Lexington, KY—The Young Riders were out to win last night as they took the arena for the Team medal competition in the CN North American Junior & Young Rider Show Jumping Championships presented by USHJA. It was just one of the many exciting events taking place at this year’s Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. The course proved to be more difficult than anticipated, with only one horse-and-rider combination turning in a double-clear round. Although the rails were quick to fall this evening, all the horses and riders gave it their all.

When the dust had settled, the team from Zone 2 came forward as the winners. The team, made up of Carolyn Curcio and Blast Off, Chelsea Moss and Lorena 90, Alexandra Thornton and Naomi and Jessica Springsteen and Vornado van der Hoendrik, led the victory gallop and were awarded the Team Gold medal. All four of the horses seemed fresh as they jumped around the course, and the mistakes were few and far between.

“It was really cool to be a part of it,” Springsteen said after the competition. “I was definitely nervous, but I had a lot of fun and everyone was really great. My horse seemed really relaxed, so I didn’t really feel any added pressure.”

“My one main goal was to be the Team Gold, and we did that,” Moss added. “That was really exhilarating.”

Although the girls from Zone 2 made easy work of the jump course, they didn’t take anything for granted before the last horse had jumped.

“Not everyone made it around the course,” Moss continued. “I was just happy to make it around!”

Taking home the Silver medal in the Team jumping were the riders from Zone 5. Amelia McArdle and Piolet, Theo Genn and Ariado, Jennifer Waxman and Venturo and Kristie Dobbs and Eso all had solid rounds and were one of the few teams to have all their riders complete the course in both rounds.

“I was really happy with how we did today,” McArdel said. “We actually improved in the second round. I was really happy that our team was really solid both rounds.”

In addition to taking home the Silver medal, Waxman and Venturo have more reason to be thrilled – they were the only horse-and-rider combination to jump two double-clear rounds in the Team competition.

“My horse was perfect!” she said. “He just tired so hard. Yesterday I made a few mistakes and let him down a little, but he believed in me today.”

Finally, rounding out the top three was the team from Zone 10. Saer Coulter and Chalan, Adrienne Dixon and Pompom, Paris Sellon and Troyes and Karl Cook and Notories Utopia were awarded the Team Bronze medal for their efforts.

Both the Juniors and the Young Riders have one more round of jumping to go to determine the Individual medals. The top 60% of the riders will be brought back to determine who will reign supreme in the Individual competition.

The eventers take to the cross-country today before show jumping on Sunday. The Junior dressage riders will return to the arena on Saturday for the individual competition, as well.

ENDS