25 Grand Prix Freestyle concluded an exciting day of dressage at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Mich. FEI Young Riders Individual Test Eila Fisk (Aiken, S.C.) and Quaresma, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (Quatersprung x Fuerstenball OLD), owned by Gina...

Taking center stage the moment they enter the sandbox is Juliana Sardelli and her own black and white pinto pony, Cupid. Known for his goofy personality and love for food, this 2017 Gypsy Cross gelding (Lazarus of Feathered Gold x Turning Point Sateen) is one everyone falls in love with, including his pasture mates. “He has an incredible personality and can help you do pretty much anything you set your mind to. He is so sweet and cuddly, and I love how willing he is,” said Sardelli....

The FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, is considered one of the most exciting weeks of the year for many young athletes, but for Region 6 Young Rider Olivia Martz, it has also become a week of remembrance and celebration for a different reason. Olivia and Rihanna at the 2025 NAYC (Photo courtesy of the Martz family) Born into a horsey family, Martz was surrounded by horses the moment she opened her eyes, and she learned to walk at NAYC while her mother was...

Traverse City, Mich. — Dressage competition continued Friday, July 31, at the 2026 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, at Flintfields Horse Park, with the FEI Junior Individual Test and the FEI Children's Team Competition. FEI Junior Individual Test Bennett McWhorter and Dalia (©US Equestrian) Bennett McWhorter (Wellington, Fla.) and Dalia claimed the individual gold medal in today's FEI Junior Individual Test, earning a personal-best score of...

Emmeline Adamick has her eyes set on stepping onto the podium as a winner at this year's Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) presented by USHJA. Set to take place at Traverse City Horse Shows’ Flintfields Horse Park, Adamick shares what makes this event so special to her and fellow competitors alike. Serving as the only FEI-recognized youth championship in North America, NAYC gives young and aspiring athletes an opportunity to compete in a format similar to...

Three and a half months ago, Vee Stavroula Dravilas didn't know she'd be heading to NAYC aboard her trainer, Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn's, Grand Prix mare, Wilona HSR. She didn't even know the mare would be her ride at all for the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships presented by USDF . Getting there meant working through a disappointment first. Dravilas aboard Wilona HSR at the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships presented by USDF (©US Equestrian) In late...

Traverse City, Mich. — Dressage competition continued on Thursday, July 30, at the 2026 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships (NAYC), presented by USDF, at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Mich., with the FEI Young Rider Team Test and the FEI U25 Grand Prix 16-25 taking center stage. FEI Young Rider Team Test Region 3 topped the FEI Young Rider Team Test podium, posting a combined score of 198.941 to take the gold medal. Region 9 earned silver with a combined team score...

With multiple podium finishes at Capital Challenge, Pennsylvania National, Devon, WIHS, and USEF Pony Finals, Cisy Zhou is well known amongst pony competitors. However, in the past year, the 11-year-old rider from New York, N.Y. has expressed her growing interest in the jumper ring and will be one to watch out for. In the saddle since she was 3, Zhou has taken to riding as fish takes to water, and now finds herself excelling in the hunters, equitation, and jumpers. Attending the Gotham...

Like many young athletes, Ayers can speak to the magnitude this championship has had not only on herself, but others as well. “The thing about NAYC is that I’ve made so many friends and getting to show somewhere different is amazing,” she said. “I'm so excited; you really can’t top the team experience; I really do love it.” Last year, Ayers assisted the Zone 4 winning team to gold and finished seventh in the individual competition in a division chock-full...

Traverse City, Mich . — Competition officially began today in the FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships presented by USDF at the 2026 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), with the Junior Team Test, Children's Preliminary Test B and U25 Intermediate II kicking off dressage action at Flintfield Horse Park. FEI Junior Team Test Region 2 took top honors in the Junior Team Test, posting a combined score of 201.879 to finish in gold medal position. Region 3 earned silver...

Some horses make an impression because of what they accomplish in the arena. Others leave an impression because of who they are when they walk back through the barn aisle. For Katie Nayak (Tucson, Ariz.), her partner is special because he is both. Technically, Nayak’s horse is named Iniesto, a 2013 Andalusian gelding (Dimarts x Euro V), owned by Pamela Farthing. But that name is rarely used. Katie Nayak and Iniesto (©Teri Miller, Courtesy of the Nayak family) “I call him...