Traverse City, Mich. – A record 200 jumping and dressage athletes from eight countries and all regions and zones of the U.S. have traveled to Traverse City, Michigan, this week for the 2021 edition of the FEI North American Youth Championships for Dressage and Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships presented by USHJA (NAYC).
NAYC is an international championship competition that many young riders aspire to, and has been an important stepping stone in the careers of many top U.S. equestrian athletes. Jumping athletes Kent Farrington, Jessica Springsteen, and McLain Ward, and dressage athletes Adrienne Lyle and Nick Wagman are all members of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team who got early competition experience at NAYC.
This year, the NAYC for Jumping and Dressage take place at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival at Michigan’s Flintfields Horse Park.
Riders ages 12-21 compete across four categories in the NAYC for jumping:
- Children's Championship: athletes FEI ages 12 - 14, fences up to 1.25m
- Pre-Junior Championship: athletes FEI ages 14-16, fences up to 1.30m
- Junior Championship: athletes FEI ages, 14 - 18, fences up to 1.40m
- Young Rider Championship: athletes FEI ages 16 - 21, fences up to 1.50m
In the NAYC for dressage, riders ages 14-21 compete in two categories:
- Junior Riders: athletes FEI ages 14 – 18
- Young Rider: athletes FEI ages 16 - 21
The first horse inspections took place on Tuesday, Aug. 10, with the junior dressage and children and pre-junior jumping categories presenting their horses to the ground jury. Competition will get underway on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 8:00 a.m. EDT, for both jumping and dressage and will continue through Sunday, Aug. 15. See the full schedule and results here.
Watch the 2021 NAYC for Jumping and Dressage live on USEF Network.
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