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 of 194.853, and Canada’s Team Ontario rounded out the podium in bronze position with 193.705.
Representing the gold medal-winning Region 3 Team were the combinations of Allison Berger (Wellington, Fla.) and Delacure, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding (Deveraux 3 x Brentano II), co-owned by Allison and Marianne Berger; Ava Babnick (Starke, Fla.) and Sir Sincere, her own 2015 Westphalian gelding (LDB Sunday x Florestan I); Reece O'Keefe (Wellington, Fla.) and Kamora, her own KWPN mare (Dark Pleasure x Blue Hors Zack);and Eila Fisk (Aiken, S.C.) and Quaresma, a 2016 Oldenburg gelding (Quantensprung 3 x Feurstenball OLD), owned by Gina Fisk, under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Katharine McQueen. Fisk and Quaresma posted the top individual score of the class with a 67.529%.
Fisk said returning to NAYC with Quaresma, a year after anchoring Region 3's Junior team to gold on the same horse, made the win especially meaningful.
"To be here on team competition day is really cool because last year was my first year representing Region 3. It was also my first year at NAYC. My horse and I were able to anchor our Region 3 team to gold. I would have never thought one year later we could ever do that at the Young Rider level; that was our goal. To be here on top with my beautiful team that I love so much is just a crazy feeling," Fisk said.
Asked about the highlight of her test, Fisk pointed to her horse's changes.
"[Quaresma] has always been a little bit sensitive in his changes, especially in our Junior career. To see him get it today, it was so on the beat, he was like a schoolmaster out there. He was so expressive and happy to be there in that moment, and he was relaxed," Fisk said.
Berger, aboard Delacure, said the team's bond carried them through the day.
"We've had such great spirits in the barn, and we've really bonded as a team,” she explained, “To do this together was such an honor and such a fun day. Delacure really tried his heart out for me. I've been riding him since Juniors, so I'm so proud of him as well.”
Babnick, competing at her first championship with Sir Sincere, said the gold came as a pleasant surprise.
"I'm over the moon happy. It's our first championship together, so I definitely wasn't expecting a gold medal. My team is just incredible, and it's an amazing feeling," Babnick said.
In the silver medal-winning Region 9 lineup, athletes pointed to team chemistry as a defining factor in their finish. Representing Region 9 were M.K. Connaster (Dallas, Texas) and Schnell's Highlight, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding (Blue HorsHotline x Rotspon), co-owned by M.K. and Aubrey Connaster; Catherine Schmidt (Houston, Texas) and Fontainebleau JCD, a 2013 Westphalian gelding (Feedback x San Amour), owned by Kelly Battle; Sloane Macomber (Benbrook, Texas) and Elburg T, her own 2009 KWPN gelding (Oscar x Ronaldo); and Adeline Batcheller (Little Rock, Ark.) and Luminosity JP, her own U.S.-bred KWPN gelding (Glamourdale x Sir Sinclair), and riding for Chef d'Equipe Marsha Lewis.
"My team is amazing. Adeline and I did Juniors together in 2024, and Sloane has been at Young Riders before, and so has Kate, so we've all been here at least once before. We all just have so much fun together, it's such a fun team environment, and we're all there to lift each other up. We love to cheer each other on and I think that really helps lift our team when we do well," Connatser said.
Schmidt said the team's long history together added to the emotion of the day.
"Being part of this team is just surreal because we've known each other forever. We all go down to Houston to compete together. We're best friends. I think all of us cried happy tears today for everybody. It's been a really good day, and we're really proud of this team," Schmidt said.
Macomber praised her teammates' support throughout the competition.
"This team is just so incredible. After you finish a test, no matter how you did, they're always there cheering for you, and before you get on, if you need anything, they're always there for you. We lift each other up, we cheer loudly for each other, and our horses are all very good friends too. I think it's just harmony all throughout and I'm so proud of everyone here," Macomber said.
