Lexington, VA—August 2, 2007—Canada won the Junior Dressage team Gold Medal at the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North and UlcerGard, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.

Canada earned its Gold Medal with a combined score of 204.450 points. The team consists of Jade Deter of Kemptville, Ontario who scored 69.750% on Mastermind, Jaimie Holland of Caledon, Ontario, who scored 67.800% on Fleurina, Sara Regehr of Vernon, British Columbia, who scored 66.900% on Danika, and Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar of Bluffton, Alberta who scored 66.750% on Oslo.

Winning the team Silver Medal was the USA Region 2 team that received a score of 201.100. The Bronze Medal went to the USA Region 1 team with a score of 197.950. Each team’s score is based on the team’s best three (of four) rides. Teams with three riders must count all three scores.

“I was so happy with my horse today,” said Deter whose individual score was the best of the day. “He kept his poll up. It’s so exciting that we won; I wasn’t sure if our lead would hold up against the strong American teams.”

The USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Division continues with the Young Riders individual Prix St. Georges on Friday, followed by a musical freestyle championship on Saturday for those who qualify. Juniors compete for the individual championship on Saturday and a freestyle competition for qualified riders on Sunday.

In eventing, the first championship division to get under way was the CCI** for young riders which had its dressage test. Jessica DiGenova of Norval, Ontario, holds the lead with a score of 46.4 penalties on Upolu. Jennifer Brannigan of Chicago, IL, who scored 55.8 on Kozmo is second, and Robyn Miller of Milverton, Ontario who scored 57.8 on T’Jean is third. The teams from Ontario/Alberta and Area III & X combined are first and second in the team competition with scores of 162.2 and 178.6 respectively and the combined team of riders from Areas VI & II is third with 180.2.

The other championship division in the USEA Eventing Division, the CCI* for juniors, has its dressage test on Friday. Both divisions have cross country on Saturday and the final show jumping phase on Sunday when both team and individual medals are awarded.

Show jumping competition for Young Riders and for Juniors started on Thursday. Held in the beautiful Anderson Coliseum at the Virginia Horse Center, the show jumping classes included a faults-converted speed class (1.40-1.45m) for Young Riders, won by Aurora Griffin of Westlake Village, CA on Tucker and a timed first round speed class (1.35-1.40m) for Juniors, won by Katherine Newman of Upperville, VA on Costa Sur with one of only two clear rounds. There was also a Table A 1.30m class for the Non-Championship division that was won by Saer Coulter of San Francisco, CA on Hayden.

Competition in the USHJA Show Jumping Division continues with the Nations’ Cup-style competition that determines the team medals on Friday. Saturday features a farewell competition for riders who have not qualified to compete in Sunday’s individual championship. Those that have qualified will compete for individual medals in the championship rounds on Sunday.

Young equestrians have come to the Championships from the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as a South American rider from Argentina, to vie for team and individual medals in the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. For many, the NAJYRC, the premier competition in North America for Juniors (age 14-18) and Young Riders (age 16-21) is their first experience riding on a team, as well as their first time competing under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.

The NAJYRC operates under the rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). In addition to the championship competition in dressage, show jumping and eventing, this year’s NAJYRC also features demonstrations of two other FEI disciplines—vaulting and reining.
The NAJYRC is the continuation of an annual competition that began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Canada and the United States. In the years since its inception, it has grown considerably with the addition of a Dressage Championship in 1981 and the Show Jumping Championship in 1982. The first complete Championships with all three Olympic disciplines was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982. Last year’s Championships saw the addition of officially-sanctioned championship divisions for junior riders in the three Olympic disciplines for the first time.

Dressage is primarily about the balance and harmony between horse and rider. Careful attention to detail and seamless transitions are a top priority. Competitors perform a standard test, demonstrating obedience, ability, and precision. Each movement is judged subjectively and scored separately.

Show jumping tests horse and rider team over a course of fences and other obstacles. The objective is to make it over the course with as few faults as possible. Going over the designated time allowed, knocking down rails, as well as any refusals or falls, accumulates faults or results in elimination. Show jumping has been referred to as having the excitement of horse racing mixed with the daring of downhill slalom skiing.

Eventing combines dressage, show jumping and cross country to give each horse-and-rider combination a cumulative score over the course of three days. Eventing begins with the dressage test, with cross-country following, and then ends with show jumping, testing the endurance and ability of both horse and rider. The cross-country element consists of a timed ride over an outdoor course, jumping over natural or natural looking obstacles. The rider must ride the same horse for all three phases of the competition.

The 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, presented by Gotham North and ULCERGARD, are sponsored by the American Horse Trials Foundation, Ariat, Beval Saddlery, Blue Ridge Farm Center, Borné Saddlery, Brandy Parfums, CN, Davis Manufacturing, Devoucoux, Dover Saddlery, Dressage Today, The EMO Agency, Inc., EquiFit, Equine Canada, Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI—the International Equestrian Federation), Foxden Equine, Gotham North, Hadfields, Harmony Sporthorses, Hint Water, The Horse Tack Review, The Jefferson Florist & Garden, Larry and Marnye Langer, Mary Phelps, a Markel Equine Insurance Specialist, Mead Associates, Merial, the makers of UlcerGard, The Mosaic Foundation, New England Dressage Association, North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association, Northern Ohio Dressage Association, Practical Horseman, Prestige Saddlery, Rebecca Farm, Royal Riders, Howard and Martha Simpson, Southern States/Triple Crown, Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc., Tennessee Valley Dressage and Combined Training Association, U.S. Dressage Federation/Platinum Performance, U.S. Equestrian Federation, U.S. Eventing Association, U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, Virginia Golf Cars, Virginia Horse Shows Association, VTO Saddlery, Waterjumps.us, and www.Horse.dk.

Full results and further information on the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, presented by Gotham North and UlcerGard, are available on line at www.youngriders.org.