Traverse City, Mich. – A dream came through for Erin Nichols on Saturday at the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championship (NAYC) as she finished in gold-medal position for the Individual Young Rider Dressage division. Erin Nichols and Handsome Rob AR. ©KTB Creative Group Nichols (Yorba Linda, Calif.) expertly guided her own Handsome Rob AR, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding, through a precise and flowing test that earned a 69.000% from the judges. The victory comes after Nichols and...

Herning, Denmark – The Adequan U.S. Para Dressage Team captured the bronze medal in team competition to stand on the podium in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships at Herning 2022. The team finished on a final score of 225.335 behind Denmark who took silver on a 229.751. The Dutch team won their second consecutive FEI World Championship gold, finishing on a team total of 230.225. The Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championship will conclude tomorrow...

Traverse City, Mich. – At the midway point of the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC), Ella Fruchterman has already racked up a pair of gold medals in the Junior Dressage division. Ella Fruchterman and Holts Le'Mans. ©KTB Creative Group Fruchterman (West Lakeland, Minn.) and Holts Le’Mans, her own 2011 Danish Warmblood gelding, were part of the Region 4 team that won gold on Wednesday’s Junior Team Competition. On Friday, the pair clinched the...

Herning, Denmark – The Adequan U.S. Para Dressage Team had a strong start to the first day of team competition and are firmly in the running for a podium position at the conclusion of team competition tomorrow. Kate Shoemaker and Quiana led the team off this morning, earning a 75.415 percent in Grade IV competition, followed by Beatrice de Lavalette and Sixth Sense, who earned a 73.235 percent in Grade II. Roxanne Trunnell and Fortunato H20, the youngest horse in the entire competition,...

Lucinda Donaldson and Audi. ©Andrew Ryback When 15-year-old Lucinda (Lucy) Donaldson gave her final salute in the opening junior dressage test of the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championship , it was the realization of dreams. The top-15 finish in her NAYC debut was an accomplishment for her, her horse Audi, and her entire family. Lucinda, who represents Region 1 from Parkesburg, Pa., is the daughter of equine vet Mark Donaldson and stepdaughter of USDF gold, silver and bronze medalist...

Children’s and Pre-Junior competitors took to the podium for the first time during team competition on Thursday at the Gotham North FEI North American Youth Championships for Jumping, presented by USHJA. Canada took the top spot on the first podium of the day, claiming gold in the Children’s Team Competition for teammates Taylor Wood, Livia Martin, Tristan Tobin, and Mathilde Candele. In the Pre-Junior division, Zone 7 claimed the top honors with Campbell Brown (Fayetteville, Ark.),...

Traverse City, Mich. – Team dressage competition concluded Wednesday at the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championships with the Young Riders completing their team tests under perfect weather conditions at Flintfields Horse Park. Sophia Schults and Conocido HGF. ©KTB Creative Group The team gold medal went to the combined USA Region 3/Region 9 team of Sophia Schults (Wellington, Fla.) and Conocido HGF; Mary Claire Piller (Oakdale, Tenn.) and Oreo; Sydney Schultz (Mandeville, La.) and...

Herning, Denmark – Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.) and El Corona Texel secured the first medal of the games for the U.S. contingent, bringing home an individual bronze medal in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Grade III Championship presented by Elsass Fonden. The duo received a 73.147 percent for third, while Tobias Thorning Joergensen (DEN) and Jolene Hill took gold with a 78.676 percent and Natasha Baker (GBR) and Keystone Dawn Chorus earned silver on a 73.970...

Herning, Denmark – The NetJets U.S. Jumping Team concluded team competition today in the Agria FEI World Jumping Championships in eleventh place, just missing out on qualification for round two of team competition, which will be held tomorrow under the lights in Stuterri ASK Stadium. Only the top ten teams from Round I qualified to move forward to tomorrow’s final, with McLain Ward and Contagious, as well as Brian Moggre and Balou du Reventon, moving forward as individual...

Traverse City, Mich. – History repeated itself on the first day of competition at the 2022 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for dressage as the Junior team representing Region 4 won team gold for the second consecutive year. The 2022 NAYC Region 4 Junior Dressage Team. ©KTB Creative Not only was it a repeat win for the region, but the roster was made up of veteran horse-and-athlete combinations from the 2021 Region 4 Junior Team. Lexie Kment (Palmyra, Neb.) and Montagny...