Batcheller said the week has been defined by time spent with her teammates.
"Being here with this team has been so fun so far this week. I love these girls — it's fun to be in the barn with them every day and spend time with our horses and each other. It's been a great week so far," Batcheller said.
Rounding out the podium in bronze position was Canada’s Team Ontario, represented by Sapphire Daly and Stiletto, Taylor Wells and Hidalgo AYM, Imogen Hawes and Knights Cavollo Dolce, and Eliza Marshall and Ramazzotti Langholt.
FEI U25 Grand Prix 16-25 Test
Erin Nichols (Wellington, Fla.) and Kind Pleasure, a 2015 KWPN gelding (Governor-STR x Blue Hors Zack), owned by Premiere Sport Horses, claimed individual gold in the FEI U25 Grand Prix 16-25 Test, posting a score of 68.513%. Alicia Berger (Wellington, Fla.) and Aqua Marin, a 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Ampere x Stedinger), co-owned by Alicia and Marianne Berger, earned the silver medal with a 66.846%, and Canada's Brooke Mancusi (CAN) and DeJohn Ymas, a 2008 KWPN gelding (Glock’s Johnson TN x Sandro Hit), owned by BM Dressage, took bronze with a personal-best score of 66.205%.
Nichols, competing with Kind Pleasure at their first championship together, said the partnership is still finding their footing in the ring.
"I think we're really growing as a team,” she explained. “We have been learning how he acts in that championship setting; he's a little bit shy. After getting his confidence up and going around, he did a foot-perfect test except for the last centerline. That just tells me there's always something to work on, something to learn from, and to look forward to in the future."
Nichols said she's especially looking forward to unveiling her freestyle. "My music is a surprise, but it's one of my favorite freestyles I've ever made. I'm really excited for everyone to see it," she said.
Berger, who earned silver aboard Aqua Marin, said the U25 division has been an important steppingstone in her and her horse's development.
"Sometimes athletes jump straight from Young Riders to the senior Grand Prix, and it's such a big jump. The U25, at least for me, not only allowed me to step up to the Grand Prix, but it also provided an opportunity for my horse too. The coolest part to me is sitting here with [Nichols and Mancusi], two other very talented young ladies going through the same thing. We can all walk out of the test proud of what we've done, have these green moments together, and build friendships that last into some of the more difficult times in dressage," Berger said.
Berger also spoke fondly of her horse's enthusiasm in the ring.
"I call [Aqua Marin] my pocket rocket. He's full of so much excitement and enthusiasm, and he just has fun out there. He thinks everyone is there clapping for him, which is really fun, and he just gives it his all. It's such a pleasure to ride a horse that really tries," Berger said.
Mancusi, the lone Canadian rider in the U25 division, said representing her country at NAYC carries extra weight in her final year of eligibility.
"It's really such a great country, and it's really hard for us to get a horse to be here at this level. It's always a pleasure to walk away with a medal. It's my last year, so it's bittersweet," Mancusi said.
Mancusi called her test with DeJohn Ymas one of their strongest outings together. "It was probably one of our better entries,” she said, “Our piaffe and passage with the first half was good. We got all the changes today; the pirouettes were good, and extensions were good. He was just really with me the whole time, and it was really good. We really tried.”
Dressage competition continues Friday, July 31, with the Junior Individual Test, beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST, followed by the Children’s Team Test at 2:30 p.m. EST.
Stay up to date all week long with schedules, scores, and stories here.
Schedule | Start Lists & Results
2026 FEI North American Youth Championships Livestream
The 2026 FEI North American Youth Championships will be streamed live on ClipMyHorse.TV. US Equestrian members, subscribers, and fans receive a 10% discount on ClipMyHorse.TV premium memberships. Create your free fan account now.
Stay Connected
Follow USA Dressage on Facebook and Instagram, USA Jumping on Facebook and Instagram, and US Equestrian on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
The USEF International High Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.