Talented young equestrians from across North America will vie for prestigious individual and team medals at the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by Adequan, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, July 26-31.

The competition challenges the best young riders from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing. Approximately 300 riders, ages 16-21, will compete for individual as well as team medals in this exciting FEI event.

The NAYRC begins on Tuesday, July 26, with veterinary inspections for all horses, as well as briefings for the week. The thrilling equestrian competition begins on Wednesday, July 27 with the dressage phase of the eventing competition, as well as the start of the team championship in dressage. Action in the show jumping arena starts on Thursday with qualifying rounds that lead up to Friday’s Nations Cup-style team medal competition. Individual show jumping qualifying rounds take place on Saturday, July 30. Eventing competition continues with the exciting endurance and cross-country phases.

Sunday brings the completion of the show jumping division with competitors riding for individual medals in the championship rounds. Sunday also features the musical freestyles in dressage for those who have qualified. These are rides choreographed to music within the general guidelines of required movements and a five-minute time limit. The results of the freestyle determine the individual dressage medals. Eventing also concludes on Sunday with the dramatic show jumping phase. Both team and individual medals are awarded.

The NAYRC runs under a similar format as the Olympic Games and is governed by the rules of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport. The championships are designed to challenge and test the ability of every rider and horse.

Spectators are welcome at the competition. For more information on the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships, presented by Adequan®, visit www.youngriders.org, call (540) 348-1152 or email [email protected].

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