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 (Wellington, Fla.) and Dalia claimed the individual gold medal in today's FEI Junior Individual Test, earning a personal-best score of 71.059% and taking first place from all five judges. Adélia Gauthier (CAN) and Fayette DDS earned silver with a personal-best score of 68.382%, and Lauren Polk (Atlanta, Ga.) and Donauwelle P rounded out the podium in bronze with a personal-best score of 68.000%.
McWhorter, the only rider to break 70% today, credited a long-term focus on the basics for their milestone performance.
"It feels incredible. It's the culmination of our development as a team, Dalia and I. It was made possible with the help of my coach, Allie Brott. It feels really incredible to begin to have the next level of harmony in our riding as we go forward. We've taken a lot of time to work on the basics and improve our connection as a pair," McWhorter said.
Asked to describe Dalia, a 2015 Hanoverian mare (Harmony’s Don Nobelesse x Contendro I), co-owned by McWhorter and Stephanie Mills, in one word, McWhorter didn't hesitate: "Beautiful."
Gauthier, who earned silver aboard Fayette DDS, said the mare gave everything throughout the test.
"My test felt great from the beginning until the end. I never felt that way in a ring before — she was with me; she gave all her heart, and everything was flowing. We came a long way to get that suppleness, and I think that's probably the highlight of my ride. To everybody else, it's probably our changes, because she has great changes," Gauthier said.
Polk, aboard Donauwelle P, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding (Don Frederico x Wolkentanz), owned by Dawn Haynie, said Wednesday's tension in the walk gave way to a career-best ride.
"It's amazing to come and score the best you've ever scored in a competition at this high level. Our first ride on Wednesday wasn't the best, but we really managed to control the tension this time and just put out what we had. For today to be my personal best is really just amazing," Polk said.
FEI Children's Team Competition
Canada topped today's Children's Team Competition podium, posting a combined score of 207.701 to take the gold medal. Region 1 & 6 earned silver with a combined score of 206.093, and Region 3 & 8 rounded out the podium in bronze position with 204.951.
Representing gold medal-winning Canada were Isla Grant and Wonder Woman, Estella Gosniak and Impact, and Annabelle Gauthier and Northwind Marrakesh, led by Chef d'Equipe Jillian Taylor-Mancusi.
Grant, competing at her first NAYC, said the win still feels surreal.
"This is insane! It's my first year at NAYC, and we worked so hard to get here. Credit goes to my horse and my teammates and Team Canada. They pushed me all the way here. This is just a dream come true," Grant said.
Gosniak said the team turned around a previous, difficult first NAYC appearance last year.
"For me, this is everything. This is my second year at NAYC. Last year, we didn't do super great, but we came back this year, and I think my team is doing so amazingly. I couldn't wish for anything more," Gosniak said.
Gauthier, competing in her final year of NAYC Children's eligibility, said the medal carried extra meaning alongside her sister's finish earlier in the week.
"Winning this test means everything, because last year I came, and this year is my last year in FEI Children's. I'm sharing this moment with all of my teammates and my sister, who came here too, and won silver in the FEI Junior category this morning," Gauthier said.
Representing silver medal-winning Region 1/6 Team were Samantha Wood (Huntingdon, Pa.) and Dulcinée, a 2017 Westphalian mare (Diamo Blue x Lucky Point), owned by Lindsay Shaw; Adelyn Burris (Gig Harbor, Wash.) and Dolittle, her own 2008 KWPN gelding (Stjerreljocht Surprise x Waterman); and Annika Helinski (Otis Orchards, Wash.) and Stuffy, a 2017 Welsh Pony Cross gelding (Unknown x Unknown), owned by Allie Helinski; who posted the top individual score of the competition. The team was led by Chef d'Equipe Debbie Delgiornio.
Helinski called it the biggest moment of her life so far.
"This is the biggest moment of my life and I'm so thankful for all my teammates who have helped me get here. Watching Canada and watching the Mexican team has helped so much; just seeing the way they ride, it's so pleasant and so beautiful. I'm just so happy to be here with my team. I couldn't have done it without them," Helinski said.
Burris said NAYC has become something of a family tradition.
"NAYC is such a crazy thing in my family – my mom went, my aunt went, and my cousin went multiple times. I'm so grateful that I got to share this silver medal with my team. I'm beyond grateful for everyone who has helped me on my way here," Burris said.
Wood said simply qualifying for the championship still feels surreal.
"The whole aspect of NAYC is amazing because we're welcoming all these youth riders to such a big, international horse show. It's kind of crazy that I even get to be sitting here in this moment. It's just amazing to be here in general," Wood said.
Representing bronze medal-winning Region 3/8 Team were Austin Hermann (Cumming, Ga.) and Genevieve HF, his own 2011 KWPN mare (Unknown x Unknown); Brooklyn Young (Loganville, Ga.) and Mio Bello Ragazzo, her own 2010 Morgan gelding (Unknown x Unknown); and Juliana Sardelli (Warwick, R.I.) and Cupid, her own 2017 Gypsy Cross gelding (Lazarus of Feathered Gold x Unknown), with the team advised by Chef d'Equipe Elizabeth Molloy.
Young said her teammates pushed her to improve throughout the week.
"It means so much to be on this podium with my teammates, Austin and Juliana. They push you to work harder and do better than the last test you did," Young said.
Sardelli said the team format offers lessons beyond the arena.
"NAYC is very unique because of the team. It means a lot to me to work with other people, learn leadership, and have a great support system. I think it's really important that we're on a team and we can learn these skills along the way," Sardelli said.
Dressage competition continues on Saturday, July 31, with the FEI Young Rider Individual Competition beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST, followed by the FEI Children's Individual Competition at 1:00 p.m. EST. Competition will conclude for U25 athletes and horses, with the U25 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST.
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