By Joanie Morris

Parker, CO - Despite another very busy day of competition at the 2008 CN FEI North American Junior/Young Ride Championships at the Colorado Horse Park presented by Gotham North, only one medal was decided.

The North American Individual Young Rider Gold Medalist Katie Johnson rode a stellar test on Millenium to take top honors on a score of 69.050%. The 19-year-old rider from El Cajon, CA was a member of the Region 7 Gold medal winning team but when she came to the Championships her goal was a top 10 individual finish.

She achieved her goal, but never expected to win.

“It hasn't sunk in yet,” said Johnson. “It is spectacularly amazing. I came here hoping to make the top 10 and I'm a total disbelief - complete disbelief. It’s insane.”

Johnson leased Millenium from Pam Schachter three months ago with the specific goal of qualifying for NAJYRC. The lease runs out in August, so this win was particularly emotional for Johnson.



“I just love him,” she said about the 14-year-old Dutch gelding. “He's very special and he works so hard. He's so honest and he loves to work and loves to please. I couldn't be happier. This is a very special horse.”

19-year-old Brianna Dutton made her first trip to the NAJYRC with a very green but very successful horse. Johnson's Gold medal winning teammate rode Tibet, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood to an Individual Silver medal on a score of 68.450%. The Tracy, CA rider has had Tibet for two years and was proud of how much he has achieved.

“His attitude is all there,” she said of Tibet. “He has a great work ethic. To come here for the first time with a green horse… I just wanted to make it through to the freestyle, so to be a medalist is unbelievable.”

Dutton is planning to attend St. Mary's College in California and study biology.

Chelsea Pedersen was impressed with her Bronze medal winning H.S. With Honors picking up a score of 67.900%. The 9-year-old Hungarian Warmblood is reasonably inexperienced but rose to the occasion for his 20-year-old rider.

“I'm so glad to be here,” said Pedersen. “This is my last year and I'm starting school full time this fall.”

Pedersen and H.S. With Honors traveled from Gig Harbor, WA to NAJYRC. A partnership formed five years ago, Pedersen forgot the rein back in her individual test picking up an error.

“It was just one movement,” she said of a test that was otherwise very accurate and confident. “But he was amazing, it was amazing to make it here and be able to hold our own.”

The Freestyles kick-off tomorrow at 7.30 am.

Brannigan Widens Lead in Young Rider Eventing Championship; Lux Remains on Top in Junior Eventing Championship

Jennie Brannigan put on another impressive performance today, remaining atop the leaderboard in the CCI** on 36.3, adding nothing to her dressage score with Cooper. The 21-year-old San Diego rider has been nearly invincible all year, leading the USEA Adequan Gold Cup Series at the Intermediate level. Just My Style ridden by Karen Shull lie second on a score 47.7 and Clifton Peekachu and Kaitlyn McMorris are third with 51.1.

Brannigan skipped around David O'Connor's cross-country track on her 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Following Brannigan's lead, Area VI widened their lead in the team portion of the competition. With a two-day score of 154.4, the California team of Brannigan, Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister, David Koss and Candy lead the combined team of Areas I,IV&V who have a two-day total of 175.5.

Area VIII&X round out the top three Team placings on 267.0.
Jessica Lux and 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Car Tanga were tied for the lead after the dressage, but broke the tie by adding nothing to their dressage score of 43.1. Like Brannigan, the Orono, MN rider also leads the Gold medal winning effort by her Team from Area IV.

Area IV (Lux and Car Tanga, Callie Judy and Irish Odyssey, Hannah Ross and Fantasia and Edith Lee and Ballycormac Petrocelli) has less than one rail in hand going into the show jumping tomorrow over the team from British Columbia and Ontario. Area IV is on 137.4 and the Canadian team is on 141.0. The combined team from Area VIII&X are third on 154.6.

The Final Horse Inspection takes place at 7.30 am.

Wins in Jumping Farewell Classes Head North and South.

In the Jumping Farewell Classes the countries North and South of the borders took home the honors. Young Rider Brie Etcheverry rode Capitan in 1.40 class to head north to Alberta with the victory.

The Junior honors head south to Mexico with Miguel Angel Iglesias and his horse Vida Loca. They were the only double clear in 1.30 class.

The individual jumping championships will be decided tomorrow morning at 7.30 am.

The first-ever Individual Reining medals will also be decided tomorrow morning. The sliding starts at 10.00 am.